Despacho Mandala

After the initial "bed" is created, some or all of the
following symbolic representations are prayed over,
offered up, and added: fruits of the earth (seeds, raisins,
grains, nuts, corn, quinoa); sweets (wrapped candy,
sugar); representations of the sea (a shell) and the stars
(a starfish, the five-legged star of return, unfolding into
the Fifth world); silver and gold papers representing
threads to the earth and the cosmos; confetti; miniature
tin figures of animals, people, and tools; beads; llama fat
from while llamas (symbolizing the sun); a baby llama
fetus (representing that which is unborn or not yet
manifested); white cotton (for the clouds that surround
the mountains and bring rain); many-colored wool (for
the rainbow bridge into the cosmos); condor feathers;
and so on.

In The Andes of Peru a Despacho is a sacred offering, a practice of
Reciprocity/Ayni offered to the Sacred Apus (Mountains) to
Pachamama (Mother Earth), to the elements of nature and the
Cosmos. It is literally and act of profound Love: Munay, a reminder
that we are one Pacha, we are One with no separateness. We are
connected to all beings, elements, spirits and sacred places.

There are over 200 different variations of Despachos, but most of
them carry a common thread: they are done in a celebratory
ceremony and there is a very clear purpose or intention.

Some of the intentions are related to Healing, getting rid of illness,
bringing abundance, loving relationships as well as bringing
harmony and balance to the earth, honoring new beginnings.

The ceremony brings participants into alignment with their personal intent, the group intent, and gratitude to the earth, which
supports us in all our endeavors. It also brings participants into internal alignment with the "three bands:" physical (yankay),
feeling and heart (munay), and spirit, or energetic wisdom (yachay). Finally, the despacho harmonizes the community through
the sharing of coca leaves and gifts of stones, all of which strengthen the luminous fibers that connect us all.

A traditional despacho is created by medicine people who work in alignment through their spiritual power. As the ceremony
begins, red wine and white liquor (pisco) are offered to the spirits of the mountains and to Mother Earth. The medicine persons
and all the participants feed each other coca leaves--the sacred plant of the Andes--into which their prayers have been blown.
These gifts are a sign of community and strengthen connections.

The offering is created on Andean weavings that represent the masculine and feminine in balance (mastanas and uncunas).
White paper, for clarity, is placed on the weavings for a base. A bed of incense is laid, to carry the prayers of the offering into the
cosmos. Flower petals (red for Pachamama, white for mountains) are laid in a pattern, commonly in a circle, four directions,
cross, or flower pattern, depending on the intent. Sets of coca leaves, called kintus, are prepared with intent by each participant,
then collected by the medicine people and placed in a pattern on the offering, again reflecting the particular intent.

A despacho contains symbols of everything: elements, weather, clouds around mountains, rainbows, the four directions, lakes,
rivers, fruits of our labors, earth, stars. Every item represents a part of the Andean cosmology, is imbued with intent for
connection to the mountains and the cosmos, and affects the totality of energy in the universe.

When the offering is complete, the bundle is folded, tied, and wrapped in sacred weavings. The shaman may circle the group
with the despacho bundle, cleansing the luminous bodies of each participant to remove any heavy energy, and blessing
everyone. These heavy energies, or hucha, become part of the offering, as the earth eats heavy energy and composts it.
Finally, the offering is burned. Participants do not watch the offering burning, so Apuchin (the old condor) can come to eat any
remaining hucha, and because watching might hold back some of the filaments being sent into the cosmos.

Don Bernabe prepares the space for ceremony

Opening Sacred Space, calling the Apus and Pacha Mama

A Kintu: 3 coca leaves. Don Bernabe praying to the Apus