Lessons from the Journey to the Mountain

Apu Pitusiray is a mountain in the Calca region. It is mostly uninhabited except for people who bring their animals to graze. There are many legends and stories about this mountain. Generally, people know this mountain as an “Apu” which means that it has a powerful spirit and energy.

We were on a mission to collect khuyas (power stones) for some ceremonial gatherings from Apu Pitusiray. It was three of us and one local guide. We met at 4:00am, unable to sleep in anticipation. We arrived to Calca and up the road to the antenna, where we offered coca and blew our prayers into the leaves before starting up the mountain. The hazy muted pastel colors were magical, washing the whole scene with a tint of lilac. We were in awe at the beauty as the flora changed from a colorful wonderland of flowers to prickly plants and then to ichu, the golden-colored grass often found in the Andes. We were eye-to-eye with the clouds and then gradually ascended over them. We shared each of our intentions for the journey and then we faced a period of time with the wind and rain smacking our faces. It was so loud that we couldn’t hear each other and it forced us to go inwardly, facing our own thoughts. We went over a ridge where we could see the rim of the lake and noticed that the clouds had opened up, as if the belly of the mountain was welcoming us with open arms. We had a gorgeous picnic and made an offering, gathered the khuyas, and then the clouds rolled in, signaling our time to return. We left changed, uplifted, and with clarity about each of our intentions.

I had some moments of listening to the messages from the mountain and just what arose in our conversations. Here are some highlights:

-It became clear that my time being based in the Sacred Valley was coming to an end, but it didn’t mean that the connections with the land and the mountains would end.
-There was a cute little duck that was swimming around us. The lake was so still otherwise, and so its tiny little movements had such wide ripples that reached the whole lake. It was a reminder that each little thought or action can have these lasting effects for ourselves and the space around us.
-I realized how comfortable we can be in our own shit, meaning our old patterns and limiting beliefs and perspectives. It doesn’t really take very much to get over these small mental hurdles.
-I was shown some of my mental patterns around why I wanted to do certain things in the past, like photography or healing work, that a lot of the motivation was tied to wanting to be liked and appreciated.
-Healer, heal thyself. I wanted clarity about my healing work, and whether I should continue sharing healing sessions and classes or not as I have been uncertain. And ultimately, it led back to want. Yes, I can do it if I want, or no, I do not have to do it if I do not want to. I was also reminded that any healing work I do for others is always reflecting back to myself. Basically, if I do not do the inner work I need on myself, it will show up in the form of another person to take consciousness of.
-In asking about what to focus on work-wise, time-wise and energy-wise, I received that it’s not about the thing that I’m doing so much as connecting with real want. I got a message of “You can do whatever you want” and it felt so empowering. I had been thinking in limitation that I can’t do all the other things I want to do because of limits of time and energy. But that was all thrown aside. If we follow our true desire which comes from an authentic place, we can’t be steered astray.
-The importance of focusing on what you’re giving and offering. Even the way that we focus our minds to be grateful is one of the ways we can give generously.
-We are abundant if we choose to see it.
-Trust.

Some pics from the journey: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMPjfneHPeC