Category: Oya

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What I Include in My Books

jewelofaset

I posted  this on my Patreon and thought people here would find  it useful.

So I have a book that just came out with ancient hymns in it (see here) and it occurred to me that many people may not know how this works.

Once I find a hymn or quote I want to use, I look up the publisher and email them with the information of what I want to include (the hymn, the full citation of the book or article, including page number) and information about my book (title, publisher, rights, distribution, approximate cost).  Then starts the waiting game.  Sometimes it takes a few days, a month and some take years to get back to me.  Yes, years.  (I’m still waiting on some in fact).

Now, once I hear back, I can get different kinds of responses:

  • Got permission.  It’s free.  Just send us a copy of the book and cite everything completely.  Sometimes, they’ll even give me a template to use for citations.  So, literally cut and paste,  just add the page number.  (and no, you can’t abbreviate citations.  Full citation for each hymn)
  • You may have permission if you send us money.  $50 USD
  • You may have permission if you send us money.  $200 USD
  • You may have permission if you send us money even though you asked for only 6 to 12 lines.  $198 USD  (Yes, this happened)
  • You may have permission to translate and include one hymn if you pay us.  $350  USD (Yes, this happened too and I said no)

And I must include the books in the bibliography as well.

So if the hymn is in German or French, I have to ask permission from either the author or the publisher to translate it and include it in my book.  If it is already translated into English, I ask permission from the author/translator or publisher to include it in my book.  Sometimes, they will ask for a copy of the book in exchange which I am more than happy to provide.

If it is in hieroglyphs then I ask someone who knows hieroglyphs to translate it for me in exchange for a book copy or monetary compensation.  If I knew hieroglyphs, then I could just translate it myself.  (But I digress…)

So I hope this helped to clear up any issues about what I include in my books as far as content or footnotes.

Thank you to all the authors, translators and publishers who kindly gave  me permission to include their works in my books.

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Oracles, Poems, Poetry,, Orisha, Oya, Poetry, Poem, Polytheism, Publications, Self-Publishing, Indie Publishing, Indie Author

Feast of Oya: February 2

jewelofaset
Statue of  Oya.

Oya is an Orisha over the winds, fire, rain, storms, transformation, commerce, and the dead.  She is an Orisha of hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms and lightning.  Her colors are multi-colors, purple or red.  Her sacred number is 9.  Her sacred animal is the water buffalo.  She can shapeshift into the buffalo and is a hunter.  She is a warrior woman armed with a sword and protects the sacred from impurities.  She is the goddess of transitions and death.  Her breath is the life-force of all things and the death of all things when it is taken away.  She is a fierce mother who is said to be fiercer than Her husband, Shango.  Oya loves eggplants, water, rum, red wine, beer, grapes, plums, and gin.

To the Ones Who Call Me

by JewelofAset

I am the Witch here.

I am the one who knows Her herbs.

I am the one who knows Her spells.

I am the one who knows Her heart.

What I want,  What I need

is known to Me.

What you want, What you need

is known to you.

I am the Orisha

granting desires and boons.

Giving blessings to those who honor Me.

A calabash filled with offerings.

Libations poured out onto the Earth,

which Olorun made.

I am the Wind.

I am the Thunder.

I am the Lightning.

I am the Storm.

I am Oya–She tore.

One who tears down trees in My path,

One who topples houses,

as towering trees fall.

I bring destruction for new growth to occur.

I bring swift cleansing and change.

Faster I, twirl and My power

enchants  and terrifies,

as things are uprooted in My path,

things that make one complacent or stagnant,

the ones who resist change fear Me.

Some loathe Me as they fear change

more than their own death.

more than their own demise.

And yet, I only come when you can’t quite see

what you are stuck in.

You can’t move on in a stagnant place,

or in a relationship that isn’t feeding you–

or worse, one where you are a victim.

Get out of your own way.

Accept My blessings and move.

Act.

Don’t sit idly by

and do nothing.

Take action in your life.

Do something–anything–

one thing–then two–then three

to help you change.

to help you move forward.

Then ask for My aid,

bring Me offerings in the calabash

or on your home shrine

and I will come.

Swiftly and without delay

I will come.

For I come to all those who call My name,

For I am Oya, of the Buffalo Horn.

For I am Oya,

the one who comes

when My children call.

Poem previously published in Divine Words, Divine Praise: Poetry for the Divine Powers.