Sacred tour with Puma Quispe

Our fall 2009 exploration with Peruvian shaman, mystic and healer, Puma Quispe, far exceeded our expectations. We were joined by six people from the US and Canada. Two other medicine people from the Andes also joined us for two of the days.

November 23

We gathered for our first meal together at Ulrike's Cafe in Pisac, Peru.

After lunch we headed off to Cusco to visit Puka Pukara and Sacsayhuaman, first stopping to get a view of the Sacred Valley

Puka Pukara is a 20 minute drive from Cusco. 500 years ago it was a place for visitors to rest and energetically cleanse before entering the city. It was built at the site of a major energy vortex and as such allowed visitors to soak up the energy there before continuing their journey to Cusco,("Q'osqo") or center of the Inca Empire.

At Sacsayhuaman, which was both a fortress and a temple, our journey took us through a rarely-visited section, with numerous power sites or "huacas". The week was to include many such experiences, as we each had the opportunity to seek out and connect with what would serve us.

Nov 24 - a very full day.

First we went to the water temple near Cusco to cleanse in preparation for our day.

Following that we visited two "off the track" sites. Puma lead us in guided visualizations, meditating on the crystal forms of Serpent, Puma and Condor. We entered a cave/temple dedicated to the sacred feminine to receive her initiation and to release any wounds of the feminine before going on to this site, the Heart of the Condor.

For lunch, we feasted in Chinchero, Puma's home community, eating many native foods and then being treated to a demonstration of native spinning, dying, and weaving techniques.

Next stop: Moray, an ancient agricultural site also thought to be connected to inter-dimensional energies

The high plains of Moray also give spectacular views of many of the high glacial peaks on the Sacred Valley including Apu Waykay Wilka

November 25

Don Sebastian, a native of the high mountain villages of the Q'ero, joined us for the day for a despacho ceremony. After adding our prayers to the despacho, Don Sebastian used the prayer bundle to give each of us a spiritual cleansing.

We offered the despacho to the Apus by burning it and then drove up to the ruins above the city of Pisac. There Sebastian and Puma gave each of us a Karpay, or energetic initiation, to connect us to the mountains and energy of the Sacred Valley.

November 26

We started our day with teachings about the use and work of the mesa, the medicine bundles that are used for healing and empowerment in the Andes. Next we visited the Church of Senior de Huanca, perched on the side of Apu Pachatusan. Once a year, more than 30,000 people walk from Cusco over Pachatusan to reach this church to bless their families and occupations. The name "Pachatusan" means "axis of the world". The church was built on the site of a powerful huaca. There is also a stream coming down the mountain long recognized for cleansing of negative energy.

We lit candles offering prayers for friends and family.

We drove to Ollantaytambo to see the ruins there. It is hard to take a picture that does justice to the massive terraces there. Ollantaytambo was a sophisticated astronomical site with numerous points for tracking the movement of the sun, stars and planets.

There is also a lovely series of stone fountains still carrying water year round for over 500 years.

Late afternoon we boarded the train to Aguas Calientes, the city just below the marvelous ruins of Machu Picchu.

November 27

Early morning wake up call so we could travel by bus to the ruins of Machu Picchu and arrive early enough for those wanting to climb Wayna Picchu to have a chance to do so.

Puma gave us coca leaves to chew as he tells us about this important site.

Puma explained the significance of this temple of the feminine below the Sun Temple.

The Sun Temple with Wayna Picchu behind

Here is one of the windows with a view of Wayna Picchu. It is an example of stone work so finely cut that mortar was not needed between the stones. It is almost as if the stones are fused together.

There are many different hot pools in Santa Theresa with different temperatures. The hot water oozes from the rocks seen to the left of the pools.

The altitude at Santa Theresa is only about 6,000 above sea level. Cusco, about a 4-hour drive away, is over 11,000 feet above sea level. Being close to the equator and at a lower altitude, Santa Theresa is semi-topical. The climate is warm enough for banana, papaya, avocado and mango trees to flourish.

November 29th

We traveled by train and bus to Quilla Rumiyoq and were met there by Dona Erina. At the mouth of the cave of the feminine, Dona Erina created a despacho offering to focus our prayers and intentions.

Each person was given the option to work with Huachuma, an herbal medicine prepared by Dona Erina to enhance perception. After the despacho was burned, we were taken to see what I called the "star gate"

The massive stones of this site were evidently buried by, or in advance of, the Spanish and were only uncovered about 7 years ago.

We also visited the Angel Wing falls at this site.

We spent the night in Cusco, treated to a scrumptious buffet. While eating we were entertained with live music and native dancing.

November 30

After breakfast we gathered with Puma to be reminded of the meditations and sacred hand positions he had taught us during the week. Jeffrey opened sacred space and Cielle gave a blessing to each person's mesa.

Then we visited Tipon to work with the sacred fountain for purification and blessings in preparation to return back home to the land of the eagle. The tour officially ended with lunch.

Following the tour with Puma, several of us had more time in Peru so we travelled to Lake Titicaca for several magical days there.