The Despacho Ceremony

The despacho is a gift or giveaway for the organizing principles of the Universe and constitutes the central axis of energetic exchange for healing, reestablishing perfect ayni, or right relationship, or protection.  The despacho is the living embodiment of the shaman’s landscape of life, that which meets at the level of the soul and ultimately connects to the source of all creation.  The despacho ceremony, in its physical beauty, is a journey to the soul of nature, and with the assistance of the spirit world we explore the energetic inner workings and symbolism of each element of our offerings.

Traditionally, in the Andes a despacho ceremony is performed individually or communally after each earth cycle to renew and re-imprint the powers of nature on our luminous body, to connect with the Universe and accomplish perfect ayni, not only for us personally but for the wellbeing of our “Ayllu” or group.  A despacho brings the shaman into harmonious relationship with heaven and earth, aligning the three worlds of the Uhupacha, Kaypacha, Hanqpacha and the archetypical organizing principles of the Universe. Each item of offering represents a prayer and a gift of power that sparks the momentum for energy shifts and healing.

The steps to create your own Despacho are simple:

• Begin with a large piece of white or colored paper (This will be the “wrapping” for your offering – think of it as a present). Flip chart paper or non foil wrapping paper works well.
• Fold the paper into thirds one way and then thirds the other way so you have 9 squares.
• Working within the center square you begin to layer the burnable objects that have been informed with your breath, so the energetic essence of your prayers is within each one.
• A suggested list of contents, order and their meaning is below, however, there really are no rules – create your prayer bundle in a way that is meaningful to you. Once you have filled the despacho with your prayers and vision for yourself and the earth, fold the bundle into the shape of a gift; left to right, right to left; then bottom up and top down. Tie it with a white cord and add one “kintu” tucked into the yarn for any “forgotten prayers”.

Ingredient Suggestions and their representations: Since you are creating a despacho for the Solstice you will want to use, lots of bright colors and sweets, all of the things that represent the ripeness of the season; as well as grains, seeds & nuts that sustain and nourish you.

• Large piece of white paper – Envelope of dreams which we will write with prayers – blow your intent for reciprocity and balance into this empty folded “gift”.
• Sugar – represents sweetness and love
• A drop or two each of red and white wine – Offerings to the Earth and Heavens respectively
• Qintu’s – Typically in Peru they use 3 Cocoa leaves but you can utilize 3 small leaves from your native trees. We often use Bay leaves, so about that size.
• Red and White Carnations – red the earth and white the mountains. Place a red and white carnation petal on top of the Qintu representing the snow covered mountains reaching to the heavens on top of a red petal for the earth.
• Build the foundation of this gift with the Qintu’s, informing each with your prayer (12 minimum).
• Cover these with a little more sugar – Representing even more love and sweetness.
• Add one open shell – placed in the middle of the prayers it represents the womb of the earth, our source and birthplace. This holds us and nourishes us, and provides opportunity and safety.

Now feed your prayers with a handful of what sustains you:

• Rice – fertility and abundance, to bring your prayers into fruition.
• Various Grains – sustenance,
• Nuts – for the plant people.
• Beans – for protection, abundance, power places, and the springs that nourish us.
• Corn – sustenance: gift back to the earth for what we have been given.
• Raisins – spirits of our ancestors, our blood lineage.
• Figs – spirits of the ancient ones who dwell in the sacred mountains
• Alphabet Noodles – to step outside and beyond language.
• Animal Crackers – for animal spirits; health.

And then add a few pinches of “Sweetness”

• Candies, Candy hearts, sweet gum drops, candy corn etc – everything we are in relationship with.
• Lots of chocolate – “Pachamama” or mother earth LOVES chocolate.
  
• Loose sage or other incense – to feed the elements of the earth.
• A piece of black licorice – for protection.
• Gummy or candy frogs – messengers, envoys to carry our prayers; cycle of waters.
• “Play” money, one piece – ensure successfulness of the despacho.
• Cotton balls unraveled – clouds; represents aware time and dream time.
• Confetti Stars – connection to the stars.
  
• Colored Confetti or sprinkles – to celebrate all life.
• Rainbow yarn – bridge between the worlds.
• Red and White cord – represents the “red” road and the Hatoon Yan or road to the stars.
• Flower petals – for healing.

When you have placed all your items in the despacho, the corners of the large paper are then folded over the contents so that they all overlap at the center. The despacho is now a smaller square. The despacho is then tied, without flipping it over so all the prayers are sustained.

The despacho is either buried (for slow, steady results), burned (for quicker transformation) or fed to the running waters ceremonially within a reasonable amount of time after it was prepared. When the despacho is placed into the fire, participants generally do not look towards the flames until after the offering has burnt. This symbolizes non-attachment to outcome and release of all claim to that which was given away.