Luisah Teish - Jump Up: Good Times Throughout the Seasons With Celebrations from Around the World

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My sincerest thanks go to:

The entire staff of Conari Press, especially Mary Jane Ryan, Will Glennon, Leslie Berriman, and Brenda Knight.

Ms. Shirley Lee, who taught me how to overcome and succeed.

Jeffrey Mishlove, Kevin Ryerson, Emile, Medhut, and Muhammad, who took me home to Egypt.

Dr. William Ruch and Dr. Mina Karimabadi, who kept me healthy while I worked.

Iya Oshunyade and Iya Efunyemi, who helped me preserve my last nerve.

Caroline Durston, Sylvia Warren, and the spirits of the River.

Baba Fatalarni, the warrior poet.

Maurillio Gonzalez, the mad congero.

Iyanla Vanzant, for stories shared.

My husband, Awo Falokun Fatunmbi, for patience and endurance.

The Spirit Women's Actualization Group, for years and years of sisterhood and support. I couldn't have done it without you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luisah Teish is a writer, performer, priestess of Oshun (the West African Goddess of Love, Art, and Sensuality), and ritual designer. She is the author of Jambalaya: The Natural Women's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals. She teaches Women's Rites of Passage, Femmyth, and Ritual at the University of Creation Spirituality, Naropa Oakland,John F. Kennedy University, and New College of California. She has performed mythplays and folk storytelling in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Badejo, Diedre. Osun Seegesi: The Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity. Trenton NJ: Africa World Press, 1996.

Bibbs, Susheel. Heritage of Power. San Francisco: MEP Publications, 1998.

Budapest, Zsuzsanna E. The Grandmother of Time. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1989.

Campanelli, Pauline. Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1989.

Coleman, Will. Tribal Talk. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000.

Conway, D.J. Moon Magick: Myth and Magic, Crafts and Recipes, Rituals and Spells. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1997.

Cooper, J. C. The Aquarian Dictionary of Festivals. Wellingborough, England:The Aquarian Press, 1990.

Cunningham, Scott. The Magic in Food: Legend, Lore, and Spellwork. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1991.

Edwards, Carolyn McVickar. Sun Stories: Tales from Around the World to Illuminate the Days and Nights of Our Lives. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995.

Fatunmbi, Awo Falokun. Iba'se Orisa: Ifa Proverbs, Folktales, Sacred History, and Prayer. Original publication, 1994.

Green, Marion. A Calendar of Festivals: Traditional Celebrations, Songs, Seasonal Recipes, and Things to Make. Rockport, MA: Element Inc., 1991.

Monaghan, Patricia. The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1981.

Murry, Hope. Practical Egyptian Magic. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984.

Rufus, Anneli. The World Holiday Book: Celebrations for Every Day of the Year. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.

Saxon, Lyle, with Robert Tallant and Edward Dreyer. Gumbo Ya Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folktales. New York: Bonanza, 1945.

Sjoo, Monica, and Barbara Mor. The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.

Stone, Merlin. Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood: Our Goddess and Heroine Heritage. Vols. I and II. New York: New Sibylline Books, 1979.

Teish, Luisah. Carnival of the Spirit: Seasonal Celebrations and Rites of Passage. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.

Telesco, Patricia. 365 Goddess: A Daily Guide to the Magic and Inspiration of the Goddess. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.

Van Straalen, Alice. The Book of Holidays Around the World. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1986.

CALENDAR OF CELEBRATIONS

In the beginning, at a time when there was no Time, all that existed was the great silence in the dark depth of the Cosmic Womb (Nana Buluku). Within the Womb, the Great Egg of the World (Olodumare) sat in patient potential waiting for the fated moment of Its hatching. Suddenly a sound burst out from the center of the eggOOORRRROOOand the life-giving particles in the egg quickened and set into motion a tremendous bang, causing creative air spirits in the form of gases to dance among themselves. They danced themselves into Fire; they danced themselves into Earth. In the frenzy of their joy, Moon (Mawu) and Sun (Lisa) were born. Other dancing gases clashed and collided into fireballs spinning through the deep blue of space. They leaped and tumbled into the luminous depth of the Earth and formed the Ocean (Yemaya-Olokun). The rushing hum of the Ocean splashed Itself against Earth's shores, as the great masses of land erupted from Her depth (Odudua).

Sun stepped forward to perform His solo, and the Moon laid back to cool Herself off in the Upper Deep. As the Sun performed His slow drag over the surface of the Earth, life stirred in His rays (Ache). In the depth of the Sea, things began to forma single cell divided into two making seaweed, hydra, and fish. The crab crawled out of the water and found that on the land, life was moving. Seed burst open, forming flowers, trees, and fruit. Spiders crawled, birds flew, and bush cows roamed in the forest. A blazing heat permeated the Earth, causing all things to stir and take shape. But the Sun's heat was overwhelming; things were being overdone, so He receded, and the Moon brought forth Her dance. She circled slowly through the night sky cooling the Earth, settling seed, calming the waters, and leaking a mysterious ray of subtle light (Ache) that tempered everything on Earth.