Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThis is problematic for many reasons, consider the phrase \u201cexplore the depths\u2026. \u201d What exactly are they hoping to find, these Australians at play in the fields of the Goddess. Unfortunately, cultural appropriation is nothing new. This isn\u2019t even the first year for this festival. People like to take what isn\u2019t theirs, and names are just the beginning. I\u2019m not sure if most appropriation happens out of ignorance, or as an act of calculated cultural rape, but the end result is the same. Meaning and memory are twisted and distorted and the world is left with a little bit less. There are Yemaya stamps, Oshun cosmetic companies, restaurants, and more.<\/p>\n
I guess some people are wondering what is the problem. The problems center around the fact that these are ancient Orisha (similar to goddesses,) embodying the primal forces of the Universe. Their very names are an invocation and an invitation, and people clearly don\u2019t know what they are getting into. It makes me sad because the doors to these ancient traditions are open wider than they have ever been before. I have dedicated my life and work to making accurate information about these forces more available, and yet most of the time what I see is ignorant disrespect. There isn\u2019t anything inherently wrong with a psychedelic music fest, personally I\u2019m an old Deadhead and still miss the days of spinners and Jerry, but both Yemaya and the traditions she graces have nothing to do with \u00a0psychedelics. I don\u2019t know if there is an easy solution to appropriation like this, people will keep taking, and hopefully people will keep learning too\u2026 I\u2019d really love to hear what you think. Who does have the rite or the right to Yemaya? Please share this post on social media and leave me your thoughts in the comments section below.<\/p>\n
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I guess some people are wondering what is the problem. The problems center around the fact that these are ancient Orisha (goddesses,) embodying the primal forces of the Universe. Their very names are an invocation and an invitation, and people clearly don’t know what they are getting into. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1625,"featured_media":5182,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,10,269,26,8],"tags":[31,21,356,145,95,355],"class_list":["post-5180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ancestors","category-entertainment","category-goddess-2","category-pagan-2","category-santeria-2","tag-lucumi","tag-orisha","tag-orisha-religion","tag-santeria-religion","tag-yemaya","tag-yemaya-festival"],"yoast_head":"\n
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