Jesus as hopul Woki (Folded Feet)

by

Anita Endrezze


        Jesus was a Yaqui. He walked from rancheria to rancheria, in the four directions. He wore sandals made out of plant fibers and a straw hat. He crossed the rivers, wading up to his knees in water, and traveled through deserts of thorn bushes and snakes. He was a curer, and possessed seataka, a flower body, that is, one full of spirit power. It is a gift given in the womb.

        One day, Jesus was walking with San Pedro. It was time to eat, but they had no food. Soon, however, they saw a house and Jesus sent San Pedro there to get something to eat. When San Pedro returned, he was gnawing on a chicken leg.
        "Why does this chicken have only one leg?" Jesus asked his follower.
        "Oh," replied San Pedro, "all the chickens in this part of the country have just one leg."
        He pointed to a tree in the yard where many chickens were sleeping, standing on one leg, with the other folded up under their feathers.
        "Look! Just as I told you," said San Pedro.
        Jesus picked up a rock and threw it. When it hit a chicken, the bird squawked, then stood on both feet.
        "Oh!" cried San Pedro, "a miracle!"
        Then he smiled and taking up several small stones, he threw them at the flock.
        "See," said San Pedro, "I can perform miracles too!"

        They say that the first Spanish priests came, carrying a cross and the Yaquis approved since they already believed in the importance of the four directions.
        The cross is referred to as Itom Ae Santisima Cruz, or Our Mother Most Holy Cross, but the cross is not female. It is male and wears a robe with rosary, which is made of rolled and dried rose petals.
        When Jesus was killed, his blood became red roses, flowers that fell to the earth. When Jesus died, the angels took off their crowns. When he died, he was nailed to the cross he had made himself and his feet were folded over.


an old story retold in Throwing Fire at the Sun, Water at the Moon, a work in progress.

© 1997 Anita Endrezze

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