Molin-olin

The "spirit brother" of a child. As soon as the child is born the midwife cuts the navel cord and removes the afterbirth. This is wrapped, first in a dirty cloth and then in a good clean cloth, "for it is the brother of the baby." It is buried under the house ladder or beneath the stove where no animals can get to it. Soon it becomes earth but its spirit returns to the sky where it watches its living brother. It never dies.

It is said that the first baylan, or medium, was taught by Molin-olin, the spirit of his afterbirth brother. Before the baylans call any other spirits, they must always address Molin-olin, for it is he who is the patron of all baylans.

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