In Peru, one of the oldest traditions is to create despachos , sacred sacrifices that are performed in mountain spirits (Sacred Apus) and in Pachamama (Mother Earth). This practice is intended to Ayni , or reciprocity, into balance and is an act of deep love. In Peru, this concept of love is called Munai and this is a reminder that we are all one with absolutely no separatism, and that to love others is to love ourselves. To love a stone is to love others. To love a tree is to love yourself. All this interrelation of beings, elements, spirits and sacred places is represented in the despacho.
So what's a despacho? The best way to describe this is to translate the word “despacho” from Spanish, which means “office” or study. In ancient times, people did not have “offices”. For a shaman, his or her office was a medicine kit that, when opened, would contain all the energy and frequencies of the environment and contain all the tools needed by the sharia to achieve balance. Here, no one “cured” someone, someone bought them on balance.
Despacho is similar to the drug bundle because it is an open bundle. The difference is that for many years the shaman taught and began to practice and use all the tools that make up his medicine kit. In despacho, the items that are placed in the kit are carried out so purposefully, with the particular intention of creating a balance. I'll talk about it again.
In the Sacred Valley of Peru, it is said that there are more than 300 types of despacho. Some of them are designed for healing, some bring abundance, others - to attract love relationships or sometimes observe new beginnings or endings. Making despahs is not limited to the Sacred Valley. There are coastal, mountainous, jungle and northern people of Peruvian medicine who work with despach all the time. And this practice is also known in Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay. There are not only hundreds of types of despahs, but, as you can imagine, you can put 5 shamans in a room for everyone to create the same type of despacho, and each despacho will be different from the other!
In essence, the creation of a despacho is done as a ceremony, in which those who seek to harmonize with whatever their personal intentions are, and also create group intentions. The most important goal of the Despacho is to thank Pachamame, the sweet Mother Earth, who supports us in everything we do. It is only after we express our gratitude to Pachamame that someone starts asking for any intention that they seek to manifest.
In Peruvian mysticism, three powerful energy centers work energetically. Unlike the chakras, these three energy centers have certain characteristics. The first is the physical center, called Llankay in Quechua. This center is located approximately between the first and second chakras and includes two chakras. It is one of the centers of power, a place from which the ability to stand in power is derived, like Tan Thien, the center of the body and the force of gravity of the body.
The second energy center is called Munai and is located in the center of the heart. It is here that we exude love and compassion and unite with the Spirit. It follows the third, fourth and fifth chakras. And the last energy center Yachay or the center of wisdom. If you put your hand on your forehead (3rd eye) and let your fingers rest gently on the upper part of your head, this is the center of wisdom. Thus, it includes both the 6th and 7th chakras. It is here that we gain access to our wisdom, and from here we can use the wisdom of the cosmos.
The shaman who creates the despacho, works from all energy centers and fills every object that fits on the despacho, with the characteristics of each energy center. In addition to invoking the attributes of each energy center, the shaman will create Ayni , or balance, working with the energy of a community of members. As he wove the luminous threads of each person in the despacho, he thus harmonizes both personal intentions and the intentions of the group as a whole.
Usually despacho are built on beautiful bright wrapping paper. In the end, this is a gift for Pachamama! Some despachos can be very complex or very simple. As a rule, there are elements on paper that represent certain basic categories. One of these is the animal kingdom, or Tirakuna , Tirakuna - spiritual observers of nature. Their role is to help us stay in balance. Some residences are Tirakunas in rocks, trees, sacred ceremonial places. Others appear as cows, dogs, animals.
Another element that is presented is the production of the plant for Auquis which are mythical spirit spirits such as devas, gnomes, fairies. And there are mineral products for Malquis , or tree spirits. Then we have products from the human body. These products are offered Machikukuna , ancient. And finally, there are elements representing the cosmos, Chaskakuna (stars) and the sun and moon.
Despacho is usually created as a form of mandala on paper. As mentioned earlier, the simplest of despahs will be sugar (Pachamama LOVES sweets!) And flower petals or bay leaves to hold prayers. In Peru, they use coca leaves, sometimes in sets of three or seven. Each group of three people prays and insists on providing beauty, strength and energy that will create balance, allowing us to hear our prayer. Although the Despacho can contain only two ingredients, each set of flower petals or bay leaves can be filled with the characteristics of the five main categories.
A more complex despacho will include symbols of everything: elements, four directions, weather, clouds, mountains, rainbows, the fruits of human labor, emotions, ideas, etc. In fact, August 1 is considered one of the most favorable dates on the Incan calendar, because he notes a vibration shift (almost like a new year), almost everyone hires a shaman to create Hatun Despacho or the Great Despacho. They can be huge!
When the offer is completed, the entire assembly is folded, tied, and wrapped in sacred weaving. It is then offered to the forces of nature either by burning, burial, or by casting into water. Usually despacho burned for faster manifestation. The energy and intent of all participants is contained in the despacho and released into the universe, where it is then transmitted into manifestation.
I often urge people NOT to buy kits from Peru or from the shamanic markets, because if we create despachos in the United States (or wherever you are), you will want to use those elements that are representative of your region, This is the energy that permeates your sensitivity, not Peruvian energy. We do not live in Peru, but we can, of course, take advantage of the benefits and teachings and use them in reverence in our own landscape. When we create what is abundant in our landscape, we complete the region and let the Universe know that we are observing our own time and space.
For example, if you lived in the northwest, you would like to replace salmon oil with llama oil. Or depending on you near or you have access to fat buffalo. This would make a great replacement for the lama's fat. Or, instead of coca leaves, which we don’t have, you can replace bay leaves, which are very similar to coca leaves in shape. Since it is difficult to find whole bay leaves, I often use flower petals to grow this season. I am blessed to live in southern California, so I can find many items quite easily. The point is to think about the source, energy and intentions that you invest in each item that fits in the despacho. If you had a summer garden, you will have a lot of seeds at the end of the season. They grow at home, are usually organically grown, and therefore have a much greater potential and personal healing energy than anything they bought.
In addition to encouraging you to use items that are local, I recommend that you travel in advance and spend time on items that you could put in a despacho. Ask the Spirit if it is a gift of honor or can represent something that you mean in terms of what you may have shown. I often use brown sugar instead of white sugar - the idea of “sweetness” still goes away, and it honors my intentions and my beliefs. Or, depending on whether you are in the Minnesota area, where wild rice is somewhat plentiful. This would make a wonderful addition for representing grains instead of Quinoa, which is a Peruvian staple. This does not mean that you should not use Quinoa, which is available in many health food markets. It is simply something that is specific to the area in which you live and that carries the energy of the place.
Because I love working with both essential oils and smoking, I will always include those in the Despacho. Copal, a resin used primarily in Central America, is often used as a suggestion to the Lower World to help light the Shadow. Incense, on the other hand, is a proposal to the Higher World and reflects light from the Cosmos shining on us. Lavender, both in plant form and as an essential oil, provides cleansing and healing.
I love animals and have three fur children, so I always try to include something in the despacho, representing the animal kingdom. One easy way to do this is to use cookies for animals, for example, those that you could give to a child, or even crackers and crackers made from teddy bears. I collect fur from my dogs and cats and use it. Any feathers that you can find on walks or hikes can easily be added to represent not only the animal kingdom, but also the power of prayers to “fly” to the Great Spirit.
Use your imagination. The list of items you can include is endless. But ... you don't want the despacho to be so big that you can't fold it and burn it. As in many things, less. It's all about intent! And if you need guidance for specific despahs, such as Despachos Abundance, or sometimes Aya Despacho, one who honors someone who has passed, please feel free to contact me. I can exchange information on many types. In the end, however, you are the one who knows what you want to show, and what intentions you want to place in the despacho. So get creative and do it! The Spirit loves everything that comes from the heart and is your gift. As good chefs know, a recipe is just a template; it is an act of creation that brings the finest food, in this case, the most exalted of despacho offers!
