The language used in this video is based on the Primario Basico del Taino-Borikenaiki, so you may find other terms when doing your research.

Aside from indicating direction (North, East, South, West), cardinal points are used by Taino ancestors as a guide for directions we can point to when encountering spiritual trouble. Each point has a sacred animal associated with them to provide guidance in times of need.

• North (palápuna) - Hummingbird (kolibrí)
  • hummingbird represents wisdom gained through experience.
  • seen as a messenger from the great spirit because it came from the sky and went from flower to flower to help them grow
• East (winá) - Hawk (guaraguáo)
  • the hawk represents illumination; and enlightenment in a moment of perfect balance
• South (uxípuna) - Turkey (guánajo)
  • turkey represents innocence; open-mindedness
  • reminds us to be like children, always ready to learn
• West (wápuna) - Owl (múkaro)
  • owl represents introspection; the power to look into one’s soul
  • the shaman or spirit leader in Taino spirituality was closely connected to the owl because it is a night creature and is associated with the cycle of death. death isn’t necessarily a bad thing in the Taino culture; it means you go to the underworld where all the other spirits are. The owl acts as a messenger, the eagle of the night, directly associated with the spiritual world.