Posts on the Andean Cosmovision

Author: Oakley Gordon (Page 17 of 31)

From Shaman’s Drum

I’m busy working with some waikis to nourish a salka community here in Salt Lake.  Here is something I came across in my old notes that I would like to share.  It comes from an interview with Americo Yabar in the Shaman’s Drum (Fall, 1994).

Hal Bennett:  In terms of meeting our global crisis, do you feel going out in this way–to have direct contact with Nature and the Cosmos–is more important than going out and talking with other people?

Americo:  Yes, yes, absolutely!  It is much more important in all aspects:  therapeutically, intellectually, spiritually–in all ways.  We have to speak to the mountains in the mountains, to communicate with the spirits of nature in nature.  If you go to the river, the river doesn’t lie to you; the river cleanses you.  The wind cleanses you.  The ancient voices and the spirit of a tree can give you much.  These are the only constant and direct presences of the Divine.

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The Four Elements Meditation

Our ego consists of all the thoughts and beliefs we have about our self. A description, no matter how detailed, is not the same thing as what it is describing. All of the thoughts we have about who we are not the same thing as who we really are. We are much more mysterious than our thoughts can possibly encompass.

For this meditation it helps to be out into Nature, that is not necessary but in my experience it leads to a richer experience.  Enjoy!

Begin by using your intent (sincere pretending) to greet the element of earth (Pachamama). Connect with the earth, with your intent and an out breath send your filaments into the earth. Then bring your awareness to the earth inside of you, for much of our body is made up of elements of the earth. With your intent feel the unity of the earth upon which you stand and the earth within yourself.

Next, using your intent, greet the element of water. With an out breath connect your filaments to the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, the rain. Bring your awareness to the water inside of you, feel the unity of the waters upon the earth and the water within yourself.

Next, greet the element of fire. With an out breath connect your filaments to all of the fires burning on the planet, and with Tai Tai Inti (the great spiritual Being who is the sun). Bring your awareness to the slow fire within yourself that is your metabolism, feel the oneness of the fires upon the earth and the fire within yourself.

Next, greet the element of air. With an out breath connect your filaments to the air around you and any wind or breeze that may be caressing your body, connect to the immense movement of air around this planet. Bring your awareness to the air within yourself, flowing in and out of your lungs, and in and out of your bloodstream as it flows to and from all of your cells, feel the unity of the air upon the earth and the air within yourself.

And finally, let your energy expand vertically, down into the ground and up toward the Cosmos, until you become the Tree of Life.

 

…If you only read this meditation you won’t get it, it’s not about who we think we are, it is not about the concept that we are made up of the four elements. If you do this meditation you may experience some of your Being that is beyond thought. The ego is good, we need our ego to operate in this life, it is just helpful to not get too attached to it. The goal is not to get rid of the ego but to explore who we are beyond it, for this our ego needs to be willing to play second fiddle.

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Being in Peru

I am a little hesitant to post a picture of my mug and comment on it in this blog, it seems so self-aggrandizing.  This photo of me from my most recent trip, however, really shows what it is like for me to be in Peru.  Click on the photo to get a zoomed view of it and look at my eyes.  In the Andean Cosmovision the left side of Being is ‘lloqe’, it is our connection to the ineffable mystery of the Cosmos. My left eye looks like I am peering into the mystery of the void.  The ride side of our Being is ‘paña’, our connection to our everyday life. My right eye is full of love. And my hair, of course, is ‘salka’ (undomesticated energy). I love being in Peru.

Oak

 

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