Despacho Ceremony

The Despacho/Haywarikuy Ceremony is an ancient Andean ritual dedicated to honoring Pachamama/Mother Earth. This sacred ceremony involves giving thanks, seeking blessings, and promoting harmony with the natural world. The ceremony serves as a way to maintain balance and express gratitude for the earths fertility and abundance. All that we receive from the great Mother to sustain on this planet. I facilitate this ritual 4 times a year for my community to offer them to come into Ayni/Reciprocity with the Summer/Winter Soltices and Spring/Fall Equinoxes.

The Ritual/Ceremony centers around creating an offering/feast which is a symbolic gift to Pachamama/Mother Earth. The offerings typically consist of coca leaves/bay leaves, grains, fruits, sweets, small tokens, such as seashells and other representations the shaman feels belong in it. It is an artform that is generated by my inner guidance. These item represent the abundance of nature and the desires of the participants and the intention of the offering. The offering is lovingly arrange on a base of white paper, then can be released by being burned, in water or buried depending on intent of the despacho. The one thing is they are all a gesture of returning energy to the earth and creating balance and right relation. There are many types of despachos that are created most are Ayni despachos, and there are ones for death of a loved one, for permission to receive rites, a Kuti despacho for protection, etc.

This offering is more than a spiritual act, it is a cultural expression that reaffirms the Andean connection with nature. The ritual is a direct act to work as stewards of the Earth, responsible for maintaining it's well-being. In Andean culture they are in direct relation at all times with all things especially in nature and giving back prayers, gratitude, offerings and mostly their love, service and wisdom. Each shaman/paqo is the maestro of his offering and works from his/her guidance, intention and heart. I have been blessed to sit with many maestro's in my time to learn from.

{Disclaimer: I am always sensitive to the accusations of cultural appropriation. I have been given permission by my teacher to share his teachings, love, ceremonies and initiations. As he believes as many of the Q'eros do, is that it is time for the Eagle and Condor to fly together. It is in this way, that the new world will be birthed. I follow my heart with the highest intention and integrity in all I do and always make a prayer for guidance from the unseen realms and they do show up to be of service. I have been taught an firmly believe that intention is everything and that is what creates the ripple in our work and world.}