Africa (Part 2)
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
Malidoma teaches that when people are born into the village, they are
considered to be a fire person, a water person, an earth person, a mineral
person, or a nature person. The year of birth (specifically the last digit)
indicates the predisposition toward one of the types, and which type you
are tells how you how will relate to and contribute to the community,
and helps indicate what your purpose might be. This is part of the teaching
from the Dagara wheel, which contains all these elements. The different
types of people are described as follows;
“The formation of any village, at least that we know of, is always
based on some kind of cosmology, cosmologies that help people find out
where they came from and where they’re going. This is all based
on the quest for people’s identity, because without it it’s
very hard to live a life that is focused and motivated. What you have
here is a Dagara model of building identity, or building community and
creating a viable relationship with the spirit world.
“That’s why people in the tribes or in villages are divided
into these five different categories, which are based on the understanding
that the universe is made of five essential elements. Those elements are
intertwined in such a way that it makes it possible for people like us
to live in it. Our daily challenges are based on how we dance with these
elements. Pain is the result of ignoring one or several of them, and the
feeling of groundedness and focus is more connected to a balancing or
a proximity to balancing these elements all together. But the most important
thing in it is the possibilities or the availabilities in this so-called
Wheel of giving us some very substantial knowledge about ourselves. When
you know who you are, you know how to dance, and then everything else
perhaps becomes not as threatening as it looks. We are finding out what
your essence is, the kind of place from which you are contributing to
this world. Then you need the other four elements in order to help you
do that. That is also important to know. These elements in their order
start with Fire, and then go as Water, and then move on to Earth, then
to Mineral, and then Nature.”
Fire: Fire is associated with spirit, and fire people are often the ones
who connect the community with the ancestors. Fire is the primal energy,
associated with the emotional self, the intuitive self, the dream self.
Fire people are the dreamers and channelers of ancestral wisdom for the
community. Fire people are born in years ending with 2 or 7. For instance,
if you were born in 1962 or 1967, you are a fire person.
Water: Water is associated with equality, and with enhancing connection
and flow between people. Water people are the peacemakers, cooling the
fires of conflict. Water is about soul, and reflections of truth. Water
people can show others what their truth is, can help guide them toward
their purpose. Water people are born in years ending with 1 or 6.
Earth: Earth is nurturance, sustenance. It is the womb, the ground, the
anchor. It is the feminine spirit incarnate. Earth people take care of
everyone, and create sacred space, protecting the community. They are
often strong personalities, who are practical, dependable, and unconditionally
loving. These ones are the “salt of the earth.” Earth people
are born in years ending with 0 or 5.
Mineral: Mineral is truth, and communicating truth. It is translating
and connecting, in order to build and create reality. Mineral people are
the communicators, with powerful cellular memories. They are the storytellers,
the oral historians, the ones who pass on wisdom to the people through
story. Mineral people are born in years ending with 4 or 9.
Nature: Nature is magic and transformation. It is inevitable change. It
is about birth, growth, life, and death. It is cycles, seasons, and mystery.
It is the creation of life from the void. It is the trickster, the coyote,
the unpredictable. Nature people are the magicians, the witches and wizards.
Nature people are born in years ending with 3 or 8.
In his village, there would be opportunities for people of each group
to get together, work together, and share ideas. They would be a clan.
Each clan focuses on their area of expertise, and this helps to create
a very strong community structure. Within this structure, people feel
secure to express themselves. Everyone has their place, and everyone knows
who to go to if they need some specific help. Children come in knowing
who they are, and they feel very relaxed and comfortable. Although someone
may be a certain type of person, this does not mean that the other elements
are not important in their life. The other elements help to bring balance
and harmony to the life of the person. A fire person might choose to live
close to the water, or to marry a water person, to balance the fire energy.
Whatever your type, it is good to think of ways to use the other elements
to compliment your life. Ritual is a great tool for balancing all these
aspects personally, and in community.
The teachings of Malidoma Some’ are very hard to contain in this
small section of the course. They are so profound and practical at the
same time. It is also very hard to paraphrase his words and teachings,
for they are so unique. His work is highly recommended for further study.
I am sure the ancestors would agree.