Despacho Ceremonies
Despacho Ceremonies
Among the Quechua Indians of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, a despacho ceremony is the centerpiece of a complex spiritual and ritual heritage. Despacho ceremonies are performed to promote health, well-being and prosperity, or when calamity or misfortune befalls the client.Despachos are also used to thank for special events, to celebrate good luck, or to help the soul of a deceased person journey into the beyond. Despachos are performed to promote fertility in fields and herds, to cure illness, or to undo harm or witchcraft. On very special occasions, despachos are also performed when larger cultural or ecological events threaten the entire community.
The specialists who perform such ceremonies are known as Pampa Altomisayoc, which translates roughly as “high priests of the ordinary realm”, the work “pampa” referring both to the level ground of agriculture as well as to the ordinary world of mortals. Over 200 different types of despachos have been recorded, depending on the results desired. In general terms, a despacho is understood as a request for good fortune, its name derived from the Spanish word for missive, message, or care package. This implies that the ritualist is “sending a message” to the realm of spirit in which a particular outcome is being promoted. Depending on the purpose, a despacho may require the presence of the client, an extended family, or the entire community. Despachos can be performed by individual Altomisayocs, or by teams of altomisayocs, often paired into male and female quadrilles.
The end product of a despacho ceremony is a graphic mandala made of a wide assortment of natural and man-made products: seeds and vegetables, gems and minerals, incenses, animal products, and man-made symbols that may depict or symbolize the desired result. In all cases, however, the intent is symbolic and metaphysical, and the understanding is that a despacho allows the client or the community to request a result from the realm of spiritual power. Consequently, despachos are typically addressed to the larger forces of nature: Pachamama(Mother Earth), Apukuna (mountain spirits), Chaskakuna (the stars), Inti (the sun), and so on.
In addition, despachos can also be performed as a form of Ayni or reciprocity with the universe. The concept of Ayni is central to Andean shamanism and is based on a mutual dependency between humans, nature, and spiritual forces. Ayni brings balance into our lives and creates relationship between our secular and sacred worlds. Andean metaphysics postulates that human health and well-being depend on balanced reciprocity between all elements of life. Therefore, when soliciting a particular outcome through a despacho, our obligation is not to pray or request for a particular result, but rather to provide beauty, power and energy in the form of a graphic mandala which can then be “exchanged” or bartered for the desired result.
When working with a despacho, the Altomisayoc is accessing the non-ordinary dimensions of reality, the ultimate source of all things. In fact, thought the contents of the despacho may have symbolic significance, the intent of its creators transcends any literal or symbolic content, directly accessing archetypal and energetic forces. Don Manuel Q’espi, an elder of the Q’ero tribe, spoke of despachos in this way:
“The despacho is a gift–a giving back of what we receive everyday in our lives. We seek, through the despacho ceremony, to bridge the ordinary and non-ordinary realms; to establish new patterns of relationships and possibility. The despacho places us in right relationship, right Ayni, with Pachamama and all of her manifestations.”
In order to create a despacho, the Altomisayoc must perfect a specific shamanistic maneuver, the harmonization and balancing of three “bands” or levels of consciousness: yankay, the physical universe, yachay, the spiritual or wisdom realm, and munay, the feeling or heart center. By integrating these qualities with personal intent, the group intent, and gratitude to the earth and nature, which supports all of the community’s endeavors, the despacho re-harmonizes and balances the community into a single energetic body in which the luminous fibers which connect us all are reaffirmed and strengthened.
The despacho contains symbols of everything: the elements, the four directions, weather, clouds, mountains, rainbows, the fruits of human labor, emotions, ideas, and so on. When the offering is complete, the entire assemblage is folded, tied and wrapped in a sacred weaving. It is then offered to the forces of nature either by burning, burying, or by casting into water. The energy of collective intention captured and contained in the despacho is thus released into the universe, where its message of reciprocity and gratitude can reach the most appropriate agent for manifestation. The result is renewed harmony and balance in ordinary life.
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A DESPACHO
To construct a despacho, you first have to collect the items that you plan to include in the offering. This will depend on the intention or purpose of the ritual. The list below contains many of the most common items, with their respective meanings.
To begin, lay a large sheet of white paper on the ground. Add items in patterns that represent the purpose of the ritual, as well as the Cosmos at large. You can think of the despacho as a work of art, or as a symbolic representation of the purpose behind it, or both. Mandala arrangements are common, as these can represent and contain multiple meanings and representations.
Add items in sequences that reflect the organization of the Cosmos. For example, you can begin by adding items that derive from the vegetable kingdom, then those that are mineral, then animal, and finally those made by human hand. To finish, decorate with flowers, candy, and other colorful items. The paper is then folded and tied with colorful twine or ribbons, decorated again, and then offered to appropriate forces of the Cosmos that were invoked to partake in the ritual.
The despacho can be offered by burning, burying, or by casting into water. The particular mode has to be determined by dowsing or by consulting coca leaves or by any other suitable divination mode.
DESPACHO COMPONENTS
Below is a short list of the possible meanings to be used in despacho offerings. You can add to this list or substitute other items that could also have a similar interpretation.
Vegetable Products
Although this is a generic list, many refinements can be made by proper selection of the specific harvest, location, and quality of the products listed below. In all cases, the item should be evaluated energetically through dowsing or divination in order to determine its qualities and meaning.
COPAL: Offering to the Lower World, the Shadow
FRANKINCENSE: Offering to the Upper World, the Ligh
PALO SANTO: Holds Space for our Prayers
COCA: Sacred Wisdom of the Mother
TOBACCO: Offering to the Sky Father
SAGE: Purification, Banishment of the Negative
ANISE: Celebration, The Senses
BERRIES: Rewards, Fruits of Labor
CEDAR: Wisdom of the Forest
CORN: A Gift of the Earth, Our Daily Sustenance
CORNMEAL: Offering to the Earth Mother
COTTON: Dreams, Clouds, Mountain Snows
FIGS: Ancient Mountain Spirits
FLOWERS: The Beauty of Nature, the Power of Light, Reproduction & Fertility
GARLIC: Absorption of the Negative, Banishment
GRAINS: Sustenance, Abundance
LAVENDER: Purity, Purification
LAUREL: Sacredness, Victory over Adversity
LEAVES: Honoring Nature Spirits
LIMA BEANS:Sacred Places, Huaqas, Power Spots
LIQUOR: High Energy, Honoring the Spirit World, our Ancestors
PEANUTS: Caves, Places for Elemental Spirits
POLLEN: Offering to all Living Creatures
RAISINS: Offering to the Dead
RICE Offerings to the Spirit World
SWEETS: Fertility, Beginnings, Potential
SUGAR: Sweetness, Feeding the Spirits
VEGETABLE OIL: Our connection to the Nourishing Power of Nature
WAYRUROS: Seed of Protection
WINE, RED: Honoring the Mother, Menstrual Blood
WINE, WHITE: Honoring the Moon, Fluids of Purification, Urine
Minerals
Various minerals will resonate differently with different traditions, but some aspects are common to all. There are nuances, however, depending on place or origin, manner of extraction, the relative age of the mineral, in whose possession it might have been, and so on. Old jewelry is a valuable source of quality minerals that can be also understood as being returned to the Mother, especially in burial despachos.GOLD: Masculine, The Sun, Insight
SILVER: Feminine, The Moon, Intuition
AGATE: Acceptance, Emotional & Physical Balance, Raises Consciousness
AMBER: Protection, Memory, Calming
AMETHYST: Higher Knowledge, Insight, Grounded Psychic Growth, Courage, Self-esteem
AVENTURINE: Joy, Mental Clarity, Positive Attitudes
BLOODSTONE: Blood & Heart Healing, Vitality, Courage, Higher States of Consciousness
CALCITE: Astral Projection, Balances Yin/Yang qualities
CITRINE: Successful Relationships, Letting go of Addictions, Self Confidence
COPPER: The Earth’s Gift, Conductivity
DIAMOND: Removes Blockages, Balances the Mind, Sexuality & Power
FLUORITE: Practicality, Getting Things Done, Ability to Perceive Higher Levels of Reality
GARNET: Circulation, Stimulates Imagination, Self-esteem & Willpower, Calms Anger
HEMATITE: Protection, Aids Astral Projection, Increases Self-Esteem
HERKIMER: Cleanses Subtle Bodies, Past life Memory, Clairvoyance & Dream work
IRON: Strength, Persistence, Endurance, Direction
JADE: Good Luck & Prosperity, Strong Immune System, Divine Love, Protection
LOADSTONE: The Power to Attract & Bind Together
MOONSTONE: Open up to feminine qualities: Receptivity, Intuition, Sensitivity, Clairvoyance
OBSIDIAN: Removal of Obstacles & Negativity, Prophetic Vision
OPAL: Protection, Cosmic Consciousness, Intuition, Emotional Balance
PERIDOT: Clarity, Patience, Clairvoyance, Positive Emotional Outlooks
PYRITE: Material Realization, Good Fortune, Eases Anxiety
CLEAR QUARTZ: Purity of Perception, Purity of Intention
ROSE QUARTZ: Love & Romance, Purity of Feeling, Confidence, Expression, Creativity
SMOKEY QUARTZ: Purification, Elimination of Shadow Aspects, Fertility, Creativity, Joy
RUTILATE QUARTZ: Breaks old Patterns, Childhood Blockages, Ease Depression
RHODOCHROSITE: Cleansing of Subconscious, Self-Identity, Strengthens Androgyny
RUBY: Spiritual Balance, Heart Healing, Confidence, Flexibility, Vitality, Leadership
SALT: Protection, Boundaries
SAPPHIRE: Communication w. Spirit Guides, Clairvoyance, Telepathy, Expression
TIGER EYE: Works on Mass Consciousness to Separates Desire from Need
TOURMALINE Dispels Fear, Negativity & Grief, Promotes Balance, Eases Compulsiveness
TURQUOISE: Fresh Starts, Offering to the Ancestors, Strength of Entire Body, Protection
Animal Products
Please note that specific animals or animal products will lend to the item the resonances proper to that animal, species, or individual. A quail egg, for example is very different from an eagle egg. A chicken’s first egg is also distinct from her later eggs, and so on.ANIMAL SHAPES: Honoring our Relatives in the Animal Kingdom
FAT: Purest form of energy
BLOOD: Life Force
BONE: Our Inner Core, Structure, Connection to Animal Relatives
CORAL: The Power of the Sea, The Subconscious
EGGS: The Unborn, Purity, Healing
FEATHERS: Connection to Birds and to Native American wisdom
FETUS: The Unborn, Pure Potential
FUR Boundaries, Our Relations in Nature
HUMAN HAIR: Honoring our Connection to the Animal World
INSECTS: Time, The Web of Life
MILK: Connection to the Mother, Honoring Trees
PEARLS: Infinite Wisdom & Purity
STARFISH: Foundations, Successful New Beginnings
SEAHORSE: Delicacy & Balance
SHELLS: Power of the Waters: Depth, Faith, Flexibility
Man-made SymbolsALPHABET NOODLES: Language of the Soul, The Unwritten
ASHES: Offering to Our Personal Ancestors
BEARS: Personal Power
BUTTERFLIES: Happiness, Spontaneity
CANDLES: Celebrations & Rejoicing
CANDY: Compassion & Love
CIRCLES: Completion, Good Luck
CONFETTI: Happiness, Celebrations
COINS: Good Fortune, Wealth
IMAGES OF COUPLES:Marriage, Love, Reproduction
CROSSES: Decisions, Coming Together
DICE: Good Luck
FISH: Abundance, Prosperity
FLUTES: Voices of the Ancestors
FROGS: Keepers & Guardians of the Waters
GOLD LEAF: Wisdom, Direct Knowledge from Nature. Message from the Mother
SILVER LEAF: Intuition, Clairvoyance, Message from the Moon
GOLD THREAD: Connection to the Earth Mother
HANDS: Sensitivity, Mastery
HEARTS: Working from Love, from the Center
HOLY WATER: Blessings, Protection
KNOTS: The Web of Life, Interdependence
MEN: The Masculine Principle
MOON: The Feminine Principle, The Shadow, Nourishment
RAINBOWS: Meeting of Ordinary and Extraordinary
RABBITS: Fertility, Reproduction
SEQUINS: Happiness, Joy, Celebrations
SILVER THREAD: Connection to the Mountain Spirits
SKULLS: Power of the Past, Power of the Ancestors
STARS: Hope, Aspiration
SUN: The Masculine Principle, The Light, Creation
SUN & MOON: Balance of Opposites, Harmonization
BUDDHA: Enlightenment, Attainment
THE GODDESS: The Feminine Principle Made Flesh
THUNDERBOLT: Expression, Power of the Voice,
TURTLES: Healing Power