My mother recently passed away very near to her hundredth year of life on earth. This gave me the opportunity to connect to her spirit in the afterlife, to ask her about our shared heritage as witches. Mom began to connect me to Taino family generations long ago to help me reach and understand a past life once lived in a great spiritual universe.
As it happened, the word “Taino” refers to the people who inhabited the island of Puerto Rico before the Spanish conquistadors settled there in 1508. The Taino still live on today, but as much as they are part of our culture and traditions, we do not hear much about their extraordinary connection with nature and their healing practices. The Taino people were master healers who left behind a legacy that persists in modern times. To this day, many of the plant-based remedies used by Puerto Ricans have their origins in the beliefs, rituals and practices of the Taino. The word “witch” has been used in many ways throughout history and in different cultures. Although it is often associated with evil or someone who performs black magic, that is not always the case. Many cultures use witch as a word for healer or someone with exceptional knowledge about plants or nature. They are typically neutral entities whose powers can be used for good or evil depending on how they are approached.
Taino Witch Healers and Their Practices
The Taino people were master herbalists who used herbs and plants in their daily life. They believed that everything in nature had a spirit, including plants and herbs. They used plants as medicine, and also as part Indian shamans used herbs to create potions that could be used for healing, protection, or for spiritual guidance. The Taino people were experts in medicine, herbal remedies, and shamanism. They used their knowledge of plants and shamanism to treat illnesses, solve problems, and promote spiritual growth. Their knowledge of medicinal plants was extensive. They used plants to heal broken bones, stomach problems, infections, and many other health conditions.
Taino Shamanism and Healing Practices
The Taino culture is based in Shamanism, a spiritual practice in which a person called a shaman uses trance, magic and/or spiritual journey to obtain knowledge and help from the spirit world. The Taino shamans, called "bohio" or "juego", used their powers to heal the sick, predict the future and communicate with the gods. The word “bohio” comes from the Spanish word “bohio”, which means “hut”. The bohio was where a Taino shaman would perform their rituals. The word “juego” comes from the Spanish word “jugar”, meaning “to play”. The juego refers to a game that was used by Taino shamans to find out information about the future or about someone’s health.
The Traditional Practices of the Taino
Taino shamans were called “juego” or “bohio”. They used magic and their connection to the spirit world to find solutions to problems and diseases. In order to do this, they used hallucinogenic plants and ritualistic practices to get in touch with their spiritual guides.
Taino Shrines and Rituals
The Taino people built shrines in their homes, gardens and temples. They used these shrines for cleansing, healing, and to get in touch with their spiritual guides. The kenki or the corner of the house was used for spirituality and healing. The tibuyn was used for spiritual cleansing and healing. This is a type of herbal bath that was used to promote good health and prosperity. The gajra was used to protect against evil spirits and promote healing. They were used in ceremonies and to promote healing.
Taino Sexuality
The Taino people were very open to people of all sexual orientations. They had no stigma against people of different sexualities or gender identities. Most Taino societies were matrilineal, meaning the women were in charge of property ownership and wealth. Taino people often chose to live together in same-sex households. They were also known to marry a person of any gender, as long as they were of a different tribe. For many centuries, the Taino healers have been known as the original shamans. What differentiates them from other indigenous cultures is that their healers are often women, not men. Witchcraft and shamanism are closely linked, but there are also important differences between the two practices.
There have been accounts of Taino men having sexual relationships with other men. It is believed that they did this to prove their strength and courage to the tribe, as homosexual sex was seen as a challenge. Homosexuality was also practiced among the Taino as a way to create a stronger tie between tribes. Tribes would often exchange sexual partners to build a relationship and keep the peace between them. The Taino did not have a word for homosexuality in their language. They used other words to describe those who were sexually active with others of the same sex.
There is no written word in Taino that describes queerness. The closest word to describe sexual ambiguity is “cacafuego” which translates to “spider fire”. This was used to describe someone who was sexually omnivorous. They also used “jaguar” to describe someone who was androgynous, or sexually ambiguous.
There was no stigma against people who chose to have sex outside of marriage. Sex was seen as a way to heal a person and be one with the earth and nature. In fact, Taino people believed that having sex in certain locations would increase the power of the experience, such as having sex in the water or under a full moon.
The Taino people were master healers who left behind a legacy that persists in modern times.
The Taino people were master healers who left behind a legacy that persists in modern times. To this day, many of the plant-based remedies used by Puerto Ricans have their origins in the beliefs, rituals and practices of the Taino. The Taino were the first people to inhabit the Island of Puerto Rico. They called the island “Boriquén”, which translates to “the land of the brave”. The Taino people were known for their connection to nature, and for their traditional healing remedies that used a variety of plants.
The word “witch” has been used in many ways throughout history and different cultures.
The word “witch” has been used in many ways throughout history and different cultures. Although it is often associated with evil or someone who performs black magic, that is not always the case. Many cultures use witch as a word for healer or someone with exceptional knowledge about plants or nature. They are typically neutral entities whose powers can be used for good or evil depending on how they are approached. There are many misconceptions surrounding witchcraft, particularly in Latin American culture. Although many people associate the Spanish colonial era with a witch-hunt, the truth is that witchcraft and healing practices were often linked back to the Taino culture.
The Taino were the first people to inhabit the Island of Puerto Rico.
The Taino were the first people to inhabit the Island of Puerto Rico. They called the island “Boriquén”, which translates to “the land of the brave”. The Taino people were known for their connection to nature, and for their traditional healing remedies that used a variety of plants. The Taino were the first people to inhabit the Island of Puerto Rico. They called the island “Boriquén”, which translates to “the land of the brave”.
The Taino believed that everything in the world, including plants, animals, and even humans, was imbued with spirit.
The Taino believed that everything in the world, including plants, animals, and even humans, was imbued with spirit. This belief has helped people in Puerto Rico maintain a holistic way of understanding health and healing. The Taino believed that everything in the world, including plants, animals, and even humans, was imbued with spirit. This belief has helped people in Puerto Rico maintain a holistic way of understanding health and healing. The Taino believed that everything in the world, including plants, animals, and even humans, was imbued with spirit. This belief has helped people in Puerto Rico maintain a holistic way of understanding health and healing.
The Taino people were known for their connection to nature, and for their traditional healing remedies that used a variety of plants.
The Taino people were known for their connection to nature, and for their traditional healing remedies that used a variety of plants. Many of the medicinal herbs used by Puerto Ricans today have their origins in traditional Taino remedies. For example, aloe vera is derived from the aloe plant, a common herb used in both traditional East Asian and West African medicine. Aloe vera has long been used to treat skin conditions, like sunburn and acne. Another example is the papaya tree, which the Taino used to treat digestive issues and stomach ulcers.
Many of the medicinal herbs used by Puerto Ricans today have their origins in traditional Taino remedies.
Many of the medicinal herbs used by Puerto Ricans today have their origins in traditional Taino remedies. For example, aloe vera is derived from the aloe plant, a common herb used in both traditional East Asian and West African medicine. Aloe vera has long been used to treat skin conditions, like sunburn and acne. Another example is the papaya tree, which the Taino used to treat digestive issues and stomach ulcers.
Conclusion
The word “witch” has been used in many ways throughout history and in different cultures. Although it is often associated with evil or someone who performs black magic, that is not always the case. Many cultures use witch as a word for healer or someone with exceptional knowledge about plants or nature. They are typically neutral entities whose powers can be used for good or evil depending on how they are approached. The Taino people were master healers who left behind a legacy that persists in modern times. To this day, many of the plant-based remedies used by Puerto Ricans have their origins in the beliefs, rituals and practices of the Taino.
This is a testimony that if we are ever to experience a true healing process, it will be necessary to go back to the roots of our culture and rediscover the ancient healing practices of the Taino.
Oh, and before I go, Mom, I love you! We will reconnect again soon.
Michael Ferrara currently holds certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM.)