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The Dogon’s cosmological tradition begins with a world system or plan that is expressed symbolically in their architectural form of an aligned ritual structure called a Granary. When you see pictures of their granaries their classic form is roughly pyramidal and includes a round base and a square, flat roof with an inscribed circle, four flat sides and a 10 step staircase up the centre of each side. The plan of their granary begins with a circle that is divided into four equal parts by two intersecting lines that is orientated north-south and east-west respectively that correspond to the four cardinal points of the Earth.
These are said to symbolise the axis munde. In the finished granary, these lines are supplanted by partitions along with a depression or small cup which is placed in the ground at their point of intersection at the centre of the original circle. For the Dogon’s, the four segments of the circle symbolise the primordial elements of water, fire, wind and the Earth. The round base of the structure is said to symbolise the sun, much as the smaller circle within the square roof symbolises the moon.
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Our Cosmic Connections in plain view. Give thanks for De-Coding! Does this super-charge the grain in some way?
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Agriculture is their key skill and forms their foundation of their economy. This is evidenced with their knowledge through their methods of soil cultivation and careful plantings which are mostly found in their rocky settings. I will have to explain their process as it will be too long to explain here. But any design of the Dogon does reflect their metaphoric stages of cosmological and biological creation. The grains especially the fonio seeds which are considered to them the “seeds of the universe” are carefully looked after as well as other grains…I will explain in due course for you. Goddess as always thank you for taking your valued time to read as well it is always good to hear from you.
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Meda ase, give thanks Good Sister. ‘Sirius’ agriculturalists, indeed, mastering their arid, rocky terrain. That’s the 2nd time within the last 4 days that I have heard of Fonio. The Sister who owns “Thrive” Healthfood Store in Accra mentioned that she carried some and the eyes of the woman who was interviewing her, lit up. This write-up mentions (briefly) the spiritual aspects of Fonio (https://yolelefoods.com/). Thank you, Goddess, for your cultural offerings, once again.
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Thank you, deep and moving perspective of ancient blackness!
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Prentice, you are so very welcome…truly.
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