The day of the recent Full Moon in Pisces I arrive in Copacabana, a small fishing village on the shores of Lake Titicaca high in the Andean mountains. I am following a Piscean dream and spiritual calling.  And that is to give myself lots of time to allow new writing to emerge.  This was a spiritual directive given some years ago, which I politely ignored. However, I’ve realized it doesn’t serve me to ignore! The directives only come spasmodically and have taken me to many exciting places around the world. Why would I ignore this one?  Simple answer – fear!

So, towards the end of last year things began to stagnate in my world.  I was not as light and joyful as normal. I felt the presence of the Lord of Time and Karma, Saturn, and allowed ancient fears, burdens and limitations to consume.  When I said that “enough is enough” and decided to act upon the “calling” he decided to move on, to play in other people’s fields.  Lesson learned! There really wasn’t much option! I bet he’s got a huge grin on his face and a sense of accomplishment!

Titicaca is the highest navigatible lake in the world, situated at approximately 4000 metres above sea level.  The air is thin.  It always takes a few days for me to adjust to the high altitude even though it is now such a familiar area.   So I spent the past eleven days at a lower altitude, in Peru, mostly visiting in the Sacred Valley, staying with friends Hetty, see www.PazyLuz.com and Sonia, who is doing amazing humanitarian work- www.LivingHeart.org

I also had a lovely time in Cusco visiting Teresa, Enrique and their three children one of whom, Alison Camilla, is my goddaughter.  I so enjoyed playing with the kids and they me.  It was fun.   

Bolivian friend and former tour guide RosseMary was at the bus stop in Copacabana (not the Brazilian one) to meet me.  We danced and hugged as we embraced.  I love her and she me.  She is a wise old soul who speaks English very well indeed. Her life is devoted to her spiritual path and three children.  She is a single Mum bringing up three boys, one of whom is a teenager. She works with the Bolivian spiritual elders and also leads spiritual groups to sacred places in Bolivia, especially those around and on the lake. Many years ago I helped her to gain the confidence to be a tour guide and form her own company, Andean Dimensions, and now she is much sought after. 

In Australia two years ago Nuria gave me a generous donation to help poverty stricken schools in both Peru and Bolivia. Fredy Conde, my former Peruvian tour guide, found a needy school in Peru last year. Since then he has worked hard to ensure that school has the amenities he felt they needed. This is the second school I’ve helped in Peru with him.

And there is a nearby Bolivian village that really grabbed my heart. My group visited this school last year and itemised all the things that were needed.  Basics such as the repair of broken windows and doors that didn’t shut were provided, as was a cupboard for the teacher and textbooks for the children.  The teacher, who travels to this little village each week from La Paz, the Bolivian capitol, didn’t have a cupboard, desk, books, mat on the bare board floor, or any teaching material.  She was the only teacher and therefore responsible for the education of 20 plus children, of all ages.

 The list concocted by us in co-operation with the teacher was quite long. RosseMary took charge to make sure it was all accomplished.  I will be visiting this school during my sixty-seven day stay here. And am really looking forward to it.   My archaeologist Bolivian friend Eduardo is preparing a detailed report of all that has been accomplished there and I hope to put it on my website. He doesn’t speak English so there might be a few challenges with language.

So here I find myself in a relatively new and well-appointed ecologically built cabin in Copacabana situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca.  My second home is built from nearby stone, raw mud and straw.  Most of the cabins have solar heating.  Mine - not yet. I was lucky to have a choice of cabins and I chose this, the smallest, just because it feels right.  www.ecocopacabana.com 

I’m sitting at my computer writing this blog, with a beautiful view of the lake, much as I have at my home in Australia, although the lake I have there is much, much smaller than here.    Surrounding me are a grove of eucalypt trees.  I have a new home amongst the gum trees and this delights me. The Australian song “Give me a home among the gum trees, with lots of plum trees” etc. etc.  (Can’t think of the remaining lines just yet!).

Many years ago, when I first visited Copacabana, I stood at the shore looking and feeling.  I said to my companions that I felt there was something very special, perhaps an ancient sacred site, at the south/eastern end of the lake.  Where I am now.  Each consecutive year I have visited here the feeling was the same.  It wouldn’t go away. And now I am living here.   Yesterday, whilst RosseMary and I were chatting, I mentioned this to her.  She trusts my feelings because they have led us into very special situations and places, so she listened.  We walked to the site where I felt the energy most strongly, just behind and to the side of my cottage, in a grove of eucalypt trees. She then starting picking up some of the rocks nearby and then looked at the them archeologically.  She began to feel excited.  She wants to bring Eduardo here so he can investigate.  This afternoon I took a stroll into the nearby village and then, on my return, looked at the bigger picture of this site geographically, as I’ve been trained to do. I think I’ve got it!   It lines up with two other ancient and special feminine sacred sites.  What will unveil itself?

Ashtara

13^th September 2011

Sacred ceremonies play a large part in the lives of the indigenous people of the high Andes.  Much preparation and care is taken to make sure the ceremonial foundation adheres to the ancient wisdom teachings.   

The indigenous people use coca leaves in their spiritual ceremonies.  They regard the spirit of the coca most highly as it offers healing, aids altitude sickness and enables users access to higher dimensional planes of experience.  Some of the wise medicine men and women use the coca leaves to read the future path of an individual, a group or a community much like we in the western world have palm and tarot readers.

During my five-day ‘elder’ experience at Charazani, in a remote area of the highlands of Bolivia, I was expected to take part in some of these ancient ceremonies. Each member of the international circle of elders was given a sacred ceremonial bag in which to place the gifted coca leaves and we were asked to chew upon these leaves during ceremony.  These leaves are also used as an herbal tea infusion that is offered to visitors to the high plateau of Peru and Bolivia.  It certainly aids altitude assimilation and I recommend it most highly to my adventuring Andean groups.

The ceremony for the 2008 September equinox was an awesome experience.  It was held on a mountain top overlooking the small village of Charazani and, from about 5.30AM, in the freezing cold and magical mist, some 150-200 people from all around the world emerged from their rooms or tents and began hiking to this elevated area. On this peak was a large Christian Cross and on the adjacent mountain peak was a large statue of Jesus.  These people have incorporated the Spanish religion into their lives whilst still maintaining their ancient spirituality.

This ceremony however, was completely Andean.  All present were smoked to cleanse their auras and the sacred fire was continually fuelled so it would burn throughout the ceremony.   Men and women filed to the two altars separately, each reverently giving their offerings to Pacchamama (Mother Earth).   The Andean people have tremendous reverence for Pacchamama and Father Inti (the Sun that provides life force energy) and for the elements.  They are completely sincere in their thanksgiving ceremonies. They totally believe that if we do not give thanks for all the food, shelter, warmth and life force energy we receive daily, perhaps one day we may not continue to experience this abundance.  At the conclusion of the two-hour ceremony all enjoyed much frivolity, music and dance.   

The Andean people are poor by western material standards but so rich in their spirituality.  It is an enriching and life-changing experience to learn of their way of life and their ancient culture.

For those interested in experiencing the Andean culture with me you may care to check out the 2009 adventure by 'Clicking Here'.

Ashtara

The ancient practice of Ayni is still very prevalent in the high Andean mountain areas of Peru and Bolivia.   This is an ancient spiritual practice that has endured for thousands of years.   The indigenous people believe that, to experience a rich, nourishing, abundant and fulfilling life the expression of gratitude and appreciation for all we experience in life is to be expressed daily.  When one gives this love and appreciation with sincerity the etheric channels are then open to receive.   This is Ayni.  It is a practice of reciprocity.

The indigenous Indians of this land believe that each of the mountains, lakes, four directions, elements and sacred places have a guardian spirit. They offer gifts to the Spirit of these places with great reverence, humility and love.  It is a heart-warming experience to take part in these ancient ceremonies and to experience the acceleration of energy flow.

One of the greatest gifts of love and appreciation they offer is to Pacchamama, a name they give to Mother Earth, because, without her offerings of food, shelter, water and beauty we would not be able to survive.

I have just returned from a five day annual international Gathering of Elders in Charazani, a remote village in the highlands of Bolivia. At this Gathering was an amazing blending of cultures. Approximately 300 people attended the Gathering from about 20 different countries.   The small village was overloaded with pilgrims and the resources were limited.

Indigenous elders  from Mexico, USA, Gautamala, Eduador, Brazil, Argentina and many other South American countries gathered together to celebrate the uniting of the Eagle and the Condor, i.e. the North and South American indigenous cultures.  There was much Ayni present.

I was given the honor of  elder status at the Gathering, being asked to be part of the Council of Elders (Grandmothers and Grandfathers who carry much wisdom) and to attend Council meetings.
I felt incredibly privileged to be the only white person in this Council.

I will write more about my experiences at this Gathering within the next couple of days.
 
Blessings and love to all,
Ashtara