Witch Key

The First Witch

Witch Key, Cuba

Our History; The Mendezes

It must have been almost 2 decades since my grandmother passed away . We finally found
the key and opened up that chest she kept of notes and stuff. Among all her photos, bookkeeping
memos, and other Knick knacks of gathered information about one woman’s life, we found some
rolled up sheets of parchment. tied in (my grandmother’s signature color) red ribbon.
Upon untying the powerfully tied bow the pages unfolded almost by themselves, only to
reveal a swarm of memories. Countless hours, as a child, my grandmother had me work on my
handwriting, by practicing the Palmer method, she scribbling along side of me.
This, before me, expanding its corners, whatever it told, was my grandmother’s
handwriting.
It began:

*”Cayo Las Brujas, Cuba.

Nuestra Historia; Los Mendez”*

translated by her grandchildren

“This key is a place blessed by nature, there is no doubt. A great diversity of flora and fauna. You
may see the largest colonies of flamingos on earth, the Colorful Tocororo bird, large iguanas, and
Jutias . If such privileges were not enough the popular imagination is responsible for bringing
greater relevance to this small island.
You see, a slender and vigilant feminine sculpture welcomes all visitors. It is the first indication that
there the legends of love and sorcery along with the wonderful landscapes will mark the lives of
those who disembark unto this place. This is my birth place. The seductive sorceresses who loved
and lived here before me, amongst the white sand beaches and clear and warm waters, they are
my mothers. These are our stories.”

II

“La Madrina”

This legend began with a story about a clandestine love affair between the overly protected niece
of a wealthy landowner and a local fisherman.

Luzia Serena Ynfante, at the age of eleven years old, came to live in Cuba in the mid 1500s, having
been held/orphaned by the Spanish Inquisition. She came to live here with her father’s sister Elena
Ynfante de Mendez and her family which included three female cousins Juana, Blanca and Ysabel
Mendez and their overly protective father Francisco Calvo-Mendez.
Luzia,having been betrayed and orphaned by her religion, almost upon arrival she became
enthralled with the native cultures of the Taino Indians. She was their equal and in return they
acted upon her the same curtesy sharing with her the arts of the Earth and the splendors it
provides for our benefit. From them she learned that the myth is the origin. It is born from the
human experience of what is sacred. It narrates the creation of the universe, the rise of the gods,
the appearance of all of the beings that inhabit existence. By dealing with the beginnings, which
one cannot access personally, it mythic space and time. In other words, a space and time that take
on a sacred dimension, in which mortal beings and the deities live in an eternal future. The myth,
in turn, is a memory. And as a memory, it performs a social function. The oral transmission of the
common memory of myth justifies the organization of societies, religious rituals, wars, and even
food and the way it is grown and prepared. The tradition that sustains the cultural unity of a
people is nurtured by the memory of the origin. When the oral transmission of this memory
follows its course, it develops and takes new directions. They told Luzia, and she vowed to keep
their beliefs alive, she swore she too would someday share these teachings.

Yaya – the Taino Indian elemental beginning of existence, the life-giving spirit. He expelled his son,
Yayael, who intended to kill him. When allowed to return, Yaya killed him and put his bones in a
gourd. These were transformed into fish. One day, in the absence of Yaya, the four quadruplets of
Itiba Cahubaba (the earth mother, who died in childbirth), led by Deminán Caracaracol, took the
gourd and ate the fish. The gourd fell, the water spilled, and the ocean was born on the earth.
Another time, Deminán Caracaracol and his brothers stole fire, the ritual of cohoba, and cassava
from Bayamanaco, the god of fire. Bayamanaco shot Deminán in the back. The wound grew. His
brothers opened it and a turtle emerged.

The Tainos conceived the island as the body of a woman. It was a sacred place that gave life. On
the east side was the cave of the divine serpent, Iguanaboína, from where the sun rose. Along with
her were Boínayel and Márohu. The three were considered the deities of good weather and life-
giving rain. Their counterparts were three other deities, those of bad weather and hurricanes:
Guabancex, Guatauba, and Coatrisquie. The center of the universe was the Cauta Mountain. On it
were two more caves. The first humans came out of the Cacibajagua Cave to begin society. The
third cave, to the west, was called Coaybay. It was ruled by Maquetarie Guayaba, god of the dead.

III

She befriended the African slaves,by applying healing tinctures to the wounds induced by her
uncle’s men and they in turned taught her the ways of the Yoruba Practice.

Yoruba belief is in a force called Ashe which is possessed by both gods and men. Ashe is a sacred
life force that’s similar to Chi in Chinese traditions or the energy that flows through Chakras in
Indian beliefs. A powerful force, Ashe has the power to bring about change, whether good or bad
and is contained in everything from lighting and hurricanes to blood and sacred names. The
Supreme deity of the Yoruba, Olodumare lives in the sky and is much more respected than He is
ever actually approached by worshipers. Olodumare is a distant god and when it comes to day to
day prayers, things are much more commonly handled by intercessors called Orishas.

Much like the Saints of Catholicism, Orishas are intercessors between the world of humanity and
the divine, often acting on behalf or even against worshipers on earth. There are several types of
Orishas, some of whom seem to have always been and were present at the creation of the world,
others who were actual people who made the leap to semi-divinity, and still others who take the
form of natural resources such as rivers or trees. One of the most striking aspects of Orishas is
how incredibly mortal like they are. Unlike the saints of Catholicism, Orishas not only marry but
divorce, eat and drink, and have their own tastes in everything from music to alcohol. In fact one
female Orisha named Oshun is said to have dumped one of her lovers because he made the
mistake of taking up drinking a beer she didn’t care for. They never claim to be perfect or even
close to it and much like humans also suffer for their misdeeds. Like most humans they have a
mixture of good characteristics and bad and challenge us not to perfection but to balance out our
own bad habits or deeds with good. Luzia strives to live in balance. Sometimes it difficult.

IV

Immediately after her arrival on the island the ill spirited uncle Francisco who was often moody
and feared by all because of his violent temper started taking a special interest in his beautiful
niece.

Originally a farmer from the Canary Island. Francisco Calvo-Mendez was among the first colonist in
Cuba. When a village of about twenty-five hundred Tainos welcomed the Spaniards with food and
drink they were thanked by capture and practically wiped out once the feast was over, setting
upon the natives , slashing, disemboweling and slaughtering them until their blood flowed like a
river.

Of those captured and sent to the mines the Spaniards required of them tasks utterly beyond
human endurance , bending them to the earth with crushing burdens, harnessing them to loads
which they could not drag, and with fiendish sport and mockery they would hack off their
extremities, mutilating their bodies in ways which can not bear description.

Tio Francisco was one of these beasts, that slaughtered other men like if they were worth less than
life itself. Luzia would not allow the heavens to bear witness to what his stares and touches
insinuated. She enchanted his morning jarabe with sweet leaf to entice him to be nicer, cinnamon
and apple zest to intoxicate his sense of her being and a little tilo just to dope him up a bit. All
herbal secrets she learn from the very people he helped eradicate. This entailed African magic,
the ability of obscurity in order to pour the potion without being seen. A skill she learned from the
very same people he holds; captive,tortured, shackled and enslaved.

Luzia lived peacefully, avoiding Tio Francisco as much as possible, finding solace in her cousins,
aunt (when she wasn’t busy with chores) and most importantly in the solitude of the dense foliage
of the island. Amongst the sea grapes, mangroves and lagoon she found all the herbs, barks,
minerals and even spices she needed to commune with her practices. Sometimes the creatures of
this utopian ecosystem would either out of curiosity or obligation join her in this jubilee of
existence. Birds and fowls of all kind,especially were partial to her ways. On more than one
occasion she had been seen there at the lagoon, at dusk, dancing with flamingos. The more
superstitious began to believe this mysterious girl was possessing supernatural powers and would
use magic to turn into a bird herself, thereby avoiding recognition.

On once said occasion, around her fifteenth birthday, she was observed by a young fisherman
from a nearby island. He was drawn to the sight by what appeared,at first, to be a tall, beautiful
and colorful dancing bird. His name is Pepe.

The start of piracy in the New world is a result of the Iberian suppression of free trade. The Spanish
and Portuguese, being first on the Scene, dominated colonization and they developed a huge
monopoly on trade with those colonies.

Pepe was once one of these pirates. Recently he set up, what he hoped was, a permanent
residency, in Cuba, across the lagoon on a neighboring key. He endured as a fisherman now, living
on better means than a fisherman should. His abundant but well maintained handsomeness was
that of a man of an education. His appeal was made more swarthy by his thick, possibly from
Portugal, accent that resonated from a deep and vibrant baritone toned voice.

“Con permiso dama, mi nombre es Pepe.” With an affirmative intonation, that startled Luzia for the
first time in her life. She let out a screech that was neither owl nor seagull. Or human. She gathered
her composure, still rattled, by the fact, she was approached without her awareness. What magic
he possesses?
In a whisper, “He’s Enchanted,” from the air around her ears. She felt herself blush. What fever is
this? As she delicately brushes her cheeks with her hand.
“ The same Encanto” this time the air told.
“By Yaya whose spell is this?” This; Luzia said out loud!
“Excuse me?” The air resonated with density of actual sound. Pepe’s voice.
In complete synchronization with what he said “AMOR” nature advised, ethereally voiced.
She tried to look disturbed, but could not help smiling, “ these birds! What spell is this they dance
about me?”
“ I didn’t see any birds.” Becoming aware of the birds, for the first time,as they dissipate into the
night skies, above him. “Oh.”
“They must have been brought here by the same inertia that led me, here. To You.” He cordially
added, mostly to cover his blunder.
This made Luzia’s cheeks rise and flush as her lips curve upward at the
corners. “ “Maybe, I was standing in their spot.” Awkward pause “Look. They are returning and they
brought friends,” she cheerfully proclaims.
The diversity of birds approaching is astonishing as well as for all the other co inhabitants
gathering about the two. Reptiles of all creeds, vermin, insects, turtles, manatees in the lagoon-
even the sawgrass seems to sway in a rhythmic purpose . All saying, all emanating, all projecting,
all vibrating one concept, one goal, one nature. “Kiss Her.”
“Kiss Him.”
“KISS!”

Their eyes cross gazes and effortlessly latch into each other’s souls. The hazelnut brown of his
moorish windows. The transparent teal of a gentler oculus. Of course they kissed. It was KISMET!

An urgency suddenly overcame Luzia, she had to get home. With out-so much as a word, she
broke the simple and gentle lip lock. Pepe froze with fear he offended the lady he intended to
make his bride. She saw this in his eyes,
“Return tomorrow. I must see to my aunt with urgency, please....”
“Go! I understand.” He interrupted with the same urgency he felt radiating from her essence.

She ran, she flew and in flight she had a bird’s eye view of her aunt in bed, suffering. Bleeding.
Understand this view isn’t merely the often thought of view from above but also the ability to see
simultaneously great distances in panoramic view from both eyes. As a gift of her magical familiar,
in bird form, she can envision thru solid matter. Not see, envision. Imagine that.

VI

Imagine, how atrocious! The worst case is where the disease grows and gets bigger. A patient
suffers from the great pain of no operation. Yes, in that time there existed no safe surgical
operation. They recommend an unbelievable variety of potions, and plant extracts, and
combinations to see if they can kill the growths . None of these worked. Elena Ynfante de
Mendez’s growths on her breast had grown and they were erupting thru the skin, and the sores
had grown infectious. Elena could no longer bare the pain of her health condition. Elena could no
longer carry the burden of hiding it from her family. Elena could no longer continue dying. Elena
was no longer breathing when Luzia arrived, a leaf of aloe vera, in hand.

No one was allowed in the room, not until after last rites. Luzia did not know this and she wouldn’t
have cared, she opened the door and pushed its heavy weight of solid wood open. Luzia steps
into the bedroom goes bedside and sits. She takes her aunt’s hand into her own, and rests both
their clasped hands at her heart. She was not familiar with the idea of disease and was not aware
her aunt was suffering from anything beyond the regular maleases of the times. She spoke with
her this morning and there was no indication of impending illness. How could this be? Was Tia
Elena capable of casting illusions? Do her daughters have gifts too? Why now? Pepe? At the
velocity these questions came to her mind she almost lost track of the present moment she was
in. Until she felt the presence of two men approaching. In her panic Luzia thought to flee.
Transform into an owl and fly out the window. Glancing around the room she realized the shutters
had been shut. No exit. She hears the men at the door. Her uncle and a priest. Father Rogelio del
Baptista.
“He’s had people burnt alive for heresy against the church.” The air whispered.

The heavy door creaked open. “Child!” Father Baptista loudly sighed. The judgement thick in his
breath.
“NIÑA?” Her uncle yelled enraged, lunging at her and punching her on the face. “Get out! I will
deal with you later. Luzia reached for her bleeding nose and stood up stepped aside to avoid the
priest and walked forward out the door. Had the priest not been there. If only!

VII

Balance. Luzia lost her balance and her nose continued to bleed. The dizziness was new to her.
She knew bleeding. She had bled plenty as a child. In the orphanages, where she first had to learn
temperance ,of the Catholic Church. The surviving child of two heretics. The crimes committed by
her parents? Questioning the church as to the disappearance of their thirteen year old son, Arturo.
A favorite altar boy of their church in the village of Avila in Castile, Spain. He had disappeared
after being chosen by the catholic monarchs themselves to serve at the mass they were attending
during their visit of Avila. No answers were ever given. Please if anyone ever hears of or from
Arturo Raphael Ynfante; of Avila,Spain. His sister hopes to meet with him someday.

“Balance Luz” she told herself out loud. “Be in the NOW. Where are the girls. Juana, Blanca and
Ysabel?” Still speaking out loud, to no particular one, since no one else was present in the house.
“Oh whispering wind please answer me.”
“Patrícia.” The Air replied. Patricia Frances McGuillicuddy. The rich Irish widow from up the path.
Very Catholic, of course Francisco would take them there.
Luzia set her track up the path, not knowing if she was welcomed there or not.After all Patricia was
one of the most (bird lady superstition) rumor spreader on this side of Cuba. By the way she would
look Luzia up and down, it appears Luzia is disliked by her.