As I’ve researched my Puerto Rican family history and Taíno roots, I’ve gone on a deep dive 🕳️ into their spiritual beliefs, especially their connection to the ancestors.
The Taíno believed that spirits, known as opías, lived in Coaybay, the realm of the dead, and could visit the living. Guava also had a special connection to the spirit world.
While the Taíno didn’t celebrate Día de los Muertos as we do today, we can still remember our ancestors in our own ways.
🌙 A little ancestor magic:
🕯️ Light a candle and speak their names.
🌿 Create an altar with photos and keepsakes.
🍈 Offer guava. I used a little square of guava paste!
💧 Leave water, coffee, or a favorite food.
🔮 Pull a tarot card or reflect on family memories.
❤️ The photo I’m sharing is of my great-grandfather, Félix Torres Muñoz.
Learning about my Indigenous roots and discovering the stories of those who came before me has been such a meaningful experience.
There’s still so much to learn, and I’m enjoying reconnecting with this part of my heritage.
May we always remember where we came from and keep their stories alive. 🕯️
Jen 🌙
xoxo