|
I recently read about the Balinese (people from Bali) who orient their house based on direction as well. All homes face Kaja - the mountains, upstream, up, the center of the island. Anything facing Kelod - downstream, toward the sea, down - represents death, many cemetaries are located in the Kelod direction of the island. Without showing you a diagram, like the one in my book, it's difficult to really explain, but instead of North, South, East, and West, they only have Kaja and Kelod. As I mentioned Kaja is what faces the mountains or the inner part of the island, while Kelod is the outer area of the island - everything that touches the sea.
In following this theme, all Balinese sleep with their head facing Kaja, so as not to become sick. In the body, the head and upper body is known as Kaja, while the feet and lower body is known as Kelod. Fullmoon Cat and I sleep in a similar manner. In Hawaiian culture, at least what my Tutu (grandmother) told me, you never sleep with your head facing or pointing toward a door or window. If you do, this allows evil spirits to enter and give you nightmares. To this day, I have never slept with my head facing a doorway, I also ALWAYS try to keep my feet from facing a doorway or window as well, I don't need them entering through my feet either.
In pertaining to my first post about arranging my home in a specific direction, I do my best, but considering that we can't build our own home we have to work with what we've got. Our altar sits on the east wall of our living room, and we've arranged our Pagan/Wiccan book shelf near the front door, on the south wall.
_________________
Aloha,
Ahonui
Patience and fortitude conquer all things ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
