Ceremonies

There are many beautiful traditional ceremonies. They are held for a variety of reasons:

  • to celebrate an event such as a wedding or a birth 
  • to bring balance to a situation or place
  • to honor or connect to the land
  • to cleanse after or during a difficult time
  • for a new venture or a new home
  • to celebrate the changing seasons

Traditional Despatcho Ceremony, led by Don Martine & Don Umberto (looking into camera) as well as number of other male and female Q'ero Liaka (Peruvian name for shaman or medicine person). Campsite to the left - it was bitterly cold and the ceremony went on until it was dark and the full moon rose above us.

Fire Ceremony

This is both a very healing and beautiful way to honor yourself, your journey and the earth. This ceremony is usually preformed on the full moon, although any time that you feel called to do so is the right time.

Working with fire is a powerful means of personal transformation. It is an opportunity to release and let go of anything that no longer serves you and bring in the light and warmth of the fire into your luminous energy field.

More detail on this can be found under the section 'Working on your Own'.

Despatcho

A despacho is the traditional Andean practice of the Q'ero Shaman.  

  Q'ero elders Don Umberto and Donna Bernadina preparing before a Ayni Despatcho, held at the Sorceror's Stone, Patchatusan, Peru - the year before the ceremony above.

A Despatcho is a beautiful ceremony of prayers, (kintus) blessing and deep cleansing. It is a ceremony created from local fauna and flora, plenty of sweets and colourful items. The items incorporate represent the Sun and the Moon, the stars, rivers and mountains (apus), plus all the elementals from the nature realms and Great Spirit. At its heart a despacho is done to honour Pachamama, Mother earth.

There are many types of despatchos. One such is an 'Ayni Despacho' which is done to bring about balance (ayni) for an individual or group of individuals. It is often done at times of great change or celebration such as a new home, a new venture, an engagement or any other [ositive events within our lives. It is a loving ceremony of deep cleansing. It can also be done when an individual feels they are out of balance for whatever reason and wishes to return to ayni.

Another type of despacho is a 'Kuti' (or dark) Despacho that is done for protection or shifting negative affinities and energies for an individual. It is a very powerful ceremony and honors all aspects of the Heavens and Earth. It comprises appropriate items to shift the energies.

With any despacho, after creating the offering, then tying and wrapping it in a special ceremonial cloth, the client is cleansed from head to foot for a deep, cellular and energetic cleansing. The despacho is then buried or burned in a ceremonial fire.

The ceremony can be individual or can include family and friends. Please allow a full two hours.


 

Dawn over the Amazon after an Ayahuasca Ceremony on the 'Mother of God' river.

Large orbs appearing after a private ceremony in Bryce Canyon, Utah.