In Quechua (the ancient Inca language), Pachamama means Mother Earth. She was and is worshiped across Cusco and the Andean world, for thousands of years. Pachamama is the giver of food, water, a female natural energy which provides everything humans need for survival. This is why she was highly and constantly revered since the dawn of Peruvian civilizations.
Andean and Inca societies always had shamans who specialize in the mystical rituals to Pachamama and others, like the reading of coca leaves. These mystical rituals still nowadays are a part of Andean culture, with both local and foreign people doing them. TOUR IN PERU also has several packages for visitors who want to take the chance of doing these ceremonies with genuine Inca lineage shamans, while enjoying the other wonders of our region.
Next we are going to see the main Inca/Andean mystical rituals visitors can do while staying in our amazing Cusco region, so full of history and mysticism.
- Offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth): this is one of the traditional mystical rituals in Cusco and throughout the Andean region! The idea is to venerate the female spirit of Earth, the one that provides fertile soil, crops, water and all things essential for our survival. In time, this mystical ritual has evolved into a ceremony in which people also ask for all things material, like house, car, money and similars. The ceremony is done by a genuine shaman, one who has gone to the sacred mountain Ausangate and has been given the energy to heal and do any mystical rituals. The shaman will start putting figurines of all things wished (for example, food, money, house, car, etc) on a special cloth, praying and chanting over them, blessing the offering to Pachamama, spraying it with flowery water, burning holy wood. Finally, the offering to Pachamama is wrapped and the shaman will take it and bury it next to one sacred mountain. August 1st is Pachamama day in Peru and other Andean countries; moreover, it is a holy month in Cusco, so this is the ideal month to come here if you also want to do these Inca mystical rituals. Actually, many people here in Cusco go see a shaman to do this ceremony every August.
- Reading of Coca Leaves: the coca leaf is central in Cusco culture, where it has nothing to do with the drug derived from it. It has been used as an energizer for Andean people who always had to face demanding work and weather. Also, it was a trade currency; for example, the Inca kings used large amounts of it to reward loyal people. The reading of coca leaves is one of mystical rituals also done by genuine shamans; in it, he connects with the spiritual energies of Pachamama to give the consultant the best advice for the present and the future, in all areas like family, financial, relationships, etc. The shaman throws the leaves on a cloth, in the middle of a special setting, with statues of the Andean sacred animals: llama, the cougar and the snake.
- Cleansing of Negative Energies: this is different among mystical rituals; here, shamans will have the person standing up (previously, they will give wise advice on how to avoid creating negativity in life) and sing, pray upon him, additionally using flowery water, power rods, rue plants, condor feather, surrounded by statues of Andean power animals, burning holy wood. The aim is to purify the person from sin and bad karmas, using the subtle energies of Pachamama and all nature. It can be done at special spots in Cusco.
- Flowering Bath: this is one more of mystical rituals, widely done in Cusco, by locals and foreigners alike. The shamans will pray, sing, use flowery water, power rods, holy woods, surrounded by Andean power animals, so the person will experience blossoming in all areas of life. Additionally, the shamans perform songs and dances with typical instruments. Finally, the person is given some special gifts which are actually talismans for good luck, to attract the blessings of Pachamama, of the subtle natural energies.
- Inca Wedding: this has become one of top mystical rituals in Cusco, for both nationals and foreigners. Partners will wear ancient Inca costumes, food and drinks will be just like in the old times of the empire, there is music with folklore instruments, dancing, the ceremony can even last the entire day or be a half-day event. The setting usually is an energetic, mystical place in the Cusco region, like the ruins of Pisac or the Machu Picchu area. In the Inca Wedding, the union is blessed by Pachamama (female energy of nature) and by the mountains (male energy of nature), the marriage is blessed by all subtle energies of nature. It must be a covenant for the rest of their lives, sealed by an Inca heritage shaman.
These Pachamama and other mystical rituals in Cusco do not require special preparations, except for a quiet, relaxed state of mind the day of the ceremony; they don’t require special behaviors after either, except of course living a more spiritual, wiser life.
Don’t forget August is the holy month here in the Cusco region; it’s usually the best time of the year for doing karmic, spiritual cleansing, rebirth, and reconnecting with Pachamama. You can surely book with TOUR IN PERU these ceremonies in addition to our regular tours or you can even travel down here just for your spiritual, karmic renascence via these mystical rituals.
Talk to our tourism professionals, visit Cusco, a wonderful, unforgettable, safe region!
