MAY 2023 BLOG - LA CALAVERA
Dear
Reader,
I am now writing
this blog on Australian Labour Day holiday and reflecting on the May events
like Mother’s Day and my son’s birthday. There are many non-celebrations in the
world today as the war in Ukraine that is in its second year where men, women
and children are hurt and dying every day.
This brings
me to reflect about birth, development and death and re-birth as a cycle in
Nature that is present everywhere. Writing this blog, I found a story that is very
popular in Mexico and retold on the Día de Los Muertos (day of the dead) when
people go to the cemeteries and celebrate death.
I found a story
of LA CALAVERA (the skeleton lady) told by Dr. Clarissa Pikola Estes. She has
worked with facilities caring for severely injured 'cast-away' children,
'shell-shocked' war veterans (now called Post Trauma Distress Syndrome), and
their families. Her teaching of writing in prisons began in the early 1970s at
the Men's Penitentiary in Colorado; the Federal Women's Prison at Dublin,
California, and in other 'locked institutions.'
The Calavera
story is meant to be a heling and a positive view of Death so that we can find
solace and abandon fear and anxiety about this inevitable event in life. She is
also called “La Catrina”. Here is a quote from an article by Kimberley Estrada “La
Catrina symbolizes the cycle of life, and serves as a reminder to enjoy life,
but also embrace death. She is a sacred symbol of the Mexican celebration, Día
de Muertos. A historical figure who has been honoured in Mexican culture for
centuries. She has been represented in various forms throughout history, but is
most commonly recognized as a tall, female skeleton who wears a fancy hat with
feathers.” Here is her short story:
There was a
man who lost his wife as she gave birth to a lovely baby boy. He wanted to find
a good god-mother for his boy and as he walked the sacred path, he met the Devil who
offered to be the godfather, the man stated that he is looking for a godmother
and the Devil is someone that tends to show you good times but very bad at other times and he
kept walking. He then met the god of memory and also refused the offer because memory tends to fail you by forgetting things. Then he met the rain god who
was very kind but water kept pouring down his face and the father said his thanks
and kept walking until far in the forest, he met a lady dressed in colourful
outfit and a smile that was very kind and open and she introduced herself as LA
CALAVERA . She offered to be good godmother to the child and teach him magic
healing skills when he is an adult. The father agreed to the deal and was glad
to have a good go-mother and also a good teacher for his don.
Years went
by and the child grew up into a very capable man with many healing skills. The
only malaise he could not heal was Death. He went to see his godmother and
begged her to teach him this healing. She stated that as his god-mother, she is
obliged to teach him the skill and told him that when he meets a patient in bed
sick, he must look where she is standing. If she is at the top of the bed, it
means that the patient must die but if she is standing at the bottom of the
bed, then the patient will recover, and he must give the patient a certain herb tea to drink.
Soon the
word was out about the great healer and many people went to seek him for cures.
One day the soldiers came to see him and stated that the King is very ill and asked
for him. He rushed to the castle and found the king in bed looking very ill.
The king asked for help and if he is cured, he will give the healer half of the
kingdom. But the healer saw Death was at the head of the bed and that meant the
king must die. So, being very resourceful, he turned the bed around so death
was at the bottom of the king’s bed, and he gave tea to the king and the king recovered.
As he was leaving the castle vey happy with his fortune, the godmother was sanding outside and said that this cannot be done and not to do this trick again. In some minutes, the soldiers came again, and stated that the keg’s daughter is very ill and the king wants the healer to
come back to help and if his daughter gets well, he will give his daughter in marriage
to the healer.
“Wow! That was
surely a good deal” thought the healer and came to see the king’s daughter. However,
death was at the head of the bed and that meant the beautiful daughter must
die. He was suddenly in love with her and went and turned the bed around and
gave the princess the tea and she as well and completely healed. Suddenly Calavera
appeared in front of him looking very upset and said: “You have not obeyed my
rule and this calls for a revelation for you” She then took him by his hand and
led him to a deep cave and in this huge cave there were millions of candles, and
all were lit and also were of many sizes. “What is this godmother”? asked the
healer. She explained that each candle represents life on Earth, and some are
taller and some shorter meaning that as the candles burn out, finally the light
gees out and the person dies. No matter if the person is a baby and adult or old
person, the candle will be spent and the person will die, that is the destiny
of all human beings.
“Where is
my candle “? Asked the healer and Calavera pointed at the small candle with its
light almost gone. “NO!” exclaimed the healer, you cannot do this to me as your
godson. I have a fortune, half a kingdom and a princess to wed soon” he pleaded
and as he looked at the candle it just went out and he fell and died. “YOU
CANNOT FOOL DEATH” said the Calavera.
In
conclusion, I have noted some points for reflection as you think about the
CALAVERA story.
1. LIFE - DEATH -LIFE cycle: Think about what is supposed to “die” in your life at this time? What will you not give up and be free of attachments?
2. When is your candle meant to go out? Or how are you afraid that it will go out soon?
3. LA CALAVERA lives inside us and has a sense of when you will heal and when you will die – no cheating!
4. Can you ‘let go’ of things that deaden you in your life or you keep attempting to turn the “bed” around again and again?
5. Are you living in the HERE AND NOW? Can this story be helpful to practice this skill?
6. What healing support do you need in your life at this moment?
DYING IS A JOURNEY FULL OF FEAR – YOU CAN SOFTEN THIS FEAR
BY LIVING IN THE NOW AND FIND JOY IN EVERYTHING YOU DO AND WHO YOU ARE!
