5. A Deeper Understanding

The mosoq karpay is the one sometimes called the Starkeeper rite. Mosoq has been translated as simply "new". But "new" is actually a very big idea. I've been thinking of this in the context of the "dream your world into being" message that I've encountered in Alberto Villoldo, Don Miguel Ruiz' "Beynd Fear", and Castenada's "Tales of Power". There was indeed something very powerful in the experience of receiving this rite from Don Francisco and Dona Juanita. I notice that talk about "power" is a little more in the open around here. And I realize that I-we (a generation) have tended to back away from the notion, discouraged by so many examples of its misuse. These karpays though, are conferring powers, kallpas, on us: to remake oneself, dream a new world, step into freedom. I'm feeling resolved not to hesitate, to take them in. And to grasp the power that's being handed to us now. The notion of being a creator led me to wonder, in the context of those dream-the-world-into-being teachings, just what might the parameters be, or the building blocks. By a series of "coincidences", I wound up visiting another teacher here, called Pedro, though I could not really say that Pedro was male. I'd prefer to say Pedrao or something like that.because the message that came through to me was not as if it was being spoken by a man; rather it was landing in me as feelings in my body, visual sensations, as well as language. I had the opportunity to ask, How is creation structured? . The answer that I heard may have been my particular hearing, but I want to share it anyway:November 25

Dear Friends,

I've gotten a little behind with this, but partly that's because more good stuff has happened. And partly because I got awfully tired for a few days. The altitude kind of caught me by surprise when it came to hard labor. I finally remembered that's what the coca is for: What a difference! Though I don't know the biology of how those alkaloids work, my experience is that they seem to open up some passages so more oxygen can get to the cells, or help it to be taken into the blood. Anyway I still have some sore muscles, but not the exhaustion, I can see how, in a society entirely dependent on human labor for survival in a not-very-fertile environment, Mama Coca would be a highly revered goddess. Could be the difference between adequate food production and...not. Or the difference in having enough energy left at the end of the day to create a deep and meaningful culture. I wish the USA would let me bring some home for my next backpacking trip.

The last excursion was to the ruins at Tipon, not far from Cusco. Tipon is both a ceremonial and an agricultural site, sort of piece de resistance of Incan irrigation prowess. So there was lots of water, and naturally Don Francisco was quite enthusiastic about the opportunity to do a very full rinsing purification before our ceremonial work. It was pretty chilly.

The notion of being a creator led me to wonder, in the context of those dream-the-world-into-being teachings, just what might the parameters be, or the building blocks. By a series of "coincidences", I wound up visiting another teacher here, called Pedro, though I could not really say that Pedro was male. I'd prefer to say Pedrao or something like that.because the message that came through to me was not as if it was being spoken by a man; rather it was landing in me as feelings in my body, visual sensations, as well as language. I had the opportunity to ask, How is creation structured? . The answer that I heard may have been my particular hearing, but I want to share it anyway:

The primary structure arises when there is duality, what we often see as masculine/feminine. Two poles. Like the spark that leaps between two electrodes, giving off light and energy; creation starts with these two energy poles. Yes, there is also a wholeness that transcends the pairs of opposites, but if we are talking about creation, rather than Creator, the initial structure is this duality. Then, you can imagine this arc to be pulsing and flowing, giving off heat that causes thermal waves to arise as well, and then the winds and waves.

Now, creatures all require some sustenance, and this is available because of that flow or motion. The mother gives the food to the child. The mother holds, sustains. Her body flows. Divine mother flows. The rivers, and the blood, that flow, allow life, give life. Life is the product of this profound flow between these poles. The mother flowing upward, the sky flowing downward. Inti Taytay, Pachmama, they are one but they flow toward one another and as they flow life is created, life is sustained. We're talking about the nature of the Divine as expressed in creation. This flowing , and then, the sea -- waves. it flows in those waves and they bring with them nutrients so that they pass by the creatures and each creature is sustained by the food carried by the water, and, on the earth by the air and by the creatures who move, or if they don't move then the food that is passed along either blown in the wind or moved by the current or picked up by other creatures, moved along...that is the structure -- flowing like that. Each being is a vortex of light, and each vortex of light is potentially connecting to all the others, feeding all the others and they are all being sustained.

It was a lot less abstract, and more organic, an answer than I might have looked for, and I feel particularly nourished by it.

Hundreds of offerings, to Pachamama, and to the Apus. The human breath repeatedly blown in offering, to the divine feminine and the divine masculine. A few weeks ago I was worried that because I don't speak Spanish or Quechua I would not be able to plumb the mystery of these ceremonies. It probably was a blessing: my head had only a secondary role to play, and had to get out of the way so I could feel what is going on.

My present journey here will end in a few days. Before then, we'll take one more walk in a field, for the ayni karpay. I guess I like "balance" better than "exchange" among the meanings of ayni. It seems to correlate most closely to that overall vision of how creation is structured. It also seems to be the way my hosts here consciously live: not having to be watchful about transactions, but resting in a balance that is emanating from the heart, and in which life flows, like the energy transferred by the waves of the ocean or the winds in the mountains, feeding and sustaining each life form. Including all of us.

Blessings to all of you on your own journeys. I'm noticing it's useful to occasionally ponder: what is it that I need to know?

Munay,

Jeffrey

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