The Taino Myth of the Cursed Creator

Before the dawn of humanity, there existed a realm of gods, a celestial expanse of fields, plains, and gardens. Within this world, wandered four brothers, bound by blood but ignorant of their parentage. Among them was Deminan, distinguished by painful scabs that covered his skin, a mark that set him apart and stirred his curiosity.

The Accidental Creation

One fateful day, the brothers trespassed into the dwelling of the supreme spirit, Yaya. While Yaya was tending to his gardens, the brothers explored his home, their eyes landing upon a giant gourd hanging in the corner. Driven by curiosity, they attempted to peer inside, but their clumsy efforts led to disaster. The gourd slipped from their grasp, shattering upon the floor. From the broken gourd, a deluge erupted, sweeping the brothers away and banishing them from the celestial lands forever.

• The waters from the gourd gave birth to a new world, a realm of seas teeming with fish and other creatures.
• Islands and caves dotted the waterscape, a stark contrast to the world of the gods.
• Cut off from the celestial realm, the brothers found themselves lost and aimless in this new world.

Encounters and Revelations

As they wandered, three of the brothers stumbled upon a house, the home of an elder named Bayamanacao. He welcomed them inside, and when Deminan arrived later, Bayamanacao revealed himself as their grandfather. He bestowed upon them a gift of special cassava bread and unveiled their family lineage: their mother was the Earth Mother Goddess Itibi Cahubaba, who had died during their birth. The brothers were grateful for his hospitality and the insight into their past.

The Curse and the Gift

However, Bayamanacao's demeanor shifted when he turned his attention to Deminan. He blew tobacco spittle from his nose onto Deminan’s back, causing the spot to swell and sting. Deminan became delirious, his back so swollen that his brothers feared for his life. In desperation, they cut open the welt, and a turtle emerged from the wound, swimming away with ease between the sea and the land.

When Deminan recovered, he finally understood the meaning of his affliction. He was a caracaracol, a being able to communicate with the gods, a link between the celestial and earthly realms. Deminan was the first in a lineage of caracaracols, who would maintain the delicate balance between people and gods in the world of humans, the world created by the accidental shattering of the gourd.

• The caracaracols unique power came at a price.
• Deminan and his successors continued to suffer from the illness that had marked him as special.
• Represented in Taino carvings and figurines with a swollen back and emaciated arms, the caracaracol is both cursed and blessed to be a conduit between worlds.

In essence, the Taino myth of Deminan serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness between the divine and the mortal, and the sacrifices made by those who bridge the gap between these realms. The story highlights themes of creation, family, identity, and the burden of unique gifts.