Artist: Lovetta Reyes-Cairo
Title: Reclaiming and Integrating the Shadow 1
Medium: Walnut ink on paper
Price: $150.00
Size: 11.5" x 9.5"
Artist Statement:
A woman was unable to have children but desperately wanted to do so. One day, she heard about an old woman nearby who knew the medicine for having children. She went right away to the old woman and beseeched her to help her bear a child. The old woman said, "Will you wash off its filth?" "Yes." "Will you allow it to wet on you?" "Yes." "Will you be able to be vomited on?" "Yes." "Will you love the vomit?" "Yes." "Well, sit down."
The woman sat down. She had food cooked for her. She finished eating. The night came, and the old woman told her to get into bed. "Whatever comes to you here, if you want to bear children—don't be afraid! Treat the thing well."
The wife agreed. In the middle of the night, a great snake slithered up to her. She was afraid, but calmed herself and welcomed the snake. As soon as she did so, the snake transformed into a little pillow. The young woman took the pillow gently, kissed it three times, and laid her head on it.
A while later, rats came. They began to pee on her, but she didn't mind. She didn't worry about her fine clothes. In the morning, the old woman came and saw what had happened and was pleased. Without the young woman seeing her, she took a basket and placed in it a baby whose body was covered with sores. She also placed in the basket medicine to heal the sores. She gave the basket to the young wife along with the medicine for having children.
"Don't open the basket until you are by the water," said the old woman. "When you reach there, cook some rice and open the basket. Take the medicine for having children with the rice."
The young woman did as the old woman had instructed her. When she had finished cooking the rice, she opened the basket and found the sore-covered child. She lifted the child out carefully, placed her on her knee, and kissed her repeatedly. She found the medicine to heal the sores, bathed the child, and rubbed the ointment on her sores. Then, she fed the child some rice, and the child was cured.