Encruzilhada/Crossroads

A composition to continue walking one step after the other.

I thought I started praying for Exú and noticing that I’m at a crossroads in my life just this month. But I was organizing my studio today and opened an old sketchbook to find I was writing about the Encruzilhada and Exú in 2018. In any case, this month, my sister sent me a prayer for Exú written by Sidnei Barreto Nogueira that innitiated me into creating the composition I’m sharing here.

This is intended to be a sample text for future paid subscribers. In posts for paying subscribers (published on Mondays), I share insights on art-making, prompts or propositions, or ideas for getting one moving in every sense to continue their/our creative practice. I call these “compositions,” as they are artworks intended to be done with others.

At some point in the past, I heard that knee pain indicated that one is taking the wrong path in life. At the present moment, I have no idea what a “wrong path” means, as life feels like an endless meandering. But my knee has been weirdly bothering me these days. When I walk, it is as if the patella spins in various directions, and I have to consciously align and hold it with the muscles around it to step down without causing pain. I started reading a prayer for Exú this past week, and this knee pain in connection with my faith to find the “right path” at this crossroad in my life feels timely. 

I sat outside in the sun and used my children’s crayons to draw on my knee. Then I held it with both hands and moved my leg around, stretching it and folding it consciously and carefully. I thought about Nogueira’s prayer and repeated aloud the phrases I remembered. I expanded the prayer in my own way for as long as I felt like moving my legs. Then, I stopped to take a couple of pictures and made a video of my leg moving.

This composition situates the particular part of the body that is calling for attention with a general perspective of life while aligning intention, thought, and creation. How might you add your own notes to it?

I was surprised by how long the crayons stayed on my skin afterward, which served as a sweet reminder of my hope and playful act. The image of my knee on my computer now finishes the aesthetic part of the work as I notice how interesting my skin looks up close.

Here is Sidnei Barreto Nogueira’s prayer for Exú, as it was given to me in Portuguese by my sister, and its translation to English:

Great Exu, messenger of the paths, guardian of the portals, I invoke you with all respect and devotion. I ask for your blessing on this journey, that you protect me from obstacles and guide me at every crossroads. Exu, lord of the crossroads, with your multiple and unequal energy, be a beacon in my decisions. Give me strength at every crossing, at every curve. Powerful Exu, knower of the secrets and twists and turns of life, intercede for me in negotiations; may I always receive what I deserve and that the exchanges be fair. May no one steal from me. With your powerful Ogó, clear the obstacles in my path and break down barriers so that success and prosperity come my way. May I be able to settle my contradictions and transform them into a path, into fertile paths. Exu, guardian of the starting point, protect me from negative energies, ward off evil influences, free me from enemies, evil eyes, envious people, and the weak. And I pray to you, who lead me on the path of order and truth. With humility and gratitude, I worship you. Exu, lord of communication and balance, bring me wisdom and discernment so that I may walk my path with integrity, joy, and abundance. Exu, protector of the feet that walk and take us to your market, be by my side on all journeys, protect me from dangers and injustices, and always be a path in my life. May I never lack the courage to break through and continue. May I also be a path for other people. I salute you, Exu, with all my respect, and I ask for your protection and spiritual help. May your presence be with me in times of affliction, and may your strength always guide me to victory. Laroyê!

Grande Exu, mensageiro dos caminhos, guardião dos portais, eu te invoco com todo respeito e devoção. Peço a sua benção nessa jornada, que me proteja dos obstáculos e me gue a cada encruzilhada. Exu, senhor das encruzilhadas, com sua energia multipla e desigual, seja farol nas minhas decisões. Me dê força em cada travessia, em cada curva. Poderoso Exu, conhecedor dos segredos e das voltas da vida, interceda por mim nas negociações; que eu sempre receba o merecido e que as trocas sejam justas. Que ninguém me roube. Desobstrua com seu poderoso Ogó os obstáculos em meu caminho e quebre barreiras, para que o sucesso e a prosperidade venham ao meu encontro. Que eu seja capaz de ajeitar as minhas contradições e transformá-las em caminho também, em caminhos férteis. Exu, guardião do ponto de partida, proteja-me das energias negativas, afaste as influências maléficas, livra-me dos inimigos, dos maus olhos, dos invejosos e fracos. E rogo ao senhor, que me conduz pelo caminho da ordem e da verdade. Com humildade e gratidão eu lhe rendo culto. Exu, senhor da comunicação e do equilíbrio, trazei-me sabedoria e discernimentos para que eu possa trilhar mey caminho com integridade, alegria e abundância. Exu, protetor dos pés que caminham e nos levam até seu mercado, esteja ao meu lado em todas as jornadas, proteja-me dos perigos e das injustiças, e seja sempre caminho em minha vida. Que não me falte coragem para romper e continuar. Que eu também seja caminho para outras pessoas. Eu te saúdo, Exu, com todo o meu respeito, e rogo a sua proteção e auxílio espiritual. Qwe a sua presença esteja comigo nos momentos de aflição, e que sua força me guie sempre para a vitória. Laroyê!