It is ironic that they call it Semanya Santa, Holy Week. Whereas people in North America and Europe have festive vacations, these holidays are mainly noteable in that all church goers go to church. But here in Latin America this week is all about the most balls-to-the-wall, the most profane partying and craziness.
It is a time like Christmas in North America and Europe where it is clear that the demiurge, the master of this world is firmly in control of business-as-usual (bau).
But when my I Ching book mysteriously popped out of my backpack (it could have been because I didn't zip up a side pocket) when I dropped it into the lugguage compartment of the bus going from Copan to the Honduras Gulf Coast and opened to Hexagram 33, T'un, Retreat, I didn't want to acknowledge what seems like a totally inauspicious take on the moment.
It was Denize who wanted to embrace this take on the moment, who insisted on an interpretation of the hexagram.
The hexagam is about the forces of darkness gathering, strengthening, clearly being on the ascendency. It is about the necessity of retreat in the face of this. But retreating in a way that is really an advancing, a victory. And only when I addressed Denize's inquiries did I see the wisdom in this take on the moment.
We were headed to Miami, Honduras, a Garifuna fishing village at the end of the beach, a village that does not have electricity, a pueblo that would be on the edge of the rising tide of Semanya Santa madness. We were not conscious of it. But we were doing a strategic retreat that has the possibilities of being an advance, a victory against the rising tide of darkness.
When we got to Tornabe, a Garifuna pueblo about 50 minutes walk down the beach from Miami, I met Garifuna drummers who wanted to hear me play my harmonica. After my audition they wanted me to play with them during all the music that is going to happen.
I am in all ways honored.
The Garifuna have a wonderful song, dank rhythms. The Garifuna song traditionally involves drums, haunting choruses, and conch shells. It is a fusion of the indigenas music of the Caribs (the Garifuna are also known as Black Caribs) and a pure vain of West Africa. There is something pagan and Gnostic in it. The song invokes the ancestors.
I embrace this song. I embrace this hexagram. I am looking forward to the Holy Week.
But Denize is now denying the hexagram. She is leaving for San Pedro on the shore of Lago D'Atzilan in Guatamala, on Monday. She is going into the heart of the darkness.