The Karei Kati (Sea Turtle Moon) will be on September 17th .
The Peak season for Karei hatching in the Caribbean is September,
In summertime when the weather is warm, pregnant female sea turtles return to the beaches where they themselves hatched years before. They swim through the crashing surf and crawl up the beach searching for a nesting spot above the high water mark. Using her back flippers, the reptile digs a nest in the sand. Digging the nest and laying her eggs usually takes from one to three hours, after which the mother turtle slowly drags herself back to the ocean.
The sea turtle lays up to 100 eggs, which incubate in the warm sand for about 60 days. The temperature of the sand determines the genders of baby sea turtles, with cooler sand producing more males and warmer sand producing more females. The phenomenon is called Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, or TSD, and governs the genders of other reptiles, too, including alligators and crocodiles. Current NOAA research suggests that warming trends due to climate change may cause a higher ratio of female sea turtles, potentially affecting genetic diversity.
When the tiny turtles are ready to hatch out, they do so virtually in unison, creating a scene in the sandy nest that is reminiscent of a pot of boiling water. In some areas, these events go by the colloquial term "turtle boils." Once hatched, the turtles find their way to the ocean via the downward slope of the beach and the reflections of the moon and stars on the water. Hatching and moving to the sea all at the same time help the little critters overwhelm waiting predators, which include sea birds, , mongoose, and wild dogs. Those that make it through the gauntlet swim to offshore sargassum floats where they will spend their early years mostly hiding and growing.
(excerpt from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/turtle-hatch.html )
Spiritual Significance
The spirit of the turtle for our ancestors had several meanings, abundance , maternal energy and the ability to navigate the sea of emotions and continue our journey in peace, knowing our home is always where we choose to make it.
I will share below the story of Deminan and Karei Inaru .
As soon as they came to the door of Bayamanaco, the old man and saw that he carried cazabe (bread made from cassava flour), they said “Ahiacabo guarocoel!” which means, “We know our grandfather!” In the same way, Deminan Caracaracol, seeing his brothers ahead of him, entered to see if he would be able to get some cazabe. Upon entering the house of Bayamanacoel, Caracaracol asked for cazabe. He (Bayamanaco) put his hand to his nose and threw upon (Deminan’s) back a guanguayo (spittle). This guanguayo was filled with cohoba which had just been made for that day. [Cohoba is some kind of powder that they take at times for purification and for other effects described below. Cohoba is taken in a reed about half as long as one’s arm, and they put one end in their nose and the other in the powder. Then they inhale through the nose and this greatly purifies them.] Thus were they given this guanguayo, spittle, instead of the bread they make. He [Bayamanaco] left there very indignant because they had asked for it ... after all this, Caracaracol returned to join his brothers and he told them what had happened with Bayamanco(el) and of the blow that had been delivered to him by the guanguayo upon his back, which hurt terribly. Then his brothers looked at his back and they saw it was seriously swollen. This swelling grew so much that he was at the point of dying. They then sought to cut it off but were unable. Taking a stone axe, they opened it and out came a live female turtle. Thus they built their house and took care of the turtle. All of the brothers , and from her their sons and daughters were born. An Account of the Antiquitites of the Indians, Diligently Gathered by Fray Ramon Pané, A Man Who Knows Their Language, by order of the Admiral [Christopher Columbus].From the translation by José Juan Arrom (to Spanish) and Susan C. Griswold (to English).
I will share below the story of Deminan and Karei Inaru .
As soon as they came to the door of Bayamanaco, the old man and saw that he carried cazabe (bread made from cassava flour), they said “Ahiacabo guarocoel!” which means, “We know our grandfather!” In the same way, Deminan Caracaracol, seeing his brothers ahead of him, entered to see if he would be able to get some cazabe. Upon entering the house of Bayamanacoel, Caracaracol asked for cazabe. He (Bayamanaco) put his hand to his nose and threw upon (Deminan’s) back a guanguayo (spittle). This guanguayo was filled with cohoba which had just been made for that day. [Cohoba is some kind of powder that they take at times for purification and for other effects described below. Cohoba is taken in a reed about half as long as one’s arm, and they put one end in their nose and the other in the powder. Then they inhale through the nose and this greatly purifies them.] Thus were they given this guanguayo, spittle, instead of the bread they make. He [Bayamanaco] left there very indignant because they had asked for it ... after all this, Caracaracol returned to join his brothers and he told them what had happened with Bayamanco(el) and of the blow that had been delivered to him by the guanguayo upon his back, which hurt terribly. Then his brothers looked at his back and they saw it was seriously swollen. This swelling grew so much that he was at the point of dying. They then sought to cut it off but were unable. Taking a stone axe, they opened it and out came a live female turtle. Thus they built their house and took care of the turtle. All of the brothers , and from her their sons and daughters were born. An Account of the Antiquitites of the Indians, Diligently Gathered by Fray Ramon Pané, A Man Who Knows Their Language, by order of the Admiral [Christopher Columbus].From the translation by José Juan Arrom (to Spanish) and Susan C. Griswold (to English).
MEDITATION
This Full Moon is about fertility, peace, trusting the journey and following the guidance of spirit.
1. Create Sacred Space - Call on your ancestors, your guides, the ways your ancestors would have. Ask them to help focus your mind and heart to the task at hand, so you may be prepared to show yourself worthy for all that you seek, to attract the energy necessary to manifest your desire with the coming seasons.
2. With your eyes closed while standing or sitting on a chair, Take 7 deep inhales and exhales to clear your mind.
1. Create Sacred Space - Call on your ancestors, your guides, the ways your ancestors would have. Ask them to help focus your mind and heart to the task at hand, so you may be prepared to show yourself worthy for all that you seek, to attract the energy necessary to manifest your desire with the coming seasons.
2. With your eyes closed while standing or sitting on a chair, Take 7 deep inhales and exhales to clear your mind.
3. Close your eyes and place palms face up,
become aware of your breath, inhale and exhale,
become aware of the water within your body and your connection to the moon. Become aware of your emotions, those that drain you and those that replenish you.
Become aware of the young Karei (Turtle) that are hatching and following the light of the moon to the sea.
Allow your spirit to move with this new burst of life towards the sea, that will challenge you, nurture you and evolve you.
4. Clench your hand into a fist with your inhale taking in the medicine of this moon, release your clenched fist as you exhale and allow all the emotions and feelings that do not serve you to be released to the sea. Do this as many times as you are guided taking in the teachings of the Karei with each inhale.
5.When complete give thanks for guidance and the energy given to you.
Energy is present 2 days before and 2 days after the Full moon so you have time to practice
become aware of your breath, inhale and exhale,
become aware of the water within your body and your connection to the moon. Become aware of your emotions, those that drain you and those that replenish you.
Become aware of the young Karei (Turtle) that are hatching and following the light of the moon to the sea.
Allow your spirit to move with this new burst of life towards the sea, that will challenge you, nurture you and evolve you.
4. Clench your hand into a fist with your inhale taking in the medicine of this moon, release your clenched fist as you exhale and allow all the emotions and feelings that do not serve you to be released to the sea. Do this as many times as you are guided taking in the teachings of the Karei with each inhale.
5.When complete give thanks for guidance and the energy given to you.
Energy is present 2 days before and 2 days after the Full moon so you have time to practice
