After breakfast, after ensuring that all of our gear has been stowed, we board our bus and retrace our route from yesterday over the Chinchero Plains. Our destination is the Sacred Valley and a day-trip to the Moray Archeological Site, where I camped last year on the Four Winds Society’s trip.
As two eagles fly over our bus, Adrille tells us that is an omen for good luck.
Along the way, Jose Luis begins a series of talks. This one is sacred mountains in this region. We learn:
Along the way, Jose Luis begins a series of talks. This one is sacred mountains in this region. We learn:
- Pachatucson is the regional apu for Cuzco. Its name means “axis of the world.”
- Coyar’iti (Snow Star) will have 100,000 or more people gathering their for the annual Return of the Pleides pilgrimage.
- Ausangate means “shouded in clouds”.
- Salkantay a pyramidal-shaped mountain that stands nearly 21,000’. It is located in the Villcabamba Range, which was the last Inka stronghold (1500s).
- Centa Mountain (Nose Mountain) is adjacent to Sacsayhuaman.
- Waykay Wilkey (Veronica) is a pyramidal-shaped mountain and means “sacred tear.”
- Pitu Siray/Sawa Siray are twin peaks between Pisa'q and Urubamba.
- San Juan Mountain is to the left of Pitu Siray/Sawa Siray.
After lunch at our hotel (Inkaland) in Urubamba, we head to the Moray Archeological Site. Enroute, Jose Luis tells us that in the West, our creation myths talks about abandonment and getting kicked out of the “Garden.” In the Andes, their myth is about co-creation of life. For shaman this is true as well, but in their case, co-creation must be driven by vision (not need). In contrast to the West, Andean medicine people source from Pachamama (Mother Earth).
It is fascinating to see how far the reconstruction of the old Inka walls have come in just one year. After hiking down into the largest of circle, we lay belly-to-belly on Pachamama to feel her heartbeat and connect deeply with the Earth. Jose Luis instructs us to send cekes (luminous threads of energy) deep into the Earth connecting our three energy centers so we, too, can source deeply from her.
It is fascinating to see how far the reconstruction of the old Inka walls have come in just one year. After hiking down into the largest of circle, we lay belly-to-belly on Pachamama to feel her heartbeat and connect deeply with the Earth. Jose Luis instructs us to send cekes (luminous threads of energy) deep into the Earth connecting our three energy centers so we, too, can source deeply from her.
After dinner at our hotel. Afterwards, we have a Haipay Ceremony to bring our hearts and minds together, to empower each other, in community. We make k’intus placing three coca leaves together, which represent the three Worlds — Uhupacha (Lower World), Kaypacha (Middle World) and Hanaqpacha (Upper World). Then, using our breath, we call upon Spirit and animate prayers of love, and feed them to each other.
Next, Adrille does a coca leaf reading about our journey together. Between throwing the leaves again and again, he tells us:
Then, Jose Luis tells us that the Q’ero medicine people have been in isolation up to about 10 years ago. Don Manuel, his mentor whom I met last year, is the oldest (98 years old) of the living Q’ero. He tells us that Don Manuel's mesa has left him — it was the source of his power. Now he’s very frail. He has seen his own death. He will be with us on our journey, though not physically. His children have decided that he will die at his village, which is at 14,000-feet elevation.
Jose Luis also tells us that for Andean medicine people, Winter Solstice marks the beginning of a new Earth cycle.
So much to ponder from today ... time for sleep and to see if I am visited during dreamtime.
Next, Adrille does a coca leaf reading about our journey together. Between throwing the leaves again and again, he tells us:
- “there is the promise of great unity in our group through the sharing of our individual knowledge;”
- “there are opportunities for us to establish strong relationships with Pachamama and the apus,”
- “two people in our group already have strong guiding stars;”
- “something will get ignited for those going to Ausangate,”
- "keep sourcing ourselves from Pachamama, the beauty of this place, and stop micro-managing our life-force so it flows strong and effortlessly,”
- "undo yourselves from every knot,”
- “live life to the fullest, enjoy yourselves”
- “forget about the things that concern us regarding consensual reality,”
- “be absolutely present to all that you experience,”
- “this is our home, welcome home to your family, your allyu (community).”
Then, Jose Luis tells us that the Q’ero medicine people have been in isolation up to about 10 years ago. Don Manuel, his mentor whom I met last year, is the oldest (98 years old) of the living Q’ero. He tells us that Don Manuel's mesa has left him — it was the source of his power. Now he’s very frail. He has seen his own death. He will be with us on our journey, though not physically. His children have decided that he will die at his village, which is at 14,000-feet elevation.
Jose Luis also tells us that for Andean medicine people, Winter Solstice marks the beginning of a new Earth cycle.
So much to ponder from today ... time for sleep and to see if I am visited during dreamtime.