The Ogoun Deity is a traditional warrior and is seen as a powerful voodoo deity of metal work. He is also prominently represented as Saint George in the syncretic traditions of contemporary Brazil. As such, Ogoun is mighty, powerful and triumphal, yet is also known to exhibit the rage and destructiveness of the warrior whose strength and violence must not turn against the community he serves. Perhaps linked to this theme is the new face he has taken on in Haiti which is not exactly related to his African roots, that of a powerful political leader.
He gives strength through prophecy and magic. It is Ogoun who is said to have planted the idea in the heads of, led and given power to the slaves for the Haitian Revolution of 1804. Therefore, he is often called in the contemporary period to help the people of Haiti to obtain a government that is more responsive to their needs.
Ogoun comes to possess people in various aspects of his character, and the people who venerate him are quite familiar with each of them. His possessions can sometimes be violent. Those taken by him are known to wash their hands in flaming rum without suffering from it later. They dress up in green and black, wave a sabre or machete, chew a cigar and demand rum in an old phrase "Gren mwe fret" (my testicles are cold). Often, this rum is first poured on the ground, then lit and, finally, the fumes generated by this are then allowed to pervade the peristyle. The sword, or much more commonly the machete, is his weapon and he often does strange feats of poking himself with it, or even sticking the handle in the ground, then mounting the blade without piercing his skin.
Disclaimer:
Do not approach this series lightly. If this were only a 500' bushwhack, I would call it hellish. The roots will trip you, the branches will shred you and poke your eyes, and the insects will consume you. But it's not 500'. It's over 12 bloody miles! I highly recommend you bring snake boots, lots of water, long pants, long sleeve shirt, lots of water, good hat, pokey stick, lots of water, spare everything, bug spray, lots of water, writing utensils, cell phone, lots of water.
Did I mention bring lots of water?
You may find a laminated clue slip in this cache. If you do, you might want to solve the riddle. This will help you locate the Gaia puzzle cache nearby. Please leave clue slips in the caches you find them in.
