The Wood Beings' Green Domain by Leticia Toraci
Ask permission before entering the woods.
Be respectful.
Be humble.
Here, you own nothing.
The woods have owners.
The entities who walk this and other realms.
There are beings in the woods:
The Curupira watching with its feet turned back,
The saci, children born of bamboo,
Faster with their one foot than you with your two.
Bring offerings,
Tobacco,
If you want safe passage through their green realm.
If you enter the woods as if you own them,
You may stumble.
You may fall.
You may lose your things
Or never be seen again.
Don't whistle if you hear someone whistle.
Don’t look back if you hear a rustle and steps.
And never enter the woods at dusk or dawn,
Between night and day,
From dusk to night.
From night to dawn.
During this time the ways of this and other realms come together.
And animals’ and entities’ paths converge.
Not all who enter the woods get to leave them.
Not all who enter are allowed to return home.
Nature is not your servant
And you are not the master of the woods,
Only one of its beings,
Blind to what your limited eyes can’t see.
Deaf to what your ears can’t hear.
Bring a dog,
It can see and hear better than you ever can.
And never enter where your dog doesn't want to go.
The beings in the woods are smarter than you.
They mimic voices and delight in playing pranks.
If you hear your name gently murmured in the wind,
Be still—
Don’t answer.
Was a person calling you,
Or not?
Beware if there is sudden silence.
Something may be near you.
If there is a strong smell of carrion,
A predator may be near:
The jaguar,
Or an entity.
It could be pai-do-mato,
The giant tree man who lives in another, purgatory plane,
And eats humans.
Never break branches or twigs,
Especially at night.
Never make unnecessary noises—
This attracts things.
Never follow strange lights in the woods.
If you do, you will see things you don’t want to see.
Or you will be led to places you will never leave.
Beware of rivers and still dark waters.
The mesmerizing voice of Iara
Has taken too many souls to the deep.
Beware of a beautiful, charming,
And elegant man dressed in white.
His white hat covers his face and hides his long nose.
Beware of the pink dolphin, the boto,
Who seduces women and
Convinces them to take a walk along the riverbank
Leaving them pregnant,
Disappearing at dawn.
Be humble before nature.
Here, you own
And control
Nothing.