By Matthew Ikonen
"Otorongo is a fierce warrior who teaches us integrity--how to leap gracefully from life to life."
I first met Otorongo in a trailer park somewhere near Ann Arbor, MI. The master shaman stood in her
house, surveying her students, silently trembling as the spirits began to make themselves known. She
closed her eyes while I was sitting in the corner watching the spectacle - people stalking around acting
like jungle creatures. The woman's eyes opened and I swear that for a second they turned yellow, like a
cats eyes, and she beckoned "Matthew, come."
I left my perch and took my place in front of her, for a few moments I thought she was my mother, but she
took different power objects and began to blow through them and into my chakras; it felt very strange,
like a cored out tunnel of wind extending from my head down to my feet. In each chakra was planted a
seed, and with each seed came a jungle spirit, and each spirit wanted to dance. The first spirit to really
make herself known was Otorongo, the Warrior Goddess. We danced what seems for hours that night. I
don't really remember much of what happened, it was very ecstatic; I do know that I was able to climb a
tree and see in the dark though. What a wild night!
Otorongo is actually a set of twins: the Night Jaguar (black with purple spots) and the Day Jaguar
(orange with black spots). In both aspects she is the purr-fect mother who grabs us by the scruff when
needed but she will also rub up against you to let you know everything is going to be ok. She really is
very sweet to her children.
The Night Jaguar is the spirit of death, she is the psychopomp who escorts souls from this world to the
next, but she can also be fear incarnate. This aspect of Otorongo can be fierce and unpredictable, often
her host (the invoking priest or priestess) will get blood shot red eyes, and in this case it's best to see
what can be done to alleviate her anger. The great dichotomy of the Night Jaguar is that she is also the
great sex kitten, er, goddess too! Her powers of seduction are legendary and I only have one thing to say
about this: ouch!
The Day Jaguar is much more mother like in her temperament; she protects and cleans us, she goes
hunting and feeds us, she guides us throughout life and teaches us when we need to get out of what we
are doing and leap into something new. She teaches us how to walk without leaving footprints, how to
stealthily become invisible. The Day Jaguar has no dichotomy, she is who she is.
If you would like to work with Otorongo, but you can't make it to Michigan for the Three Worlds
Shamanism workshops, here is what you can do: get an orange cloth with black candles for Day Jaguar,
or a black cloth with purple candles for Night Jaguar. When you are ready to enter ritual consciousness
begin thumping a drum or shake a rattle - make it slow at first, then let it pick up tempo as you go along.
Light the candles and begin calling her. She always comes to the voice of her children; but please, don't
be afraid when she comes. I've worked with hundreds of spirits and Otorongo always has the strongest
presence. You can literally feel her rub up against you. Offer her some water when she comes and ask
her to help you with whatever it is you need help with. When finished, thank her for her assistance and
put out the candles. Otorongo might stick around the house for a few days to clean your energy and give
you further instruction through dreams and visions.
-----------------------------------
Matthew Ikonen is a teacher, magical counselor and frequent visitor to the Magical Buffet ("yummy Pagan
food?"). He hosts workshops and seminars based on Peruvian, Haitian and Scandinavian spiritual
technologies in the Detroit, Michigan area. For more information please visit
http://www.matthewikonen.com or email ikonen.matthew@gmail.com
Magical Buffet Mythology: Otorongo
