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Author Archives: Oakley Gordon
Filling in the Conceptual Corners
In the Andean Cosmovision the Cosmos does not play by the rules of Aristotelean logic where everything must be either A or not A. An example of this can be found in the various ways in which the Andeans conceive the difference between the energies found on the right and left side. In the previous post (Right Side / Left Side) I described how in the Andes the right side is our ability to operate in everyday life while the left side connects us to the ineffable mystery of the … Continue reading
The Man with the Shining Eyes
One day don Americo and I were driving between villages in the Andes in his son Gayle’s red Volkswagen beetle (the car’s name is Pinky Pinky). As we were were working our way up the side of a mountain valley Americo pulled the car to a stop by the side of the road. An old man was sitting there with his back to us, looking out over the valley. When we drive through the Andes Americo brings a sack of small loaves of pocket bread to hand out to the … Continue reading
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Remember to Wave Your Warak’as
In this post we continue to pursue an understanding of how the complementarity of opposites informs the Andean people’s understanding of themselves, their relationships with each other, and their relationships with the Cosmos. In earlier posts we looked at the basic concepts underlying the complementarity of opposites (Yin/Yang of the Andes), how it informs the relationships between women and men (Wharmi-Qhari), and how the ritual encounter (‘tinkuy’) of differing energies can give rise to new life force (Tinkuy: Confirming the Rules of Life). In that latter post tinkuy was introduced … Continue reading
Posted in Andean Cosmovision
Tagged Americo Yabar, Apu, ayni, complementarity, cosmovision, Illapa, Pachamama, paqo, sacred, tinkuy
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Tinku–Confirming the Rules of Life
(The title of this post was taken from a section of Inge Bolin’s book Rituals of Respect: The Secret of Survival in the High Peruvian Andes). My post Yin/Yang of the Andes laid out the basic principles of the ‘complementarity of opposites’, a concept that is fundamental to the Andean Cosmovision (as well as to Taoism). In the post Warmi-Qhari I examined how the complementarity of opposites informs the relationship between women and men in the Andes. In this post I would like to take a look at how the … Continue reading
What’s Up
Kenosis Spirit Keepers is the nonprofit organization of which I am vice president. Our mission is to honor and preserve the integrity of indigenous wisdom and sacred cultural practices. As part of this mission we offer the Spirit Keepers Series which provides opportunities to experience and learn from indigenous people who are emissaries of their ancient and living traditions and who serve as a living bridge connecting their culture with ours. On February 25-26, 2012, the Spirit Keeper Series will feature Flordemayo, a traditional Maya healer from Guatemala and member … Continue reading
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Warmi-Qhari (Woman-Man)
The Andean Cosmovision embodies the complementarity of opposites in a way that informs the Andean people’s relationship with Nature and the Cosmos, with each other, and with the various facets of their own being. In this post I would like to explore how the Cosmovision presents the complementary aspects of male and female energy. In the post Yin/Yang of the Andes I gave an overview of the concept of the complementarity of opposites, including how opposites can only exist in relationship to each other, the importance of drawing and maintaining … Continue reading
Yin/Yang of the Andes
The dynamic concept of the complementarity of opposites (described below) plays a fundamental role in the Andean culture, informing not only their relationship with Nature and the Cosmos, but also their relationships with each other, and the relationship of energies within themselves. The complementarity of opposites has a role equal to that of ‘ayni’ (see the posts Ayni, Ayni Revisited) in the Andean Cosmovision, in fact, as we will see (in a future post), it must. When I decided to write about the complementarity of opposites I meant to offer … Continue reading
Back in the Saddle
Greetings, I am writing again after a bit of a hiatus, having turned my attention to other aspects of my life (Christmas and the beginning of a new semester) and taking a breather from the blog to give time for my batteries to recharge. The latter is an indication to me that ayni is out of balance in an endeavor (please see the posts Ayni and Ayni Revisited), for when ayni is in balance the wind is in everyone’s sails, and when it is not, if I want to continue … Continue reading
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