Palero Tata Rodriguez is your guide through this exploration of Palo Kimbisa, an Afro-Cuban religion where nothing is as it seems: elements of nature become spirits that speak to the Tata and initiates, clay pots become miniature sacred groves, and a chef becomes a Tata - a counselor, protector, and teacher. Palo goddaughter Sophia Kelly Shultz experiences and relates Tata Rodriguez’s practices through anecdotes, firsthand accounts, and exquisite pen-and-ink illustrations. Special passages bring life to concepts represented by each Spirit; others highlight important facets of the palero’s beliefs and practices. Stories invite anyone, from future initiates to those who simply wish to know more about this religion, to get a feel for the rules and practicalities - and the magic - of Palo. AUTHORS: Not quite an itinerant preacher, peripatetic palero Tata Rodriguez moves his family hub as work, housing, and/or the Spirits dictate. He currently lives in Florida, where, when not working as a chef or with the Spirits (or both), he enjoys fishing and painting. Definitely an itinerant author and artist, Sophia Kelly Shultz, who is also an award-winning quilter and needleworker, lives in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, with her extremely patient husband, David. 29 b/w illustrations