The crab sorcerer is one perfect example of the type of animism specific to the village of Rhumsiki. Centuries ago, a man dreamt that, under the light of a full moon, a crab spoke to him of calamities that would befall his village and urged him to inform his elders. The man obeyed the crab, and was received with mixed reactions from his people. Few believed him, and those who did merely used it as an excuse to neglect their work, making others extremely frustrated with the man’s news.
On each night of a full moon, the man would return to the riverbed to ask the crab for guidance, and the crab instructed that he stay strong to his beliefs. The man did what the crab said and eventually, when these predictions were actualized, the man became the chosen sage of the village and, with a crab in an earthenware pot, was able to predict the future and produce valuable answers. This ability was passed through his descendants, so that his grandson who we met in the village, was able to carry out the same practice with us.
Every month on the full moon the crab sorcerer goes to the river between the twin sacred peaks of the village and selects a new crab for that coming month. The crab sorcerer told me - between the ritualistic and passionate spits on the crab and myself – that I would work very hard my whole life and then one day abruptly change my mind, throw down my staff (he demonstrated) and, essentially, head for the hills. I think this is more or less accurate.
No, Lucea; you will throw down your staff and spit on a crab!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy-learn from your blog. As soon as you are done with school, write books. Any book.