Breathtaking pictures of the pre-Inca site of Amaru Muru in the Hayu Marca mountains near Lake Titicaca.
Amuru Muru - A giant stone that used to sink underwater with a dimensional doorway carved into the stone. Mystical legend suggests that the doorway could be the interstellar portal that people could transcend to other dimensions. Here we participate in special sacred Pachamama Ceremony (A blessing to Mother Earth for her gifts) Working with the Masters
On these amazing trips to Peru we believe in inspiring personal growth through experience - people have some life changing and profound moments trekking through the Andes that stay with them forever! "Man is losing his humanity, he lost the special connection with mother earth. Now his humanity is based on money and riches.” - Maestro Justino Apaza One of the Maestros in our team of guides - these Maestros are full of ancient knowledge and wisdom something we get to experience on our journeys to PeruMan is losing his humanity, he lost the special connection with mother earth. Now his humanity is based on money and riches.” - Maestro Justino Apaza On a personal note this has been a huge journey for me .... this year my body was ravaged by altitude sickness, my legs were heavy and burning and did not want to go another inch (not to mention each breath) and it took every ounce of strength and determination to get to the top of the mountain, but with the help of our amazing shamans/masters and absolute inner determination I made it to the top of the pass. I had to ask myself why was it this time that I suffered altitude sickness when on any previous visit to Peru it hadnt been a problem? I believe it was for two main reasons 1) I was receiving my 2nd Initiation Ceremony from Maestro Alejandro and I knew from experience how much these initiations can change your life and I was scared/excited - not to mention the fact that this second initiation was to take place at night on top of a mountain in freezing cold temps! 2) I believe that this was also shown to me so that I can be more compassionate towards others suffering from the altitude on future trips - no matter what I learned we have an extraordinary support team on this journey that can help you through literally anything I also want to say that its ok to show vulnerability - Im always the strong one for others in my life but sometimes its ok to let others help you So many gifts from this amazing journey with an amazing group of women What an extraordinary life I lead! 🌈🌻💜🙏 Above with Maestro Alejandro at the top of the mountain plus 2nd Initiation Ceremony in the Andes! A SPIRITED ADVENTURE!
Peru will expand your world beyond your imagination – the mountains (Apus) in this place have a strength of their own and at times you may feel pushed outside your comfort zone and be discovering new things about yourself! Many of the people in this place do not have many material possessions but are warmhearted, compassionate and deeply connected to the land so be open to all the new and wonderful experiences to be had Operating on “Peruvian time”
I always tell my fellow travellers, “You are on Peruvian time now!” Things don’t always go to plan or on time whilst you are in Peru so you have to learn to adjust your thinking and relax and ‘go with the flow’! In other words, when it comes to social events, the cultural norm is to arrive late. If you make plans to meet your new Peruvian friends for dinner at 7:30 p.m., chances are they will show up closer to 8 p.m. One important exception to Peruvian time is for official business or travel matters, such as a flights, bus departures, or tour schedules, and it’s best to show up on time!! Greetings In terms of greetings, people will shake hands upon meeting for the first time. When you get to know each other better, men will often pat each other on the back and women will kiss each other on one cheek. If you are a man meeting a woman for the first time, let the woman initiate the first greeting: She may offer her hand or approach for a cheek kiss. If you do not know someone really well or are first meeting them, you should address them by Señor, Señora or Señorita and their last name. Only close friends and family use first names, unless they ask you to call them by their first name. Professionals are addressed by their titles and last names. Communication When communicating, hand gestures are used profusely and the conversation can become very lively and animated, if the person really gets into something. People will stand close to each other and maintain strong eye contact Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. You can get around speaking Spanish (especially in major cities such as Lima and Cuzco), as people will generally speak both Spanish and one native language. Spiritual beliefsThe spiritual beliefs of Peruvians, especially those of whom are raised in traditional Andean communities, have deep roots in Inca mythology. (Most Peruvians living in the Cities are catholic - modern Peruvian culture has a strong mix of Spanish colonial practices mixed with the recognition and pride of ancient local cultures and traditions) One example is the continuing reverence shown to high mountain peaks, which are considered sacred and believed to be the dwelling places of powerful spirits called Apus. Today people make offerings to the apus by gathering food, drink, coca leaves, and other plants as a symbol of gratitude for all that the spirits provide.Cusco, the former Inca capital, has twelve sacred Apus – one of which is Machu Picchu. Many travellers come to Peru to see these impressive Inca ruins but it’s important to remember that for locals, these are more than just ruins, they are sacred, historical places. Being environmentally friendly is not just common sense, it’s also a way to demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity. www.spiritofperuretreat.com SHAMANS IN PERU Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition and moreover seen as a way of life. Shamanic teachings focus on our connection to nature and all of creation Peru has a long standing tradition of Shaman healers and priests and even though modern medicine was introduced into their culture many Peruvians continue to mix modern techniques with the ancient natural healing traditions of the Inca Shamans Who are the Q’ero Inca Shamans? At the highest altitudes in the Andes Mountains in Peru live a group of indigenous Indians called the Q’eros. They are the direct descendents of the ancient Inca people who were invaded by the Spanish Conquistadores in the 1500’s. During that time any of the Inca people were forced into labour in the gold and silver mines by the Spanish, but a few others escaped to the “villages in the clouds” in the refuge of the holy mountains (apus). These people survived and safe guarded much of the sacred knowledge keeping it intact over the centuries. The Q’eros have miraculously been able to preserve and orally pass on their sacred Inca traditions and ceremonies from one generation to the next. They have successfully been able to keep drawing on the wisdom of the advanced Incan societies that had previously flourished for 1000’s of years. They have also been able to continued developing these advanced techniques in healing, divination and ceremony and kept a strong connection with the spirits of their homeland INCA PROPHECY - TO BRING BACK BALANCE IN NATURE AND MOTHER EARTH In recent years the Inca Shamans (holy men and women, healers, priest and specialists in medicine) have seen their sacred mountain begin to melt. This was a sign from an ancient prophecy that they should come down from the mountain and share their wisdom with western civilisation. Mother Earth (Pachamama) was in dire need for people to know what to do to bring back the balance in nature and society that has rapidly deteriorated in the last Century. PACHAMAMA CEREMONY The Ceremony and Offering to Pachamama is the most important of all Andean rituals. When performed, we unify our life with Mother Earth, God and the Universal Order. We bring into order all aspects of our lives, from the physical, mental, spiritual and material, and in doing so achieve a high level of vitality, courage, wisdom and passion. This new state of being and happiness are shared with all those who surround us This offering gives thanks to Pachamama for our food, our health, our lives, and everything we have. It can also be used to release dense “hucha” energy which is no longer serving us. This ceremony is performed through the Shaman’s prayer and his pouch of sacred Andean offerings. All are symbolic of personal aspects such as protection of travel and relationships, success in our careers or chosen vocation in life and many more. The Shaman, will go over each offering and its significance in Andean culture before wrapping them all up to go into the offering. Once completed, the Shaman will tie up the bundle and use it to bless each participant before ceremonially burning it. This offering unifies our life with Pachamama, God and the Universal Order. We arrange all aspects of our lives and in doing so achieve a high level of vitality, courage, wisdom and passion. Our new order and happiness are shared with all those around us. LARES TREK OR THE INCA TRAIL AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?? The team at Urubamba September 2017 We are excited to announce two trips to Peru in 2018 May (1st - 15th 2018) September (1st - 15th 2018) As you can see from the website we have two different options - The Inca Trail and the Lares Trek. One of the things you need to know about the Inca Trail is that it has become extremely popular in recent years and needs to be booked at least 6 months in advance. The Inca Trail allows only 200 people per day on the Inca Trail so planning ahead is imperative!! The trail is every bit as amazing as you can imagine, passing ancient Inca ruins along the way and finishing at the Sun Gate at day break to see Machu Picchu rising out of the mist............ The Lares Trek is a lesser known trek and is a very beautiful experience also, it is much less touristy and gives you a chance to get up close and personal with the locals. Local horsemen accompany us along the trail as we pass through the local weaving communities there is an opportunity to buy genuine handmade goods along the way. We also see some amazing scenery along the way including beautiful lagoons, snow capped mountains and one of the highlights is swimming in the hot pools at Lares. Set in the mountains which are a stunning backdrop, the pools are full of healing minerals. We travel by bus to Ollantaytambo and catch the train to Agua Calientes, visiting Machu Picchu the next day Each option has something different to offer so we are really excited to be able to provide this variety Looking forward to sharing the journey with you! Karen |
AuthorKaren Archives
April 2019
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Spirit of Peru