Pachamama Rock and Ceremony - Chinchero, Peru - August 18th, 2013

   

                                                                The Ceremony
      After the Sacred Valley we went to our guides hometown of Chinchero. Chinchero is about to go through some major changes. A US Company recently got the rites to build an International Airport there so this town where there are not many tourists is about to change drastically. There is definitely a lot of fear in relation to this considering the economy is largely agricultural and the land that the airport will be built on was once farmland that was bought from the farmers.

     It was in Chinchero where our guide and another one of the member's of his people did a Shaman Ceremony to the group.

     It was on altar that was made that I noticed the diversity of identity in Peru. There was a Peruvian Jesus, next to 3 Inca Gods as well as a Saint figure too and parts of animals. It reminded me of how the present and past are so easily connected together, and how it takes a lot to completely do away with the old ways, which means at least some traditions will always be around. Just as the ceremony we did has existed in one form or another even before the Incas.

     The Ceremony itself involved tobacco, being pressed and blown on the chest and head and a plant that was burned to add an incense. Incense tends to be a pretty common religious practice I realize now in hindsight.

     What the ceremony did, if anything was energize me. On the lead up to it I was still recovering from jet lag so was walking between wakefulness and sleep pretty deeply. The ceremony centered me since I think partially I didn't know what to expect.
 

                                                             Pachamama Rock
       After the ceremony I checked into members of the group before all of us headed to Pachamama Rock. On the journey there we passed an Inca Ruin where a Church had been built on top of it. When I returned to Cuzco I would see even more of this. Much of what were important Inca sites in cities now only exist as parts of a wall to a monastery or cathedral.

      First I should mention, Pachamama means Earth Mother.The rock is seen as holding the heartbeat of the world. Whether this is true or not, the cave in the center is really peaceful and I was able to meditate there for a while.

     On top of the rock I talked to family and did one last meditation, though I think I'm still very much learning how to do so...my mind at this point has not learned to completely settle into silence. There are always more thoughts to think.

The Sacred Valley, Peru - August 18th, 2013

                                                               The Sacred Valley

The next day we would travel to a site where the Inca were able to shape crops. The location was called the Sacred Valley on our ticket and each area of the site was made of circular terraces were the crops were planted and the water levels controlled for the different types of crops. It was a genius invention considering that it was made to grow plants that could not usually grow at those types of altitudes (the Andies).

    Part of the terrace had broke and the government was not able to repair it. How the Incas had built the site was lost to time. 

    It was here our guide Puma did another ceremony. It was a ceremony in honor of women since this site was dedicated to them historically. A forgiveness exercise and blessing was done. It was powerful and made me realize once more just how much a bully I had been to my sisters growing up, and any other time I'd been hurtful.

   After the ceremony I could see that others had found what they were looking for. There were many happy tears and moments of self realization.

                                                         Me and our guide Puma     
This would be a huge part of the experience that defined my time here (as well as the natural beauty of nature and the brilliant architecture of the Inca Temples and sites). I was with a group who it was okay to be vulnerable with and vice versa. Whatever time I needed for myself, I could easily get...this was true throughout the entire trip.

The Temples of Earth, Water and Fire - Ollantaytambo, Peru - August 17th, 2013

                                                                   The Earth Temple     
     The last place we would got that day would be to Ollantaytambo. It is here where the other 3 Elements Temples are. The most obvious one was the Earth Temple which we saw the moment we entered the area. It was made of Terraced steps where at the top were building for the rituals surrounding it.

                                                               The Fire Temple    
 Our guide Puma told us a bit about the place when we first arrived. The Fire Temple was made to hold crops and was an ancient granary. It was believed that it was a God since the Mountain was shaped like a face and on his back was where they built the granary, so it was like the Atlas figure was holding the world. We weren't able to go that area, and the ritual centers were on the Earth and Water Temple (which we entered upon arriving in Ollantaytambo).

                                                            Inside the Earth Temple   
    We were free to wander around and I tackled the Earth Temple with my family. This place sparked creativity and the best I felt was when I was away from the group. On the terraced steps it was easy to feel out of time and in full adventure mode. Suffice to say the feel of exploring that place alone will help set the stage for some Temples and environments in future stories of mine.

                                                          The Water Temple below 
   After climbing to the top we returned down to the Water Temple. The first place we visited was the Light Fountain which at certain times (especially during the cycles of the moon) would glow as the light reflected off of it. The place was calming though my mind still high off of climing the Earth Temple was not in a very reflective mood. Still found the place more amazing than I can describe though. The Temples were designed with inlets to keep them from breaking when earthquakes would occur. These holy sites were built to last.

   It was also here that a Cosmic Penis was built by the Incas. Yes, I mean that actually, a cosmic penis. The stone was carved so that when the sun hit it just right it showed the shadow of a penis. It was meant to represent the masculine to the feminine of the world. It was here our guide talked about the balance the Incas constantly sought between the two, and how he saw a loss of the feminine in our world and the need for healing for the Earth.

   I certainly agree with healing, though how to go about it is something that I think generations are constantly going to try and figure out. When a river gets polluted and there is a factory that is doing it that feeds the local economy, where is the right an

                                                                The Cosmic Pein

swer? Where is the long term planning for both the surrounding ecosystem and the livelihood of the village. I don't know, but I'd be curious to hear your answers. Sustainability is part of it, but what does that mean in this and other contexts? This is the modern dilemma I think of taking care of the Earth and the ecosystems within it, and its people.

On the Condor - Pisac, Peru - August 17th, 2013

                                                        Burial Temples at Pisac

      After over 24 hours of travel, the last thing I expected was to experience Peru so soon. One of the guides picked me up at the airport and took me to meet the group in Cuzco (where we would not be staying because of a labor strike) and off we would head to Pisac.

     The group was all ages, ranging from late 50's all the way to my youngest sister at 16. All were connected to my Mom through family or work. As exhausted as I was, I was excited to begin the adventure. The first place on our list was Pisac.

    Pisac is a giant Mountain shaped like a condor, where at the head mummies were once buried. It's a burial ground the pre-dates the Incas. Around the Condor are buildings were the mummies were created and were ritual was done.

 

Area of the Burial Ground in Pisac, The Condor's Head

    I've always found cemeteries comforting (I'm weird like that). There is something to be said for knowing that you will eventually die, and to see the history of those who have come before you. Cemeteries are history. Depending on how old the cemeteries are (like the one that is Pisac) there can be family lines tracing back generations. There is beauty in a cemetery.

     It was here our guide talked about how the Condor represents our higher self and
letting go or killing the parts of ourselves we no longer need or that are holding us back. The Condor is a carrion bird so has always represented death and the afterlife to the Incas, or the Upper World. This place was also the Air Temple (later we would be going to the Temple of the other 3 Ele
ments). While here I meditated and imagined a Condor flying into my chest. It felt comforting...before I fell asleep. Over the last 2 days I had gotten a total of 6 hours of sleep. Thankfully the sleep helped and when I woke up I explored the site a lot more and talked to my oldest youngest sister about her experiences in Peru.

   Lastly a member in our group had created a bunch of Peruvian crosses that she brought to the site to be blessed. Standing there with the group I couldn't help but feel connected. I was standing on history and with
 with the group ready for the next leg of the adventure.

The Outsider Goes to Peru

       Lately there have been gaps between the update of the blog. Part of this reason is busyness and partially it is also due to my growing apathy towards religions use in general. Suffice to say that interest was reignited by two things. One of my best friends telling me about faith work during the tornadoes in Oklahoma in his work for FEMA, and trip to Peru.

      The trip was largely a family trip but also was through my Mom's work, so I got to meet more people who my Mom knew or who were worked with my Mom. Suffice to say the group was amazing! On the trip no one got sick, and the differences in age was a non-issue. There were always ways to talk and connect regardless of our differences.

      The next entries will be exploring what I saw, learned and experienced. I would see how much of the indigenous faith still lives on, even after the Spanish Conquest. I would see and learn about the complexity of the Catholic Faith in Peru and how in many cases it has been integrated (or figures from it like Mary or Santiago) have been integrated into faith practices of the people, along with the faith of their ancestors.

      I wouldn't say that I believe in the supernatural anymore than I do before. The trip didn't change me in that way. I don't know if God or any other supernatural thing (spirits, demons, angels, etc.) actually exist outside of our minds and I haven't been convinced that when I do have a spiritual experience it is in fact a supernatural event or supernatural player who created it. I always remain open to the possibility but that is not mean I know or am convinced of it.

    This trip didn't change that fact, but this trip was also a chance to learn a lot about myself and grow with the help or silence, prayer and the rituals we did with our guide who is a Medicine Man and Shaman. The next many entries will be that story.