“Shamanism explores an area that contemporary Western science knows little about—the mind.
—Jonathan Miller Welsberger
On Friday afternoon Jason and I, and our group were transported to a spiritual setting in Chinchero, Peru, to participate in a blessing and purification ceremony deeply rooted in the ancient traditions involving sacred rituals performed by a shaman. Our guide, Salvador Torres who is well acquainted with the shaman did the translation. The shaman opened by invoking the mountain spirits, Mother Earth (Pachamama) and other spiritual entities to sit in a circle. Coca leaves, herbs, small offerings like flowers, grains, seeds, and other items were used in the ceremony.
Three coca leaves were handed to each participant and were asked to hold them together, and blow on them three times while making a silent wish or prayer. One by one, we were asked to place them on the small altar in front of the shaman, who offered them to the spirits, asking for blessings and guidance. The shaman wrapped the offerings in paper, than placed them a small, colorful, weaved covering over them. He then brushed the package over the arms and legs of each person, and when he brought it up towards our chin we blew into it three times.
A small fire was lit and the shaman removed the weaved covering and placed the paper wrapped offerings (flowers, grains, seeds), into the fire expressing—on our behalf—the intentions, wishes, or whatever we wished to be released. The shaman then sprinkled chichi (beer made from corn) and other sacred liquids onto the fire as part of the offering. He then blessed water and gently sprinkled it over participants offerings for additional purification.
The shaman closed the ceremony by thanking the spirits and closes the sacred space, releasing the invoked energies back to the universe.
Postscript: I had participated in such ceremonies previously with shaman, Brant Secunda of Dance of the Deer Foundation and in other venues.
