#aycayia

[calypsoscliff]

🐚🌬️🫧

[kitzatara]

Mermay Day 9: Indigenous Merfolk, And Colonization

There are several indigenous peoples who have merfolk legends. Many tribes of indigenous Americans in Canada, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean had stories of merpeople or water spirits. Notably the Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Shoshone, Obijwe, inuit and Taino. who have the Lumpeguin, Sabawaelnu, nibiinnabe, Ne Hwas, Water Babies, Qallupilluit, Sedna and Aycayia.

Lumpeguin were sometimes humanoid, other times fish tailed and even able to become weasels. Similar to selkies of European mermaids who had red caps, Lumpeguin had magic garments that if stolen bound them to the human who took them. They were anle to make large quantities of food like Finfolk could. They could make a moursel a feast, snow into bread, or had a pot of infinite food.

Sabawaelnu were said to be able to control the weather, or had songs that could predict it.

Nibiiinabe were said to be freightened by loud noises and were the totem symbol of the Obijwe tribe for a time.

Ne Hwas were sisters who swam to often in the river by their home that they turned into mermaids.

Water babies were known to be aquatic infants that in some variations had fish tails. They were also mostly maleavolent but again some tribes recounted that the spirits could be reasoned with or sought after for advice and help. A spiritual leader or Shaman would go to the spirits on behalf of the tribe.

Qallupilluit were monstrous child snatchers, who had amautik for carrying off children. Used like bogeymen to warn children away from cracks or thin ice where the creature could grab them. They are mentioned as far back as 1888 by Franz Boasin “The Central E*kimo”. Also called Qallupilluk. Descriptions very but it is usually humanoid, sometimes finned, or has slimy green skin.

Sedna who I’ve mentioned as one of the few merdeities was a goddess in Inuit culture. Through some tragedy involving marriage, an axe, and a boat she loses her fingers which become sea mammals and she comes to live in the sea, sometimes with a tail instead of legs. She’s been related to the underworld and thought to be partially responsible for lack of seals. A spiritual leader or shaman would have to call on her and help comb sea life out of her long hair.

Aycayia was the mermaid of the indigenous Caribbean peoples. Said to be and outcast, rejected from society and seductive. The first was cursed by jealous wives and later traditions say that Aycayia are made by other Aycayia. They seek out those cast out from society and take them to live in the waves.

There is also the yawkyawk of Australian Aboriginal origin who i have slso mentioned. Related to the rainbow serpent Ngalyod and had seaweed hair and often could shapeshift into several animals like a dragonfly, crocodile, snake, or swordfish. They like most merfolk could also manipulate the weather.

It is important to note that most sources for these stories come from outsiders and colonizers. It is unclear how much these stories were influenced, altered, or downright changed by outsiders who recorded the stories. It’s difficult to say when these stories came about and how since again the majority of sources come second hand. Nevertheless they are interesting and beautiful stories, and i rarely see indigenous merfolk talked about.

[shipwreckedwithcaptainmarrow]

[calypsoscliff]

Welcome🫧🔱

Spiritual 21f Bahamian-American

records of my travels, simple pleasures, and daydream visions

Girlblogging, mermaids, moodboards, my photos, occasional edits

[shipwreckedwithcaptainmarrow]

Hey everyone, so Its been a while in the works, but I finally got my youtube channel off the ground! Feel free to take a look. You can get a glimpse of me, the blogger behind Caribbean Piracy and in this episode I go over Mermaids in relation to pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy. Whether or not sailors of the time may or may not have believed in them, and what stories did exist from that time period. 

[theesirenaa]

@aycayia

Linktree. Make your link do more.

i do readings, i make baths and others stuff to get your life in alignment 🧿🙌🏽🤍 shop small this holiday season.

[theesirenaa]

hey y'all! i've launched my botanica site 🧿🤍✨ for any folx looking for spiritual baths, salts, soaps or readings- please take a minute to check it out 👐🏽⚡

aycayia botanica

spiritual baths, soaps and tarot reading services

[immortallionheart-archived-blog]

Aycayia - 2/4 Many talk about the healing properties of water, from the modern era all the way back to the stone age. Something about water has always attracted people and water itself gives life. This includes a unique race that is part of its life source. Many mistake them as mermaids, but in fact they aren't. They don't change when they enter the water, but they due have unique scales that form when they touch water that can be use for spells. The species is called Aycayia, a supernatural race that is so rare it's been thought to been extinct for the last five hundred years. For a human (and only humans) one way to become a Aycayia, they must be healed by another Aycayia. Much of what happens comes down to evolution. Most humans will heal but their cells only gain the temporary power for a few minutes. However there are some humans whose cells latch onto the power and morphs to become an Aycayia. The only ones who can become an Aycayia are females, the cells of a male do not match and they can't hold the power except for a few moments to heal. The other way is through birth, which is a very rare occasion as well. Magical Blood: The one reason Aycayia are so valued is the never ending supply of blood They can't be killed by mortal wounds that would allow them to bleed out. Their physical wounds wound bleed but they would never die of blood lost. The blood clots at a unusual rate but the wound itself requires human time to heal. This is why Aycayia rarely goes to a hospital because they can't explain why they aren't dying of blood lost. However, they still feel the human effects such as dizziness, pain, confusion, shallow breathes and other symptoms related to blood lost. Attraction: An Aycayia attracts the attention of supernatural creatures easily, specially vampires due to their 'unending' supply of blood. Their scent smells like the jasmine. They are sweet and enticing to the scent, and their blood has a intoxicating and sweet flavor. Immortal: Once a person reaches a prime age, they stop aging and live for years on end. However, this doesn't make them immune to death. Healing Properties: Though they cannot heal themselves, they have the ability to heal others. It requires skin to skin contact as well as a source of water. The water mixed with a tear of the Aycayia creates a supernatural healing rate to heal anything, much like vampire's blood without the need of consumption. Immune to water/Compulsion: An Aycayia can't die by any means of water. This means they can breath underwater and can't be drowned. They can no longer be compelled either, due to their constant 'healing' properties of their blood, it blocks any manipulation to their mind. Scales: When in the water, unique scales (colors unique to each person) appear along the thighs. These scales have magical properties and are coveted by witches for magical spells. An Aycayia can spell a scale to either heal or cast a protection spell for a temporary amount of time. However, these scales are linked to the Aycayia and when activated, can drain them temporarily leaving them vulnerable. Like all species, they also have weaknesses. They are human in most ways, with no supernatural strength or speed, a weakness to sage herbs, and can be killed by decapitation, heart removal, dehydration in extreme heat, poisoning, broken necks, and mortality limits (minus physical wounds/blood lost). The consumption of vervain has no effect in their system and is basically negated and 'healed' by their blood.