Shamanic Visions at Pisac

by Linda Star Wolf, Ph.D., coauthor with Vera Lopez of Shamanic Mysteries of Peru: The Heart Wisdom of the High Andes

One of my favorite places in all of the high Andes in Peru is Pisac. From the moment I stepped on the path and started climbing 10,000 ft I could sense the priests, priestesses, astrologers, and wisdom keepers of long ago who resided in this sacred community high above the village below. There was a sacred reciprocity that existed between those that could read the skies, the celestial beings, stars, etc., and those who farmed with the fertile earth (Pacha Mama) down below.

I’ve always had a deep connection to the prayer as above so below, as within so without, and this sacred connection is very grounded here in the high mountain tops as well as in the sacred valley below. It’s quite a hike that requires many breathes, one step at a time, and a gradual surrendering while walking in prayer to the summit. Many times along the trail I had to stop and acclimate to the new heights that I had reached. While doing this I would look back at the valley and literally catch my breath at the view below me. With each step I took I had a new vantage point and could see the “bigger picture” as I moved forward. This brought a greater awareness of how this is true in my everyday life as well, meaning if I can rise higher than the problems I am facing, there is a larger spiritual landscape that includes a lot more than my narrower point of view.

Eventually after several hours of huffing and puffing I finally arrived at the Incan ruins left behind by these ancient seers. Off to the side of the plateau above there is a stone bench positioned in a way that it has a panoramic view of both the valley below and the sky above. Luckily no one was there except myself, our Indian guide, and a few members of our group, which gave us time and space to create a ceremony involving the seer’s chair. I was the first to sit upon the bench, which felt like a throne, and after gazing out over the landscape decided to close my eyes and do what I refer to as shamanic breathing to enter into a natural altered state.

With the elevation the altered stated was quickly accessed, and my inner visualization along with all of my senses were heightened. I could sense how beautiful and vibrant this village on top of the mountain had been and the harmonic energy flowing to all those below. I sat in this altered state of beauty, harmony, and peace for quite a while and then I begin to sense the tragedies that occurred when the conquerors overtook Pisac, both the village below and the seer’s community above. The conquerors that came did not understand the sacred indigenous ways and did their best to eliminate and destroy this sacred way of life. By disrupting the ancient spiritual wisdom, an imbalance was created that affected the farmers and all those living below in the village in devastating ways. For they had been interdependent with the seers who were guiding them about when to plant and when to harvest the crops. This sacred information was lost when the invaders took over and this disturbed the natural ways for the native people there.

I had a deep sadness waft over me as I witnessed the conquerors forbidding ceremonies, celebrations, and the old ways, which created a break with spiritual traditions, practices, and centuries-old wisdom. I found myself weeping in the midst of my vision at how a whole culture’s way of life had been destroyed and many had perished. While sitting in the seer’s chair, I was reminded of all of humanity’s ancestry, which I believe originated in the great star nations. I had a deep feeling we are once again entering into a time where we must surrender and remember our celestial origins and that we are star beings who possess within our DNA the wisdom that comes to us from the Great Above so that we may gift it to the Great Below, our beautiful Earth. We must plant the seeds of remembering and nurture with our love, wisdom, and rebirth these ancient mysteries on Earth as it is in Heaven.

In order to assist uniting the energies of the Great Above and the Great Below I would like to offer a guided meditation journey to Pisac (continued below).

Guided Meditation Journey to Pisac

First, create a comfortable place where you can experience this journey. Perhaps create an altar of your sacred objects, reminding you of your own shamanic consciousness. Once your sacred space is established and set up, I invite you to take about ten full and deep breaths, activating all the energy centers in your body. Continue to breathe deeply, inhaling through your nose and exhaling fully through your mouth, and close your eyes.

Relax your body as you breathe and open your heart to the energies of your own shamanic being, who is equipped to walk between the worlds—traversing the realms of the Great Above, the Great Below, the Light, the Dark, and all those places in between.

In your mind’s eye imagine yourself standing down by the river that runs through the Sacred Valley of Peru, giving life to the crops and the people who live in this region of land. As you stand here, feel your humble connection and your interconnection to Earth itself—feeling your connection to the waters running before you, the ground beneath your feet, the sky above you, and the air you are breathing. You are connected to the Earth and you are a part of this sacred land.

Looking down the river, feel into the energy of the village downstream. See where the people live, where their markets are set up, and where the farmers care for and maintain their crops and livestock. This village is a real, earthy place, and you intuitively know that all those who live here share your connection to the Earth and the elements around you.

Imagine yourself in this village. What role do you play and how do you contribute to your community? Are you a farmer caring for the crops and the sacred herbs? Do you weave fabrics or make wool for clothing? What is your sacred niche within the village, and what actions do you fulfill on a mundane level to support the collective?

As you feel this connection, you find yourself being called to walk up the mountain. You are undergoing a vision quest for yourself and you are in search of how you can be a better human being at this time. You pack your bag—perhaps place a flute and/or coco leaves in your bag for your ascent to the ancient ruins above your village.

You begin your journey, and as you climb up the mountain, you look over to the left and see your terraced crops. You see the different things growing over there—and you see others from your village working very close to the Earth, working and tending the terraced gardens.

You continue onward and upward, rising into higher altitudes as you reach the top of the mountain. You climb through and eventually come up to an opening where you look around and see a beautiful building made out of stone. This building is open and spacious and it overlooks the vista of the Andes Mountains.

You walk into the open ruins and you can feel the sacred present within the atmosphere. As you walk around you see that there are sages, mediums, and elders saying their prayers, working their rituals, and offering their sacred works to the great spirits and mysteries. The people here are in direct relationship with the otherworlds, and you can feel the presence of these other dimensions in this ancient site.

You pause and look out into the vista of the valley below you, and as you take in this site, a priest and priestess come and welcome you as they both knew you were coming to undergo a vision quest. These elders welcome you and gift you with something—you reach out your hands and what do you receive? Perhaps it’s a sacred stone, an herb, a feather, or a tool of power? Take a moment to discover your gift.

You give thanks for their gifts, and you reach inside your bag to bring out your own offering to them, thanking the priest and priestess for imparting their wisdom to you. The priest and priestess receive your gift and they guide you to a place within the ruins where you can undergo your vision quest.

You sit in this isolated area of the ruins and begin to breathe deeply. As you breathe deeply, you feel the heat of the sun above you. It beams down warmth and life force energy, and it shines brilliantly in the blue sky. Condors circle this brilliant light as if gathering and preparing the energies for you and your vision quest.

You hear the condors call above you, the villagers farming way down below, and you can smell the smoke of the elders’ prayers burning in the ruin site. Just like the connection to the Earth and elements upon the start of your journey, you feel this connection to the spirits and beings around you—the condors, the farmers, the elders. All of life is within your field of consciousness. You breathe deeply and you know that you have merged the worlds of the Great Below with the Great Above within your heart space.

Your heart is the vessel of this unity consciousness and it is the sacred meeting place where two worlds become one. So, as you drop into this field of consciousness, I invite you to offer your prayers to Inti, the sun god, and allow the energies of the Great Above to send you a message—a message for yourself, for your community, and for the world. Place your hand upon your heart and feel these messages, these direct transmissions from the Great Above, encode themselves within your heart and upon your DNA. You have received your vision from your quest.

You open your eyes to see the ruins around you and fully receive this download of your life. You find the priest and priestess and thank them for keeping the energies of this ancient temple alive so that these shamanic pathways can remain forever open. You offer your gratitude to these ancient wisdom keepers and give thanks to the ancient temple itself, and you begin your return to the village.

You begin your descent, and you feel filled with sunlight, air, and clarity of vision, yet your feet are grounded firmly upon the Earth. You carefully make your way down to the village, walking past the river nodding and smiling to those who are making their crafts. As you smile at them, you feel and remember your connection to the Earth around you and to the otherworlds above you. You feel these connections and know within your heart that you are a bridge between these worlds, and that the worlds of the Great Above and the Great Below merge together in your heart center. You acknowledge to yourself that you are a walker between these worlds and that you carry a strong medicine for the people—the medicine of this unity consciousness, love, and greater wisdom.

Take a deep breath, and exhale fully. Come back and feel your gratitude for this journey, for this experience, and for your connection to Pisac. Thank the mountain, river, village, and the sacred part of the southern region of the Sacred Valley.

Take a deep breath in and feel yourself return to your body. Grounded and centered with your physical body, open your eyes and fully return. Take some time to journal, reflecting on your journey. Record your experiences.