The Despacho: Sacred Andean Gift to Mother Earth by Frank Finochio
ferings to Mother Earth and the Uni- verse as a token of their thanks and as a reminder that we are all connected to nature. The despacho ceremony is one such ceremony. As the Four Winds Society describes it, “The despacho is the living embodiment of the shamans’ landscape of life which meets at the level of the soul and ultimately connects to the source of all creations.” There are many
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variations of despa- chos all depending on the intent of the participants. Whether the despacho is one- on-one or for a group or tribe, participants customarily aim to bring harmony and balance to themselves and Mother Earth and honor new begin- nings. Certain compo- nents are common to all despachos while other depend on the intention for that particular ceremony. These common elements include the three bands of power: the physical (yankay), love or heart (munay) and wisdom or thought (yachay). The align- ment of the bands is similar to that of the chakras found in other indigenous cultures. The despacho typically is built on
a white piece of paper for clarity. Sugar and/or incense are added as a founda- tion. The participants then blow their prayers or intentions into ‘kintus’ so that their essence is added to the despacho. The ‘kintus’ in the Andes are made with three cocoa leaves. Bay leaves are typi-
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any ancient and present day cultures have ceremonies where participants make of-
cally substituted as they are similar in shape to cocoa leaves; however, leaves from any tree native to one’s area are fine too. Red and white carnations pet-
als are added, representing the earth, mountains and heavens. Again, red and white flower petals from plants native to your area are fine. After the initial foundation is made, other ingredients
the participants to cleanse their power centers by moving it in a clockwise mo- tion over their power centers (yankay, munay and yachay). There are three ways to release
one’s prayers and intentions to the Universe: burning the despacho, bury- ing it or placing it in a body of water. If participants choose to burn the despa- cho, once it is placed in the fire they must turn their backs to the fire to signify that no expectations or attachments are with the prayers. Just let them go. Despacho is a
beautiful and empow- ering ceremony. Re- member there are no “real rules” in creating a despacho. It is all about purity of intent and having no expec- tations or attachments to results. Participants should bring both joy and seriousness to their honoring. Indig- enous ingredients are not essential; just as long as the elements represent one’s intent
are added depending on the intent of the ceremony. Rice is added for fertility, beans for protection, corn for suste- nance, alphabet noodles to step beyond language, raisins for our ancestors and lots of candy and chocolate for sweet- ness. Cotton is used to represent clouds and our connection to dreamtime and star confetti for our connection to the stars. Once the despacho is built it is folded from left to right, right to left, top to bottom. Then it is tied with a white cord very carefully so as not to turn it upside down. A kintu is placed in the center under the cord for the “forgotten prayers.” The despacho is then used by
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to have lots of fun. Then they can let it go, sit back and watch the magic begin to happen.
Frank Finochio is a student of shaman- ism and yoga. He is a graduate of the Healing the Light Body School and the Munay-Ki through the Four Winds Soci- ety. He has a shamanic healing practice and yoga practice in the Lower Hudson Valley. It is his passion to teach and inspire his clients and students to make a journey of self-discovery to transform and awaken to their greatest dreams. He can be reached at 642-3553 or
shamansdance@gmail.com.
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