Archive for November 2016
Harvest Despacho Giveaway Contest
What is a harvest despacho? Despacho is an Andean amulet-making ceremony, in which the despacho-maker brings various elements into an object and then ritually sends it off. They are traditionally made by Andean shamans for a variety of (often transitional) occasions, from birth rituals to rituals honoring the dead. In a sense, a harvest despacho…
Read MoreDespacho Ceremony: Sacred Creations
A despacho ceremony is an ancient indigenous ritual of the Andean people of Peru. Despacho literally means to ship or dispatch something. Creating a despacho is an intentional, focused sacred ceremony in which an amulet-like bundle is filled with natural, biodegradable ingredients. These ingredients hold symbolic elements that represent the prayerful intentions of the despacho-maker.…
Read MoreOctober’s Nature Mandala Giveaway Winner
Congratulations to Twitter follower @LoveSoulShine from California for winning our Nature Mandala Giveaway competition! Her beautiful floral mandala (pictured left) was inspired by the belief that “Love is what connects us all.” This is a wonderful, important concept, and we couldn’t agree more. She will receive a set of Derwent colored pencils as her prize.…
Read MoreHonoring Death: Dia de los Muertos
Pondering death teaches me about living. I have learned that to honor life, I must also honor death. But recognizing that death is a natural part of the process of living is not something most of us want to face. It is hard to come to terms with the idea that death isn’t something to…
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