Autumn Solstice

Ever since our hike a few weeks ago up to the Temple of the Moon, a group of us had been discussing hiking up to see the sunrise one morning. We were all in town this weekend, and as it was the first day of autumn (here) we decided it was a good morning to go. Seven of us woke up at 4:30, and took a cab across town at 5, then hiked for 25 minutes to ruins above the Temple of the Moon and watched the sun come up. As we were sitting there a group of about 10 Peruvians of all different ages came up and joined us. With them was a shaman, and they were there to celebrate the solstice and give their offerings to the earth, and they invited us to join them in their ceremony.

They poured rose oil on our hands, and gave us coco leaves to chew on, and three to hold in our hands. The shaman then called out to the spirits of mountains and welcomed their energy to us as we blew on the leaves and prayed. As the sun rose we all stood and meditated as they prayed in Spanish and translated into English for us, explaining how at the solstice the energies of the cosmos and the earth align, and plants, animals and human beings are the bridge to this energy, and we welcomed it in. At the end of the ceremony they blew smoke from a fire they had burned on us, and after one last prayer of thanks, we chewed the leaves we were holding.

I completely can't do the ceremony justice with my words, but it was amazing to recognize and pray to the earth and ask to receive it's energy. It was about giving thanks to the sun (or, whoever you believe you should be giving thanks to) for our blessings and for each day that we are given, and it was wonderful to just take a step aside and really be appreciative of all of the things that I have been blessed with.

What would have been a beautiful sunrise turned into so much more, due to coincidence? or instinct? to go on the solstice. The woman that helped lead the ceremony and one of the guys there offered to take us all on a hike along the Inca Trail next weekend to a waterfall and show us some more Incan ruins along the way, so more to look forward to next weekend!

Phew, sorry, pretty heavy for a blog, I know. But I'm just aware of how incredibly lucky and blessed I am, not only to have the opportunity to be here and have these experiences, but also for all of the wonderful people I get to be with when I return home (including the soon to be new members of the family!). So yes, love to you all!

-me