This morning I awoke rested and refreshed. After breakfast we boarded our bus and drove up to the Chinchero Plains to the Moray Circles. These agricultural circles fascinate me — both for their beauty and the incredible feat the Inka achieved here through the hybridization of potatoes so people throughout their empire — regardless of altitude — would be able to produce food |
There, we hiked down to one of the smaller circles to hold ceremony that further connected us to Pachamama. Much progress has been on rebuilding the stone terraces since the first time I was here in 2002.
Our next stop was to the huaca known as the Temple of the Moon (Quillaromano or Mother of the Rock). This was my first visit to this sacred site. During lunch, we learned that the altar of this huaca is connected to the sacred mountain Salkantay.
Carved into it is a half-circle delineated by seven segments that represent the seven saiwas or organizing principles that make up the Andean cosmology. Loosely translated, the word saiwa refers to a stone obelisk used as a marker. The seven saiwas are conceptual maps that provide orientation to understand the nature of power and consciousness. |
Like the Noble Truths of Buddhism, the saiwas are truths for enlightened people. Through embodiment, these seven principles transform information into power that can “grow corn” and serve, too, as the backbone of Andean energy healing practices. The seven saiwas are:
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Sitting in this gorgeous location, it is easy to understand how these saiwas came to be. The Universe, the earth, and all of us are inextricably connected. The energies of Pachamama rise up into me as I am seated on the ground mesmerized by the landscape.
Don Martin conducted a despacho ceremony honoring Pachamama. Afterwards we individually worked with our mesa to anchor our medicine bodies to this huaca. Then, each of the medicine people — don Martin, Adolpho, Francesco and Juan — blessed our mesas.
On the drive back to our hotel in the Sacred Valley, we passed the village of Surétey, which has numerous agricultural terraces and a sophisticated water irrigation system.
As previously mentioned, how the apus come to don Martin is very different than how they come to Adolpho. Tonight, the apus talked through don Martin, and with each his voice took on new tonalities, speech mannerisms, and inflections. Even the dialect shifted between Quechua and Spanish. After the ceremony was over, don Martin told us that, according to the apus, many of us are starting new pachas — a new cycle.
Tonight I slept with my mesa open to accelerate all that has been taking place within my mesa and my unconsciousness. I easily fell asleep.
Tonight I slept with my mesa open to accelerate all that has been taking place within my mesa and my unconsciousness. I easily fell asleep.