My own image
I purposely
floated gently into the New Year. My mind was with that magnificent bright full
moon. Our visitors never materialised and we had a braai for two with meat for
a group.
They would
come like the New Year would come in their own time. I wished her a happy new
year and she went outside to watch the fireworks and I drifted away my thoughts
like a tranquiliser against the noise.
Our laatlam(child
conceived in advanced age ) was with a friend she is growing up so quickly and
keeps on surprising us with her wisdom and understanding of life. A full moon
on New Year’s Day is significant for whatever reason those who pretend to know,
conjures up.
I have a
special relationship with the moon, a personal one, as I admire her beauty and
respect her immense strength and influence over mankind.
I therefore
know this year is going to be special in many ways, ways that I cannot explain
but know with certainty through experience.
They said
we would not find game because they would be grazing in the full moon and would
hide in the shade during the day. They knew they were hunting for 16 years. The
tracker told me I should choose something else something easier like Impala,
about the Kudu I nominated he said, “That one is a devil you will not find it” one
kind guy suggested I choose easier prey as he did not want me to be disappointed
on my first hunt.
That night
when they finally went to bed I was up talking to the moon, praying to her
creator asking her favour and asking forgiveness for a life I was going to
take. When the sun rose I already had my second cup of coffee made on the
embers of last night’s fire and I added wood for the others.
I imagined
they discussed my choice and I imagined them shaking their heads about my
foolhardy insistence on shooting a kudu on my first hunt. I tracked her
throughout the night; I looked into her huge soulful eyes and asked her
forgiveness and explained about my people at home that I did not want to disappoint
and that I promised them meat for the freezer.
It does not
sound right does it? You will not understand. We will not understand because
for millennia men knew they had to provide food for the family. God demanded
offerings and we accepted unthinking not daring to question the one who granted
life and simultaneously controlled death.
We live in
Africa with the first people who recorded life in Africa and indeed on this
rock we called earth. The Khoi San recorded their life on the ancient rocks in
our land. Images of hunts and animals and people armed with bows and arrows and
spears.
I cannot
recall Bushman paintings depicting gatherers only ones depicting hunters. They
had a special relationship with mother earth and respected the animals and acknowledged
the importance of their lives never questioning why they were specially equipped
to be alpha predators.
They did
not believe me; the experienced hunters did not believe me when I calmly told
them I would ask permission from my creator and of my prey. There was a lot of
alcohol about and we were men and we over indulged as could be expected.
I am
certain they wrote it down too much whiskey when I shared my convictions and I
remember one asking me, “why do you know so much?” it sounded like an
accusation as if he suspected foul play. I knew from experience that everything
that could not be logically explained would be written down to some form of
evil because that is how humans are.
Yes I spoke
to the full moon and yes I prayed and yes I knew things that did not make sense
so it had to be either lunacy or evil and never ever a blessing because those
were reserved for good Christians like them. Not foul mouthed individuals like
me who had no morals. “He is married to a black, be careful what you say.”
I did not
care, I knew what I knew and I was going to achieve what I was going to achieve
irrespective. I am seen to be enigmatic and have always been no surprises
there. It is something that cannot be explained. “I do not understand why he is
so lucky, he says he is going to shoot a kudu and we come around a bend and
there it is.”
When it
happens once they write it off to good luck. When it happens the second time I
am to be avoided. Two hunts, two kudu, two bullets and now I am no longer
welcome. Suit yourself I did not choose the time you did and two years in a row
it was full moon when you invited me.
You could
not have known. “Hy is deur die maan getik”(He is affected by the full moon). I
just smile and I know you cannot understand the relationship and in your logic
there must be something darker, something more sinister. There is not, there
never was and never will be. She, the full moon, is beautiful and I shall
remind you why she was created according to your Bible.
Thus I
declare this is going to be a special year in my life. I did not choose it, had
no influence and never will. It is destiny that crosses our path, yours and
mine and perhaps, just perhaps my joy and admiration of the creation and its splendour
favours me.
Your Bible
also tells you, as do mine, that you will be granted the desires of your heart
if you find your joy in your creator. 2018 started with a magnificent full moon
and it brought joy into my heart and I know, I just know it shall be a good
year for me. Simple that is all there is to it.
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