Wind spirits are gusts that dance in the air but are also formed of flesh and blood. They tend to blow over fields, particularly those to the west side of the village closer to the sea. Like with bees, it is best to not disturb them and stay calm in their presence. If angered, they shoot bolts of lightning and spew rain. The N’emdai pray to the wind spirits for rain, though of course such prayer is forbidden to the Avodai.

Eight years after the founding, Farmer Noam made a huge mistake in his dealings with wind spirits. In early spring, a swarm of wind spirits danced over his fields for more than two weeks. Whenever he went into the fields he would become dizzy, begin coughing, and colors would form odd tastes in his mouth. He wanted to start preparing the fields for the year.

He went into the field with his 18-year old offspring, Rimon, armed with long scythes. It was the day before Rimon’s wedding day. They cut into the wind spirits, who bled all over the fields. The wind spirits darkened and swirled into a huge storm, striking them both with lightning. The storm and rain raged for days across all of Kahal, flooding the streets. Everyone stayed in their homes, fearing the lightning.

Rimon was paralyzed from the strike and Noam died. Rimon eventually gained movement in their arms, thank be the Light, but never in their legs. From their encounter with the wind spirits, Rimon developed asthma and always tasted colors.

Unfortunately for young Rimon, their fiancé refused to marry them due to their reckless deed. They never married. It is now a practice among the community to not mention weddings near a wind spirit. Only red wildflowers would grow in that field from that day on.

Commentary #

Since the days of Rafa Aviel of blessed memory, we have thankfully found treatments for encounters with the wind spirits. Rafa Physician Suri bet Dafna v’ Uri of blessed memory discovered that burning incense of amber will cure a cough.

For paralysis, Rafa Counselor Honi bet Niv v’ Ofir of blessed memory found that you can bury the patient up to their necks in warm sand or dirt. This unfortunately is difficult during the rainy season and can delay treatment for at least a season. Nothing cures associating color with taste.

-Rosh Rafa Malki 

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With great care, I enjoy watching the wind spirits from the side of the red field, which they still visit on occasion. From my observations, they seem to live in family units. I can tell individuals apart from their movements. Their dances are quite beautiful.

Recently, a young boy was struck by a wind spirit right at the start of the rainy season. We wrote to Rafa Shamira bet Yuva’ v Tzadok of Zuli where wind spirits are more prevalent to see if there may be another cure. She wrote back that you can wrap the impacted limbs in a juniper and mustard plaster then wash the area in aqua vitae, water collected from a lake or river on the full moon. 

We also learned from her letter that if wind spirits become a nuisance, burning amber near them also scares them off.  

-Rosh Rafa Shai