Sacred Peruvian Despacho Ceremony
Andean Despacho Ceremonies
The Paqos, ancient masters and wisdom-keepers from the Q’ero lineage of the Andean highlands of Peru, created ceremonies for everyone centuries ago. They understood that by performing ceremonies, they could establish a stronger and more harmonious relationship with the natural world. Whenever they noticed or felt any imbalances or disruptions in the world, they created and held ceremonies to restore balance. Ayni is a central belief in Andean cosmology, which teaches that the universe is innocuous and only seems deleterious when we are out of balance. To regain balance, they relied on ceremonies for guidance and support during major life transitions, to manifest abundance or success with a new venture, for physical and spiritual healing, or before undertaking any important task such as a pilgrimage or a personal journey.
We all engage in ceremonies to celebrate and acknowledge important moments in our lives. For example, we may hold ceremonies for birthdays, weddings, and graduations to give these events deeper meaning. By offering gratitude and asking for guidance or healing with our intentions and offerings, we can move through transitional periods and changing circumstances with greater intention, wisdom, and grace.
What is a Despacho?
A despacho is an offering that has a shape of a mandala and follows that order using a variety of natural items from the Animal, Plant, Water, and Mineral Kingdom. Each item is intentionally selected and blessed before the ceremony. A Paqo activates the despacho offering with intention, prayers, and their mesa and energy. A despacho ceremony is a form of Ayni and a beautiful opportunity to give a gift of thanks for all that we have, to honor the Apu mountain Gods, Pachamama, and the sacred spirits. The ceremony is our way to community with the nature spirits and to ask for a specific intention.
Our Ñusta Paqo offers despacho ceremonies for the following intentions:
Manifestation and abundance
Attracting love and relationships
Afterlife transition
Luck and blessings
New business ventures
Career change
Birthdays and memorials
Buying or selling property
Major life transitions
Honoring and establishing a relationship with the nature spirits
There are numerous types of 'ayni' despacho offerings, but the Pachamama offering is the most important and common one that Paqos present to the spirits. The 'big offering' is traditionally given once a year on the first two days of the New Year, solstice or equinox, either for an individual or for their entire family, as a way of giving thanks. This is a means to repay Mother Earth and to ensure that we are living in harmony to receive miracles, blessings, healing, and abundance at the start of this transitional period.
I want in, what is the next step?
Our Ñusta Paqo will connect with you briefly to discuss your intentions and desires for the despacho ceremony. She will discuss the type of despacho offering that best meets your personal needs and the ceremonial process as well as answer any questions you may have. We will then coordinate a time and date when both the participant and the paqo will not be disturbed during the entire duration of the ceremony. The ceremony generally lasts about 1-2 hours and is best performed at night.
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Shamanic and energy work bring numerous benefits, one of which is that the participant need not be physically present with the Paqo. The ceremony's full benefits can be received by the individual through the spirit realm.
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Consultation with Ñusta Paqo
Opening Ceremony
Despacho ceremony
You’ll receive advice, orientation, guidance, and insight
Picture of completed despacho
A deep sense of relaxation
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Individuals' experiences during a ceremonial event can vary widely, but most people report feeling deeply relaxed. Falling asleep during the ceremony is common because healings and transmissions are best received when the conscious mind isn't actively present. Some individuals may experience physical sensations such as tingling, heaviness, fatigue, psychic surgery, or headaches. Others may receive powerful insights and clarity about a situation. Some individuals may feel as though they were physically present with the Ñusta Paqo during the despacho offering to the spirits. Every person's experience is unique, and there is no "ideal" sensation or experience.
A distance healing ceremony is an energetic process in which the participant is spiritually present and actively receives healing energy from the despacho ceremony performed by the Paqo. Before the ceremony begins, both the Paqo and participant will give a k’intu offering to the land. During the ceremony, the participant will be in a meditative state while the Paqo prepares the despacho until the closing of the ceremony. It’s common for the participant to report feeling physical sensations and receiving healings or spiritual insight from the nature spirits during the ceremony and/or during sleep. The benefits of a despacho continue to unfold long after the ceremony is closed. The despacho is offered either in a ceremonial fire (Mama Nina), buried in Earth (Pachamama), or released into the water (Mama Cocha), depending on the participant's intention. Our Paqo will share a picture of the participant’s personalized despacho, as well as any visions or messages she may receive from the spirits once the ceremony is complete.
