Taripay Pacha - Peru
Early days of integration post my first trip to South America. Having been catapulted out of my current status quo and into the arms of Pachamama and the Andes embrace.....Whoa.
Below is a snapshot of my personal experience of this Taripay Pacha (meaning: judgement time; meeting ourselves again), recorded upon reflection.
Part 1:
A 10 day retreat in the Sacred Valley....maybe retreat is the wrong word? At times it felt like a boot camp for the psyche! The aptly nicknamed ‘masters’ retreat was intense, challenging, nourishing and incredibly reflective of my ENTIRE journey thus far walked. It felt like having a giant mirror held up to life and being summonsed to stare at it intently. It’s exactly what I desired in order to gain a deep internal perspective; I was starving for it - to truely see the path I had walked, in an unbiased, non-critical way. It felt like a necessary pit stop. My own personal 360 degree evaluation, but in this case, not from my peers, but from my own God self!
Retreat Centre beneath Apu Pisuriay
It was my Osteo who had the first ‘sense’ of my energy post landing. She noted how my field had held up despite receiving a ‘battering’, to use her language. Yes, thats true! It did feel like a constant slaying of the old and unnecessary. She affirmed I had ably held my true north, all the while being challenged with the onslaught of sensory experiences only shamanic journeys can offer. Dynamic stillness is what she saw. It all resonated. I was feeling, and she was sensing, the physiological changes post plant medicine. What a relief.
Prior to the trip, our sessions had focussed around the heart and the womb - the same two places the medicine penetrated most strongly. We both knew there would be deep integration here, and it felt exciting, expansive and evolutionary. Yes!
Peru captured me through her colours, the people, the culture and the beauty of the Andes. Most significantly though, through the people we were introduced to as our guides. These were medicine families that had chosen Chrissie Fire Mane, the retreat organiser, to help spread the message of their land to all, in the name of healing - Earth healing. And we had been chosen as the next initiates.
I had done no research on South America, so initially felt totally naive and clumsy around the language and the ritual. But my curiosity and intrigue was sparked immediately and I allowed myself to simply observe. I saw LOVE most strongly, and I locked into it. That was my medicine and intention for this journey. It was a love that felt magnetic and alluring, and I allowed it to guide my initiation into a new cultural immersion.
There were the Q’eros - direct descendants of the Incas and the keepers of ancient knowledge; Juan (who also drove the bus), Luis and their father Matthias. The Calero family - Mama Ruth, Master Herbalist and her Ukuku sons, Christian and Roberto. Kucho, a Shaman of Machu Picchu. We were among pure Andean people, who were so open and willing to share their culture, with so much love! This was their purpose as much as it was our healing.
Mama Ruth preparing for our first Chullu Chaqa. She gave us roses!
My heart had no choice but to open wide and receive. It was such a new and refreshing experience and a deeply healing one. Juan hugged me at the airport pick-up without any words exchanged; Mama Ruth exclaimed ‘I love you’ in her Spanglish, and wrapped me up in her bosom, again without words exchanged; Roberto announced he was here to make us happy and to love all (coming from a strong warrior man) and I believed him 1000%. I melted. I was safe, and I was wrapped up in the divine masculine, Pacha mama and the Apus and it felt sooo good.
The portal to healing was opened. Wide.
Q’eros overseeing the Despacho ceremony. Juan, Luis, Matthias.
I set my intentions at the Despacho ceremony loud and clear: love, healing, and clarity. To be an open vessel to unlocking parts of me that were ready to be awakened. And with that intention sewn into the despacho, the journey began.
Next, Part 2 - the Journey unplugged.