Muldays Mondays: Water Mythology- Spirits & Deities Nigeria, Thailand & Japan

Folklore & Mythology

Last time on Folk & Mythology, I spoke about the result of the uninterrupted imagination birthing folklore and mythology.  This birth of the uninterrupted imagination shapes the identity of people. It allows us to understand a society's traditional identity but more importantly their understanding of relating to other groups.

What happens to the interrupted imagination of a society after colonialism or war? 

Have you observed the prevalence of Western folklore and mythology in Asian and African Spaces?
What about folklore and mythology from Africa and Asia in Western Spaces? Do you remember learning about panchatantra stories? What about Bantu fables? 
 

“What are the consequences from ”modernization” and technology towards societies that abandon traditional folklore and mythology? ”

— Water & Cassava

Asian countries have made significant strides to celebrate their folklore and mythology out loud in public spaces. They do not feel "uncivilized" or that their "salvation" might end. 

THAILAND

Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand (Departure Gate)-Samudra Manthan
(The Churning of the Ocean of Milk)

A Short Video on how just how this started

The short movie here: the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, is the introduction to a Keynote/ slideshow introduction on Ayurveda. (The link to view the whole presentation is below). I have tried to present the story of Ayurveda, so that, like its name (Ayu-Life and Veda-Knowledge) the story would give anyone an understanding of the fundamental principles of this ancient Medical system.

Folklore and Mythology are part of a society's cultural heritage and  play a  role in the branding of the country.  Developed countries have mastered the art of making their mythology and folklore romantic and  marketable to the global community.  

Snow White, a Germanic classic fairy tale is currently marketed to young girl as this:

However, this is the Original Story of Snow White

Disney World has mastered the art of marketing European Folklore and Mythology in Western spaces and in Asia with locations in Japan and China. However there are no such theme parks  in the West, or in Asia and Africa that continuously promote the folklore or mythology from those spaces. Disney World resorts worldwide allow guests to meet Snow White, Ariel and even sleep in Cinderella's Castle. Disney World resorts in 2016 made a profit of $4.6 billion dollars. 

The Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World. 

“Should we blame Cultural Cringe for the absence of theme parks that promote folklore & Mythology originating from Africa & Asia?”

— Water & Cassava

SPIRITS & DIETIES OF THE OCEAN: JAPAN & NIGERIA

JAPAN

As most stories found in mythology and folklore often begin, it stems from the imagination’s desire to survive and create a habitable world in this life and the afterlife. Without further ado, here are the Gods of the Ocean from Nigeria and Japan. 

SUIJIN(SUITEN-水天), GOD OF WATER IN JAPANESE shinto MYTHOLOGY

Suijin Festival

Suijin in Shinto mythology is the force found in water. This force manifests sometimes as a snake, whale or fish and has a pair of funa fish as messengers. Suijin is part of the divinity force that makes up the shinto divinity of water. This manifestation can be found in ocean, lakes, ponds and is god or goddess to all mythical creatures found in bodies of water. Suijin is also prayed to by expecting mothers to be during childbirth. This force is also charged with the responsibility of fertility, motherhood, and easy childbirth. It should be noted that Suijin is described as male or female . 

NIGERIA

OLOKUN-NIGERIAN-THE YORUBA GOD(GODDESS) OF WATER

Olokun Seniade

I grew up knowing this entity as a God(shaped like a merman) but there are populations that refer to this entity as a goddess. As our mentioned Japanese counterpart, he is expected to help women conceive. He appears as a mudfish as well as a black mermaid. Olokun is a manifestation known as a Orisha. Orisha's are manifestations of the universal GOD known as Olorun. He is also responsible for all mythical creatures found in bodies of water. 

Olokun Festival

There is a profitable market for the commercialization of cultural heritage tangibles and intangibles such as folklore and mythology unfortunately African countries have not mastered the art of this unique form of branding.

Friday Ramblings: The One About "Gratefulness, Unexpected and Failure"

Rambling is defined by Webster as:

·      passing from one topic to another

·      using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea

Reality is defined by Webster as:

·      the quality or state of being real

·      a real event, entity, or state of affairs

·      totality of real things and events

·      something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily

-Isms are just my own colloquialisms .

“I am on a rollercoaster just going up, down, sideways and upsidedown. I am going to puke quite soon ”

— Who the hell asked you to come to the theme park though?

I cannot stress just how crazy this week was, but I can tell you the order was: Late Nights, WTF Facebook Follows, Unexpected, Gratefulness and Failure. It was not in that order but shit it might as well be…

#Fuckyducky

The Failure Part

I am not sure how to say this, but I do feel like a failure. I also found myself slipping into self-destructive mood. 

“You know, I do not drink or smoke. But shit when I hit that “SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BUTTON” … You would ask, WTF are you drinking, taking, or smoking???”

— All me and All truth

“Sober as a Judge but never Drunk as a Lord...”

— Grew up in a former British Space, I really speak like this in real life

I am not able to raise the money needed to get my business visa to set up the business. I tried so hard, but just not fast or hard enough. I should be doing better than this, I am not moving fast enough. I am a tortoise on a path with cheetahs passing me by.

(Lane Posters)

The Gratefulness Part 

Getting someone to recommend me to do a PSA that got me some dead presidents in my wallet? Our interaction was just once at mixer for people with no capital trying to do business in Korea. Well it is true, first impressions matter.

I am beyond grateful
 

My local barrister celebrated his birthday, but saved a cake for me. I was surprised and touched, I mean it is his birthday not “our birthday”.  Despite not speaking English and my no existent Korean, he is always kind to me. I have never walked into this café without them beating me to say 안녕하세요! (Hello, Annyong). I always make sure to say (Goodnight Guys, Thanks for Everything).

I am grateful for consideration from new friends and warm smiles.

Remember last Friday, I was not sure about rent. I was able to secure funds for rent.
I am beyond grateful

I ate fresh food for two days….
MY SOUL MADE OF FRUITS, VEGGIES AND APPLECIDER VINEGAR IS GRATEFUL.

Getting my portraits emailed to me by a gentleman that has photographed four Korean Presidents. I was so beyond humbled and grateful. Tiny me compared to giants.

Grateful Tortoise among Cheetahs
 

Beyond Grateful

My childhood mate donating to my gofundme page. She stays in Los Angeles, I am grateful for 2 cents. That place is so expensive, I think it is because they just want people to run into traffic. Anytime we are asked, how long have you known each other? We just start laughing uncontrollably. We always tell people, we have kicked it from the womb… you cannot go back than that!

I AM GRATEFUL

The Unexpected Part

Did I mention my childhood friend from L.A donating?

“ L.A ain’t cheap bruh….”

— Said Everyone in Los Angeles

I was told something unexpected, I was told that as a child “You were so bubbly and happy”. It was unexpected because to be honest this person meant well. I know their heart meant well. I was few seconds from breaking down. It means that I have practiced the art of pretending the pain from a very seriously fucked up first 10 years of life to an art. In my darkest moments, I receive the most compliments. I often think everyone must see I am cracking but Nah… “Fatimaah you are amazing, how did you……”

I am grateful because it means that even as a kid, I was just fighting you know??

 

Uncle Bob once said …. (You may not mention Mr. Dylan)

The Jollof Empire

My Jellof Rice friend that seems to insist that I am going to be fine because shit, his Wolof and he said so!!!   I love Wolof people you hear me? I mean my love is outside of the Jellof rice. I swear it is, they come close to my Zulu people that I love today, tomorrow, yesterday, and forever..

Greatful to Jollof Rice and Origins

Speaking of a Jamaican

I am sure my soul and uncle Bob’s people are forever intertwined. I do not know how this works in my life, however I know this to be true as love.

I have never had a difficult chapter in life without Jamaicans and neighboring islands as my safety net. I really believe that the struggles of blackness in America was not so hard on me because Uncle Bob and Family have always been there for me. I saw that African-Americans from the States would get punches, but those guys just came in no matter the space (North America, Europe, or Asia), like

““You are okay, eye ear you”.”

— Rasta Man

They took some of those hits of leftover colonialism for me and so my tears became laughs that made my belly hurt. The Jamaican brother, I met that schooled me on other options with this business.

Uncle Bob did tell me to be a Buffalo Soldier

Stream/Download Legends (Deluxe edition) here: https://BobMarley.lnk.to/LegendDEID Music video by Bob Marley & The Wailers performing Buffalo Soldier. (C) 2003 Universal-Island Records Ltd.

Grateful for Uncle Bob, his children and neighbors. 

THE WTF FACEBOOK FOLLOWER

I was told time was a great healer this week after I expressed my shock state of seeing this name on my laptop screen.

Time might be a great healer for you! The other person might still see you and think, BULLSHIT!
Nothing Personal….
 

I was in a state of shock because our last interaction was just BAD. I mean all versions of terrible.

This was a “friend” to my maternal family, and her interactions with everyone has always followed with the words “crazy, madness and my personal best I just don’t understand” ….

The younger me would have sent a message like:

““I see you are following me, please don’t and Oh if I forgot to mention... You are a very horrible person and should %^&K off. Have a great day”.”

— This was before I met Black Jesus, Buddah, Mohammed and Krishna, What is tuly up my hommies?

I think people  can be so rude you know? You must always tell others to have a great day.

“. Manners, Where are your manners??”

I did not send such a message. I imagined just how strange/brave/everything that says this shit is not comfortable it must have been for her to click that button. I wish her well, peace and great moments of joy in life.

…..STILL WTF FACEBOOK FOLLOWER, I  AM GRATEFUL  

   ... I AM THE FOLLOWING LIFE BELOW       

I am/must be graceful as the giraffe 

Diplomatic as the Elephant

Deadly as the Blue Octopus, I learned and still am learning this stage of me. 

This is my shadow, you must know of my heritage to understand the connection of the Elephant & Mermaid. 

Sometimes or maybe all the time

This is because of the box below

So because of this, I often wonder......

But that is beauty in not having all YOUR SHIT TOGETHER...

Amazing requires Courage....

LATE NIGHTS & COFFEE
 

Until next Friday Ramblings, Cheers to the bloody weekend!

Muldays-Mondays : The Mythical Water Reptilians of Egypt and Korea

Over a month ago, we looked at the Mer-Ladies of Asia & Africa. We discussed the importance of Folk & Mythology and why such stories are important. Would you like to understand the importance of the uninterrupted imagination? Visit our Mul-Mondays entry on the Merladies of Asia and Africa. 

“Water is an intrinsic part of most spiritual beliefs...its spiritual and healing properties are seen in rites and rituals; and its representations are as numerous as they are diverse. These different.....[cultural aspects of water reflect the vast array of civilizations that have made water the central element in their practices]. ”

— UNESCO Water and World Views

So often African and Asian Folklore and Mythology gets lost in narratives and popular culture. 

SOBEK, "CROCODILE EGYPTIAN GOD"

Sobek offspring of Neith, Set and Khnum. Yes, all three siblings created him!! The Egyptian Gods have nothing on the ancient Mesopotamian Gods and their constant lack of sexual boundaries. He was worshipped and respected as the creator of the Nile. He was the God of Birth, Rebirth, and fertility.

He is depicted as a crocodile or a crocodile headed man. He was a complicated God, because based on the time-period and region of Egypt, he was either respected or feared. He also appears in the Book of the Dead, anytime you guest star in that book, well you are not remembered for love. Speaking of love, Sobek was also viewed as a protective God and he was respected in the underworld as he protected the dead from Set's wrath. Sobek was not know for his patience, something he shares with his friend in Korea.

“Sobek in crocodile form laid eggs on the Nile banks, thus starting creation as we know it....”

— Egyptian Mythology from a long time ago

“Depending on who is telling the story, Sobek and the Egyptian God Amen are the same people. Oh you didn’t know Amen was a God?”

— Water & Cassava

Temple of Sobek

Sobek

IMUGI, IMOOGI 이무기

이무기 are very old serpants that come from Korean Folklore and Mythology. In the development and growth of dragons, 이무기 is the first stage and dragon is the last stage. 이무기 stay under cold water for 1,000,000 years in order to become a dragon. They also do not breath fire but create storms from their roars. The sight of  이무기 means good luck. 

WORLD KINDNESS DAY......

On behalf of everyone here, Happy World Kindness Day! Depending on your location this is a week event.

See you next Mulday

Muldays Mondays

We are out for this Mulday but will return next Mulday. 

See you next Mulday!