The Spirits Move in Circles

I, feeling a little embarrassed for noticing, commented on the fact that I person I was introduced to didn’t look or sound anything like the ethnic and cultural background of her cousin. It is the accent that always gives the most information as to a South African’s cultural background. It has taken me a while, but now I am fairly good at recognizing the different accents. My friend smiled in recognition of my ability to differentiate the woman’s accent. And then, my friend who is the perpetual joker, had a really wonderful response.

It all has to do with circles, he told me. He explained that the two women are cousins because during introductions and the initial conversation, an extended family history is provided. One may start introductions with providing a first name, but then continue on to a surname, clan name and even deeper into ones ancestral history. Often, as with the two cousins, at some point a common relative is identified. Regardless of how far down the family lineage, they are then considered family.

My friend, simply and profoundly, physically demonstrated this by placing his two index fingers together to represent two individuals meeting and greeting each other. Then through the conversation as they speak the conversation moves out and away from each individual until finally the lineage comes closer together again until the lineage meets to complete the circle.

Needing to know more about the significance of circles, I began to ask around. I learned that the traditional rondevel (a picture is posted on my blog already), for example, is circular for both symbolic as well as practical reasons. The rondeval represents the circular nature of life. Spirits also are understood to move in circles. The circular rondeval is supposed to be a welcoming space for the ancestral spirits to enter and move about. In African culture, life is understood to be circular in the sense that it is believed that one’s spirit returns to earth to provide ancestral guidance and support. The circle is also symbolic of an existence that is eternally intact with no beginning or ending, therefore unbreakable.