Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet

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2008, Oakley Gordon Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet Page 1

Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet

A speech by r! Oakley Gordon at a "#nd raising e$ent "or %enosis &pirit %eepers

May 2, 2008

'hank yo# all "or being here! (t is important that yo# arehere, "or at least t)o reason! *irst, (greatly appreciate yo#r s#pport "or %enosis &pirit %eepers, in my presentation (+ll be )inding my

)ay to)ard a description o" )hat )e are #p to and )hy it is signi"icant! #t second, yo#r simply

being here is important, "or there is more than one c#lt#re represented in the a#dience and that,as yo# )ill see, is important beyond the scope o" %enosis &pirit %eepers!

( )o#ld like to begin )ith a ceremony, )hich ( o""er )ith the greatest respect "or the Andeanc#lt#re "rom )hence it came! (+ll begin by creating a k+int#! 'o "orm a k+int# yo# take three coca

lea$es and hold them together at yo#r "inger tips, as a stack or slightly "anned! (t is illegal "or the

coca plant to gro) in the -nited &tates so (+ll be #sing bay lea$es, )hich resemble coca lea$es,

and they )ill s#""ice! .o) coca lea$es are partic#larly sacred, b#t the sacred is in all things,incl#ding bay lea$es, and to a large e/tend it is the intent that co#nts, so bay lea$es )ill be #st

"ine! 'o "orm a k+int# yo# select the $ery best coca lea$es in yo#r po#ch, and yo# hold them by

their stem tips, shiny green side #p, like this!

.o) ( )ill per"orm ph#k#y )ith the k+int#, )hich in$ol$es gently blo)ing my "inest energy

thro#gh the k+int#, mi/ing my energetic "ilaments )ith those o" the sacred coca, and then beyondto!!! 3Pachamama, Ap# As#ngate, Ap# Pachat#san, Ap# 4aman 5ipa, the rest o" the Ap#k#na,

Ap# Olymp#s, the &alt 5ake 6#akers, )aikis, and "riends gathered here today! 5et #s meet in

harmony and respect!7 ( ha$e called #pon the Pachamama, the great cosmic being )ho is o#rmother the planet earth, to be )ith #s here and the Ap#s, the beings )ho are the great mo#ntain

peaks, the three Ap#s )ho ( kno) the best, ha$ing been in ceremonies on their slopes99Ap#As#ngate, Ap# Pachat#san, Ap# 4aman 5ip99and the other Ap#s as )ell, the Ap#k#na +k#na+

being ho) yo# make a )ord pl#ral in 6#ech#a, the lang#age o" the Andes, and Ap# Olymp#s,as Mo#nt Olymp#s is the Ap# o" this $alley that ( ha$e "elt a strong connection )ith all o" my

li"e! ( ha$e called #pon them all, asking them, )ith great respect, to be here )ith #s no) as )e

meet, and ( ha$e "#rther called #pon #s here to meet in harmony and respect!

A"ter ph#k#y the coca lea$es are either che)ed or they are placed )ithin a despacho an

o""ering! As ( don+t "eel inclined to m#nch some bay lea$es (+ll gi$e them to my )aiki here,Gina, )ho )ill take them o#tside and place them in the Pachamama! 4aiki in 6#ech#a is

literally a male+s brother, b#t my "riend and teacher Americo #ses the term as an a""ectionate )ay

to address both males and "emales and ( like to do that too! 'he "orming o" k+int#s, and thenph#k#y, occ#rs not only in ceremonial meetings b#t )hene$er the Andean people meet, perhapson their )ay to per"orm some comm#nal )ork in the "ields in the morning! (magine, i" yo# )ill,

a society )here )hene$er people meet they ha$e a ceremony, asking that they meet in harmony,

and in$iting to the gathering )ith great respect the planet earth Pachamama and the mightymo#ntain peaks the Ap#s, or +Ap#k#na+! (n this )ay they are attending to the :#ality o" their

relationships to each other, and are constantly bringing into their li$es their relationships )ith

nat#re, "or they do not dra) a distinction bet)een nat#re and themsel$es!


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Ob$io#sly, )e are talking abo#t a c#lt#re that has di""erent ass#mptions abo#t reality than o#r

4estern, ind#strial c#lt#re, and this is )hat my presentation tonight )ill be abo#t! ;$ery c#lt#re

has ass#mptions abo#t the nat#re o" reality! 4e ha$e to ha$e ass#mptions to "orm the basis o"o#r thinking, )itho#t them )e )o#ld not be able to think, )e )o#ld ha$e chaos in o#r minds!

'he people o" a c#lt#re more or less share the same set o" ass#mptions, or the c#lt#re co#ld not

hold together! 'he ass#mptions made by one c#lt#re are not, ho)e$er, necessarily the same asthe ass#mptions made in another c#lt#re!

.o) the ass#mptions )hich "orm the basis o" o#r thinking are interesting things! 'hey cannot,

"or e/ample, be pro$en to be tr#e! 'hat is )hy they are called +ass#mptions+, )e ass#me they aretr#e and then base o#r thinking #pon them! 'he ass#mptions )hich #nderly o#r approach to

#nderstanding reality are so basic, e/ist at s#ch a deep le$el, that they are rarely bro#ght to light

to e/amine! -s#ally )e don+t need to, #ntil perhaps )e r#n into a c#lt#re that has di""erentass#mptions!

Ho) can )e e$al#ate the di""erent ass#mptions made by di""erent c#lt#res< .o logical systemcan pro$e its o)n ass#mptions to be tr#e, )e al)ays ha$e to start )ith some things )e #st

ass#me )itho#t proo"! (" o#r ass#mptions cannot be tested )ith the meas#ring stick o" +tr#th+

then ho) can they be e$al#ated< 'he ans)er is they are e$al#ated by their #se"#lness, by ho))ell they help #s mo$e thro#gh li"e! .o c#lt#re+s set o" ass#mptions, ho)e$er, are per"ect "or

e$erything, a c#lt#re+s ass#mptions )ill "acilitate it being really good at some things, b#t those

same ass#mptions )ill, by their $ery nat#re, keep the c#lt#re "rom being partic#larly good at

certain other things! And that idea takes #s, "inally, to a belated e/pression o" the main theme o"my presentation tonight! 4hich is this!!!

Here in the 4est )e ha$e the technology and kno)ledge )e need to t#rn this planet into agarden o" ;den to li$e in harmony )ith each other and )ith .at#re, in bea#ty, and in health, in a

)orld rich )ith di$ersity o" li"e! (n my despair at the direction )e are heading ( sometimes

"orget this, that s#ch a )orld is )ithin o#r grasp i" )e choose, b#t it is, and that is $ery goodne)s! 4e also, ho)e$er, ha$e the po)er to t#rn this )orld into a place o" mass e/tinction o"

li"e, o" poisoned air and )ater, o" po$erty, o" h#nger, and o" )ar! 'he :#estion is )hy, )hen

gi$en the choice, do )e seem to be choosing the latter< 'onight ( )o#ld like to gi$e my ans)er

not only to the +)hy+, b#t to the +)here"ore+ )hat )e can do abo#t it!

O#r modern, 4estern, ind#strial c#lt#re has at its "o#ndations certain ass#mptions abo#t the

nat#re o" reality that allo)s #s to be great technicians and great in$entors, and this has led to

many )ondro#s and mightily con$enient goods (Pods, cell#lar phones, cars, mo$ies, M=(scans! 'hese $ery same ass#mptions that make #s so good at technology, ho)e$er, make it

di""ic#lt "or #s as a c#lt#re to choose to head to)ard a healthy and bea#ti"#l "#t#re! 4e ha$e thetechnology and kno)ledge )e need to create an ;den, b#t )e seem to lack the heart to do so!

.o) let me t#rn to the c#lt#re "o#nd in the high Andes! (t is hard to "athom #st ho) di""erent

their ass#mptions o" reality are "rom o#r o)n, #ntil yo# think abo#t ho) little o#r philosophicalheritages ha$e in common! 'heir ass#mptions )ere not in"l#enced by the ible nor by the


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classic Greek philosophers! 'hey did not ha$e a escartes to propose that realty consists o" t)oindependent realms o" mind and matter the sacred and the physical nor did they go thro#gh the

ind#strial and scienti"ic re$ol#tions! 'he ass#mptions they make abo#t reality are :#ite di""erent

than o#r o)n, and ha$e led to great de$elopments in some areas and less de$elopment in others!'hey are speci"ically highly skilled in their interactions )ith .at#re, in their ability to "orm

lo$ing and m#t#ally s#pporti$e relationships )ith each other, )ith .at#re, and )ith the ?osmos!

Another )ay o" saying this is that they ha$e the +heart+ )e need to t#rn o#r species in the rightdirection!

( ha$e been st#dying the Andean approach since 1@@! 'his has incl#ded se$eral trips to Per# to

)ork )ith the pa:+os o" the high Andes! 'he term Bpa:+oB does not ha$e an e/act e:#i$alent ino#r c#lt#re, some people translate Bpa:+oB as BshamanB and others as BmysticB! (t+s not a

partic#larly great choice, it+s like trying to describe a bear to a c#lt#re that has ne$er seen one and

being gi$en the choice o" saying that it is essentially a cat, or essentially a dog! O" the t)o,ho)e$er, ( think that BmysticB is closer than BshamanB in describing a pa:+o! B&hamanB carries

)ith it associations )ith psychoacti$e plants, dr#mming, chanting, and o#rneys into the spirit

)orld to retrie$e lost pieces o" the so#l! ( ha$en+t r#n into any o" that in the Andes! 'hey doche) coca lea$es, )hich is abo#t as e/citing as drinking a c#p o" tea! BMysticB seems closer!

Mystics belie$e that the ?osmos is "ar more incredible, more mysterio#s, than )ords or

tho#ghts can encompass! 'he mystic belie$es it is possible, ho)e$er, to mo$e beyond )ords99beyond #st describing reality99to act#ally e/perience reality at a deep le$el! Mystics, th#s, place

little $al#e in dogma, or belie"s, or descriptions! 4ords may ha$e $al#e as sca""olding, helping

one to b#ild the e/perience, b#t the )ords themsel$es ha$e no $al#e beyond that, it is the

e/perience that really matters! 'h#s dogma, belie" systems, ha$e $al#e to the mystic only intheir ability to lead to a mystical e/perience99the direct e/perience o" the sacred99and the dogma

or belie"s themsel$es are )orthless other than that! 'his pretty m#ch "its my e/periences in the

Andes, )here ( ha$e been led to many e/periences o" the sacred b#t no one has sat me do)n andsaid +Oakley, this is )hat yo# are s#ppose to belie$e!!!+

.eighboring $illages may di""er some)hat in their ideology, and #st as in o#r c#lt#redi""erences in belie"s abo#t the ?osmos can be "o#nd among indi$id#als )ithin the same $illage,

b#t that all seems #nimportant! 4hen ( meet )ith the pa:+os it doesn+t matter )hat ( belie$e, nor

the belie"s o" the pa:+os ( ha$e )orked )ith be"ore, the pa:+os seem to ha$e the ability to

determine )here ( am at and help me mo$e a little "#rther do)n my path! (t is, in essence, notabo#t belie"s, not abo#t ideology, it is abo#t ability! Pa:+os ad$ance in rank not by )hat they

belie$e b#t by )hat they can do! A pa:+o told me o" the +test+ he had to pass to be considered a

higher le$el pa:+o, he had to #se a type o" di$ination in$ol$ing the casting o" coca lea$es to

disco$er )here a missing alpaca )as! A"ter ho#rs o" str#ggling )ith the task he anno#nced thatthe alpaca+s body co#ld be "o#nd in a speci"ic ra$ine a se$eral ho#rs )alk a)ay! 4hen the party

tra$eled there and "o#nd the alpaca it )as anno#nced that he had passed the test! 4hen my"riend and teacher the pa:+o Americo Cabar took #s to a remote $illage to ha$e a ceremony

)ith a high le$el pa:+o, he and Americo disappeared to be by themsel$es "or a )hile! Americo

later told #s that e$en tho#gh the pa:+o had a great rep#tation, he had to +pro$e+ to Americo that

he )as ready "or #s, ( ha$e no idea )hat that proo" in$ol$ed, b#t it is a sa"e bet that it didn+tin$ol$e )ords!


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4ith the emphasis on e/perience and ability o$er belie" the pa:+os )o#ld seem to be mystics, b#t

mysticism strikes me as being some)hat in)ard and personally oriented, )hile the pa:+os are

m#ch in$ol$ed in )orking )ith energy and ha$ing an acti$e, act#ally $ital, role in theircomm#nity! 'h#s neither BshamanB nor BmysticB e/actly applies, b#t o" the t)o BmysticB seems

closer, and ( #s#ally label )hat ( am st#dying as BAndean mysticismB!

&o, that is )hat ( ha$e been st#dying, Andean mysticism! y its $ery nat#re the st#dy re:#ires

me to step o#tside o" the ass#mptions o" my c#lt#re and immerse mysel" into the ass#mptions o"

another c#lt#re! 'hat may seem like a hard thing to do b#t there are a "e) simple g#idelines

)hich ( )o#ld like to recommend!

'he "irst s#ggestion is to approach the e/periences )ith an open mind, this means being neither

skeptical nor g#llible b#t instead simply being open to the e/perience! (+d like to stress thatagain, to be neither skeptical nor g#llible! As )e shall see the reason "or this is that the

e/perience "alls o#tside o" the realm o" the intellect, th#s there is nothing to belie$e or not to

belie$e and th#s nothing to be skeptical or g#llible abo#t!

'he second s#ggestion is to approach the e/periences )ith a :#iet mind, this in$ol$es not

analyDing the e/periences )hile they are happening, #st e/periencing them! Analysis p#ts meback into my e/isting )ays o" e/periencing reality, )hich essentially keeps anything ne) "rom

coming in! 'here is a place "or analysis, as ( do )ant to analyDe the e/periences both "or the

sake o" my o)n intellect as )ell as to enable me to comm#nicate )hat ( ha$e "o#nd to others in

my c#lt#re! ( analyDe the e/periences a"ter ( ha$e ret#rned home that+s a simple statement thathides years o" "ascinating "r#stration and occasional to#ching insights!

And the third s#ggestion is to approach the people o" the Andes )ith an open heart! *or theAndean c#lt#re, at least, this is a prere:#isite "or acceptance and respect! (t is also something

yo# don+t normally "ind in a te/t book on ho) to per"orm research! #t "or me, it is part o" the

dra) o" my )ork in the Andes, ( lo$e to be in a c#lt#re )here my +s#ccess+ re:#ires that ( openmy heart to the people! 'his is something that is m#ch more di""ic#lt to do in my c#lt#re,

partic#larly as a man, and "rankly my society seems so cold )hen ( ret#rn! 'hank goodness "or

my "amily and "riends!

y "ollo)ing these s#ggestions ( ha$e "o#nd that o$er the years ( ha$e de$eloped an ability to

e/perience reality in t)o, $ery di""erent, sorts o" )ays! 4hen ( am in the Andes and immersed

in that )ay o" e/periencing reality it seems more +real+ and nat#ral than my memories o" )hat it

is like to be back in the -nited &tates! 4hen ( am in the -nited &tates ( "ind that my e$eryday)ay o" e/periencing reality seems real, and that the Andean approach seems b#t a dream,

pleasant b#t not as real as my e$eryday li"e! ( ha$e also made some progress in integrating thet)o, instead o" being in #st one or the other ( am some)hat able to be in both, and that is )here

( )o#ld like to speak "rom tonight!

Ah, b#t no) )e are back to the challenge that i" ( )ant to speak to yo# o" the Andes then ( ha$eto try to translate one $ision o" reality into another! 'here are se$eral challenges! 'he "irst is


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that there is not al)ays an e:#i$alent term in the t)o lang#ages ;nglish and 6#ech#a, )hich is)hat ( "ace )hen ( say ( ha$e been st#dying )ith the Bpa:+osB o" the Andes and ha$e to decide

)hether to call them +shamans+ or +mystics+ or go into a description o" ho) they are rather both

and neither! 'he second challenge is that o#r c#lt#res #se di""erent categories, in other )ords )edi$ide the )orld #p di""erently! *or e/ample, o#r di$ision o" obects into +animate+ and

+inanimate+ #st doesn+t make sense in the Andean )orld $ie), nor does o#r di$ision o" reality

into the +sacred+ and the +sec#lar+! (+ll be talking abo#t those in a min#te! 'he third challenge intranslating "rom the Andean c#lt#re to 4estern c#lt#re goes back to the idea that )e ha$e

di""erent ass#mptions abo#t the basic nat#re o" reality! 'hat+s an interesting thing to consider so

let+s go there no)!

*irst, let #s consider )hat it means to +kno)+ something! (n the 4est )e #s#ally think o"

kno)ledge as in$ol$ing )ords! &cience has its theories and models, and religion has its belie"s,

dogma, and script#res! (t )o#ld be hard to think o" a science that did not ha$e theories or areligion that did not ha$e any belie"s! 4hen )e are in the realm o" +kno)ledge as )ords+ then

the )ay )e e$al#ate kno)ledge in$ol$es determining )hether or not the )ords acc#rately

describe reality, )hich is another )ay o" saying that kno)ledge, )hen it is e/pressed as )ords!is e$al#ated based #pon )hether it is +tr#e+ or +"alse+! (" the )ords acc#rately describe reality then

they are +tr#e+, i" they don+t then they are +"alse+! O#r ability to )ork in this realm, the realm o"

)ords and determining )hat is tr#e and )hat is "alse, ( call o#r +intellect+! *or all the time (spend in my classes making s#re that the st#dents #nderstand the di""erences in ho) science and

religion arri$e at and test their descriptions o" reality, science and religion do arise "rom the same

c#lt#re99"rom the same basic ass#mptions99and both are intellect#al in nat#re, they are both

in$ol$ed in describing reality and they both e$al#ate the descriptions based #pon the yardstick o")hat is tr#e and )hat is "alse!

(ntellect#al kno)ledge, the realm o" )ords, is the primary type o" kno)ledge recogniDed by o#rc#lt#re, b#t there are some conte/ts )here )e recogniDe that a di""erent kind o" kno)ledge also

e/ists! *or e/ample, ( started o"" as a single, "ertiliDed egg, and that egg +kne)+ ho) to gro) into

me, an incredibly comple/ organism consisting o" billions o" cells all )orking together to createan ad#lt body! 'hat is an incredible "eat, in$ol$ing an #nimaginable amo#nt o" +ho) to+

kno)ledge, b#t they )on+t gi$e me a Ph!! in biology "or p#lling it o"", "or it is not intellect#al

kno)ledge, it )as not stored as )ords in my original cell, nor co#ld ( possibly p#t into )ords

ho) it )as accomplished! 'here are other types o" nonintellect#al kno)ledge as )ell, "ore/ample, the ability to play basketball )ell or play a m#sical instr#ment!

(n the Andes they recogniDe three )ays o" kno)ing, each associated )ith a di""erent part o" o#r

physical body! ( ha$e "o#nd this distinction to be $ery #se"#l in organiDing my tho#ghts abo#t)hat the Andean c#lt#re has to o""er and ho) it di""ers "rom o#r o)n! One )ay o" kno)ing is

thro#gh the yachay, )hich is located in the head! 'he yachay is the center o" the intellect! Asecond )ay o" kno)ing is thro#gh the m#nay, )hich is located in the heart! 'he m#nay is the

center o" lo$e! And a third )ay o" kno)ing is thro#gh the llankay, )hich is located slightly

belo) the na$el! 'he llankay is the center o" the physical body! 'hese seem rather like the

se$en chakras o" the ;ast, b#t there are three o" them rather than se$en! &o )hich n#mber iscorrect, are there really three as they say in the Andes or are there se$en as they say in the


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Orient< 'he best ans)er to the :#estion mo$es #s to)ards a better )ay o" #nderstanding theAndean )ay o" thinking! 'hey recogniDe that there are many )ays o" organiDing a single +thing+

into $ario#s aspects or parts! (n this case the Andeans take the )hole o" )ho )e are as a being

and di""erentiate it into three aspects, sometimes, "or they also di""erentiate it in other )ays as)ell, into t)o aspects the right side and le"t side o" the body, or some other n#mber, depending

#pon the conte/t! A"ter all, as a being )e are a single, )hole thing, that is )hat is real, and o#r

di""erentiations are simply bo#ndaries )e dra) aro#nd areas o" the )hole that seem di""erentthan other areas! 'he idea that )e are as beings separate "rom the rest o" the ?osmos is also #st

a di""erentiation )e make, taking the entirety o" the #ni"ied ?osmos and organiDing it into +me+

and +e$erything else+! Any)ay, one class o" distinctions the Andeans make in o#r e/istence is

bet)een the intellect yachay, the heart m#nay, and the ability to manip#late the physical)orld the llankay, )e can be di""erentiated in other )ays as )ell!

( )o#ld like to "oc#s on the m#nay, "or the Andean people and ( s#spect many other indigeno#speople in the )orld are as e/pert in the m#nay as 4estern c#lt#re is in the yachay intellect and

in technology )hich co#ld be considered to be an e/tension o" the llan:ay! 'he m#nay is

located in the area o" the heart and is the center o" lo$e! .o), "rom my ed#cation as a scientistand psychologist ( $ie) the idea that lo$e is located in the heart as being a :#aint, b#t totally

incorrect, $estige o" days long gone by, "or ( kno) that the heart is #st a biological p#mp, and

that emotions are r#n by the brain! ( am, ho)e$er, )rong in a $ery important )ay! 'he m#nayis located in the area o" the heart and it is the center o" lo$e, b#t this is di""erent than ho) )e

#s#ally #se the term! y +lo$e+ ( don+t mean an emotion! ;motions are pretty m#ch r#n by the

brain! O#r emotions arise "rom ho) )e think abo#t )hat is going on aro#nd #s, )hich is )hy

t)o people don+t necessarily ha$e the same emotional response to the same stim#l#s! 'he lo$eo" the m#nay is not an emotion, it is not romantic lo$e, or sentimental, or capable o" ealo#sy, the

lo$e o" the m#nay is the e/perience o" being interconnected to the rest o" the ?osmos! Perhaps

the term +lo$e+ doesn+t :#ite "it and )e sho#ld ha$e a di""erent )ord "or it, or perhaps it is thedeepest meaning o" the term +lo$e!+

'he )ay to access these $ario#s )ays o" kno)ing is by mo$ing yo#r conscio#sness there! Mynormal )ay o" being is to ha$e my conscio#sness in my head, right behind my eyes, the realm o"

the intellect, the yachay! (t is possible, ho)e$er, to mo$e yo#r conscio#sness to the area o" yo#r

heart! At least +mo$ing yo#r conscio#sness+ is the best description ( can gi$e "or the e/perience,

"or that is )hat it "eels like to me! eing able to do this is part o" )hat it means to +kno)+ theAndean approach!

( "irst really e/perienced this in my "irst trip to Per#! 4e )ere )ith the pa:+os in a r#in in the

hills abo$e the city o" ?#sco! 'he r#ins )ere act#ally a small hill )ith steps and benches c#t intothe rock! A large cle"t or small g#lly c#t the hill into t)o, and )e )ere standing in the cle"t! y

the time )e got there it )as dark, the stars )ere o#t, and ( co#ld barely see the pa:+os standingslightly abo$e #s on the slopes! 'hey began a ceremony, and ( "elt my conscio#sness sinking

gently do)n into my heart, and as that happened a sense o" e/pansion beyond mysel" began to

emerge! 'hen ( recogniDed some 5atin in )hat the pa:+o )as saying, ?hristian terms, and (

started thinking +Man, ( can+t belie$e it, ( came all the )ay to Per# to learn the indigeno#sapproach to the sacred and here is ?hristianity coming into the pict#re!!!!yada, yada, yada+! (


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realiDed that ( had popped back into my head, and that )hen ( did so my sense o" sel" shrank intoa small ball behind my eyes, ( )as no longer "eeling connected to e$erything, ( )as isolated,

alone, c#t o"", my normal e/perience o" being a being )andering aro#nd in a )orld that is +not

me+! ( gently told mysel" to be :#iet and rela/ed and let my conscio#sness dri"t do)n into myheart again and ( e/perienced e/panding o#t beyond mysel"!!!!#ntil ( started thinking again!!!and

then ( )o#ld +catch mysel"+ being back in my head, and ( )o#ld :#iet my mind and ret#rn to my

heart and so on, back and "orth bet)een the t)o e/periences, and the contrast allo)ed me to "orthe "irst time really recogniDe )hat it "elt like to be in my heart! ( had al)ays tho#ght it )as a

metaphor!!!

(n this e/ploration o" the m#nay the intellect is not in$ited, ( cannot be in both my m#nay and myyachay at the same time! 'hey are both important, the yachay, the intellect, is a )onder"#l gi"t

"or #s to ha$e, b#t so is the m#nay, and )e simply can+t be in both places at the same time!

(n o#r c#lt#re )e do ha$e conte/ts in )hich )e recogniDe that something important is going on

b#t )here the intellect does not belong! 'ake, "or e/ample, the conte/t o" being at the ballet! A

dancer comes on stage dressed as a s)an! (t )o#ld be inappropriate "or a scientist to stand #pand sho#t o#t +)ait a min#te, that+s not really a s)an+, and it )o#ld be e:#ally inappropriate "or a

priest to sho#t o#t +look at that giant s)an, it is a miracle+! .or does the ballerina stop as she

enters the stage to anno#nce Bit is important that yo# all belie$e ( really am a s)an+, nor does theballerina say +please don+t be alarmed, (+m not really a s)an (+m #st dressed #p like one+! 'he

consideration o" tr#th $ers#s "alsity, the realm o" the intellect, the realm o" both science and

religion, #st doesn+t apply to the ballet, yet )e recogniDe that something important to the

meaning o" li"e is present in the per"ormance!

Once ( )as participating in a ceremony on the slopes o" Ap# Pachat#san, a sacred mo#ntain that

is the s#pporting pillar o" the ?osmos! e"ore the ceremony )e, the pa:os and my "riends, )eresitting on the earth the Pachamama ha$ing a picnic! A $ery old )oman approaced #s! My

memory o" her is that she had shiny black eyes ( don+t e$en kno) i" that is possible and )as so

short that she )as almost at my eye le$el as ( sat! &he )as dressed in the traditional skirt ands)eater, and )ore a tall, )hite, sto$e9pipe hat! &he )alked #p to me and )ith a smile said

something to me in 6#ech#a, ( had no idea )hat she )as saying! My "riend Americo responded

to her in 6#ech#a, she said something back to him and then t#rned to)ard me again, Americo

said something else and she got a bea#ti"#l smile on her "ace and t#rned and )alked a)ay! (asked Americo )hat that )as all abo#t! He said Bshe told yo# that she had some $ery nice

chickens that yo# might )ant to look at! ( told her, thank yo# mama, b#t my "riend does not

ha$e any #se "or yo#r chickens! &he replied, b#t they are $ery nice chickens, he might )ant to

see them! And so ( told her, (+m sorry mama, b#t he can+t #se yo#r chickens, b#t he co#ld #seyo# caressing his dreams tonight )ith yo#r gentle hands!B ( "elt as i" ( )ere in a song!

&o, in the )orld o" the m#nay, i" )e are to talk abo#t it at all, )e need to mo$e o#t o" the

intellect, o#t o" distinctions bet)een )hat is tr#e and )hat is "alse! Perhaps the best )ay to talk

abo#t the m#nay is )ith poetry, )here tr#th and "alsity are also irrele$ant, and )here )ords are

#sed to point at )hat cannot be addressed in any other )ay! #t ( am not a poet, b#t ( can tellstories, and perhaps that )ill s#""ice!


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4hen )e talk abo#t the m#nay not only does the distinction bet)een )hat is tr#e and )hat is

"alse become irrele$ant, b#t also the distinction bet)een )hat is tr#e and )hat is metaphorical!

'he anthropologist Gregory ateson pointed o#t that in the 1E00+s that ?atholics and Protestants)ere killing each other, and )ere )illing to be killed, o$er the iss#e o" )hether the )ine o" the

sacrament really )as the blood o" ?hrist and the bread the body o" ?hrist the ?atholic position

or )hether the )ine and bread +stood "or+ the blood and body o" ?hrist in a metaphorical sort o")ay the Protestant position! ateson proposes that both $ie)points literal $s metaphorical

are someho) anti9sacred and that the sacred can be "o#nd in a realm o" tho#ght )ere the

distinction bet)een literal and metaphorical is irrele$ant, a description )hich "its the realm o"

m#nay!

( )o#ld like to link this train o" tho#ght to my e/perience )ith the Andean term +apacheta+! 'his

term )as "irst presented to me in the Andes as meaning a special door)ay bet)een t)o energies!4hen, "or e/ample, yo# are hiking and #pon cresting a hill yo# s#ddenly "ind be"ore yo# a

bea#ti"#l $ista, the highlands ha$e ended and stretching o#t in "ront o" yo# is a $ast landscape

that is #tterly di""erent than )here yo# ha$e been, yo# are in an apacheta, a door)ay bet)eent)o energies! Co# ha$e probably e/perienced something like this in yo#r tra$els and yo# kno)

)hat ( mean! 4hen crossing thro#gh an apacheta )ith pa:+os they )ill call "or a stop, sit do)n,

che) coca lea$es, play their "l#tes, and connect )ith the ne) energy! ( o""er this in"ormation toyo# as an idea o" ho) to begin to incorporate the Andean approach into yo#r li$es! And,

apachetas don+t ha$e to be geographic, any door)ay bet)een t)o energies can be an apacheta!

A"ter se$eral years o" #sing the term in this )ay, ( )as crossing a s#mmit in the Andes and sa)near the path, at the "oot o" a high mo#ntain peak an Ap#, a pile o" small stones! One o" the

pa:+os in$ited #s to "ind a stone, connect o#r energy to it, and add it to the pile o" stones as a )ay

o" honoring the Ap#! ( asked )hat the pile o" stones )as called and he said it )as called an+apacheta+, that apachetas )ere piles o" stones made by pa:+os at the "oot o" the Ap#s to honor

them! 4ell this ga$e me pa#se, it )as not )hat ( tho#ght the term meant! ( ha$e since come

across the term +apacheta+ in a book )ritten by an anthropologist and she also de"ined anapacheta as a cairn o" stones! (t occ#rred to me that perhaps my "irst e/pos#re to the term

+apachata+ #sed the term in a metaphorical sort o" )ay, )hile literally the term re"ers to a cairn o"

stones! .o), ho)e$er, ( am entertaining the idea that the distinction bet)een the +literal+ and

+metaphorical+ #se o" the term is irrele$ant, and that both #ses point to the same thing, that theyare both )indo)s to a term that "alls o#tside o" anything )e ha$e )ords "or in ;nglish!

( ha$e #st been rereading Ioan 4ilco/+s book on Andean cosmology! (n one section she is

)riting abo#t the Andean term +ka)say+! .o) +ka)say+ is normally interpreted as re"erring to theli"e energy "o#nd in all things! 4hen inter$ie)ing the 6+ero pa:+os ho)e$er, in response to her

re:#est that they de"ine +ka)say+ they all began to describe ho) one can best li$e one+s li"e! Onede"inition o" the term then is a type o" energy "o#nd in e$erything, and another is a mode o"

li$ing li"e in a good )ay, )ith respect and kindness "or others! ( s#spect this is another e/ample

o" the )ay one speaks o" the )orld o" the m#nay, )here the t)o de"initions are not seen as being

di""erent b#t instead are t)o di""erent )indo)s looking at one thing that "alls o#tside o" the r#leso" tho#ght o" the yachay intellect!


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2008, Oakley Gordon Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet Page @

And "inally, on this same train o" tho#ght, the Andean people blend the mythological and the

"act#al into one e/perience o" reality! 'his is not like )hat )e do here in my c#lt#re, )here

some arg#e that their mythology is "act#ally tr#e, e!g! that the planet is 10,000 years old ratherthan !E billion, or that the earth is the center o" the solar system rather than the s#n, instead in

the Andes it is more like the distinction bet)een the mythological and the "act#al is #st not

important!

(n the slides ( had r#nning earlier tonight yo# might ha$e noticed the photo o" the small,

cylindrical, stone str#ct#res standing on the top o" a hill! 'hese are +ch#llpas+ )hich ser$e both as

the tombs and homes o" the Mach#k#na, the +ancient ones+! 'he Mach#k#na are the children o"the moon, they li$ed on the earth be"ore the s#n arri$ed! 4hen the s#n appeared the Mach#k#na

co#ld not s#r$i$e its intense heat and light, they "led to the #ngle, they "led to the lakes, they

"led to the ca$es, b#t to no a$ail, they all died! Cet, they li$e still, at least their spirits do, and thech#llpas are their homes! 4hen the s#n has set and the sky is red they sit o#tside the doors o"

their homes to )arm their bones! 4hile the Andeans, the children o" the s#n, plant the crops and

tend the "ields d#ring the day, the Mach#k#na tend the same "ields at night! 'he Andeans plantthe corps, the Mach#k#na make them gro) bigger! 'hey li$e in a reality that is both separate

"rom and yet o$erlaps o#r o)n! And, they are bitter o" their plight, and may send sickness to the

children o" the s#n! 4e )ill ret#rn to the story o" the Mach#k#na at the end o" my speech, "or itis important to talk abo#t )ho )ill come a"ter the children o" the s#n!

'his might be a good point to bring in another aspect o" Andean tho#ght, )hich has to do )ith

the idea o" +pacha+, as in Pachamama and Pachac#ti! +Pacha+ re"ers to space9time, a partic#larplace at a partic#lar time, a blending together o" space and time that ( belie$e )o#ld "ind a

com"ortable home in physics, partic#larly ;insteinian physics! Any)ay, to the Andean people

there appears to be parallel or branching threads o" time and space, and that to some degreepeople and c#lt#res that are long gone are yet still here, b#t also not here! 4hen ( read this

statement in a book it took me back to another e/perience ( had in my "irst trip to ?#sco! ( )as

standing in the r#ins o" &acsayh#aman, looking o$er the co#rtyard )here the Andean pa:+os"rom all o$er the empire #se to gather in the time o" the (nca! 'here ( had this e/perience )here

it seemed to me that ( co#ld almostsee the (ncas, ( co#ld almosthear them! (t )as as i" they

)ere on the opposite side o" some screen or c#rtain o" reality, they )eren+t really there, ( didn+t

really hear them or see them, yet ( )as e/periencing them nonetheless! ( noted it at the time, andtho#ght it )as pretty cool, b#t then "iled it a)ay as +#st+ a s#becti$e e/perience to be

remembered! =eading this in a book later on bro#ght the memory back to me, and ga$e both the

statement in the book and my prior e/perience more $alidity to me! ( am glad ( had the

e/perience "irst, so that ( kno) it )asn+t an arti"act o" ha$ing read the book "ollo)ed by anaccommodating act by my #nconscio#s! *or me it is rather a hope"#l $ie) o" reality!

&o no) let+s look at the basic Andean $ie) o" reality! (+d like to start )ith a metaphor that ( "ind

#se"#l b#t that ( am #ns#re o" ho) m#ch it is my in$ention to e/plain )hat ( ha$e heard and ho)

m#ch it is )hat ( ha$e heard "rom the pa:+os! (magine, i" yo# )o#ld, that the ?osmos consists o"

a net)ork o" energetic "ilaments, like a cosmic9)ide spider )eb o" thin threads o" energy!4here these "ilaments come together to create nodes is )hat )e e/perience as obects! 'here


10/16


are se$eral conse:#ences to this idea, the "irst is that e$erything is interconnected, and )hile thenodes are distinct "rom each other they are also #st part o" a )hole! (t opens the possibility o"

comm#nicating )ith and interacting )ith other nodes thro#gh these "ilaments, something pa:+os

can do! (n this $ie) conscio#sness is an attrib#te o" the "ilaments, rather than the prod#ct o" aner$o#s system, th#s all nodes ha$e some le$el o" conscio#sness, incl#ding not only animals b#t

trees and rocks and lakes and e$erything else! 4hile psychology and medicine ha$e attempted

to de"ine conscio#sness di""erently it seems to me to be #ltimately a "#tile task! O#r attempt, asconscio#s beings, to de"ine and st#dy conscio#sness is like a kni"e trying to c#t its o)n edge or a

mirror trying to see itsel", simply and absol#tely logically impossible! Gi$en that, )hy not

de"ine it the Andean )ay, that conscio#sness is an attrib#te o" the basic "ilaments o" nat#re rather

than the by9prod#ct o" a ner$o#s system< A "#rther conse:#ence o" this is that i" e$erything is anode in the )eb, and e$erything has some le$el o" conscio#sness, then the distinction )e make

in the 4est bet)een animate and inanimate obects is simply less o" a distinction in the Andes,

more o" a di""erence in :#ality or "la$or than an absol#te di""erence!

'he most important "ilamental node in o#r neighborhood is the Pachamama, the great cosmic

being and mother, the planet ;arth! (t is hard "or #s, the philosophical children o" escartes, toappreciate ho) the Andean people e/perience and "eel abo#t the Pachamama! (n o#r history the

philosopher escartes proposed that reality consists o" t)o realms, a physical realm o" matter

and energy and a transcendent realm o" mind and spirit! 'he physical realm o" matter and energyco#ld be st#died by science, it operates p#rely by mechanical la)s o" ca#se and e""ect, matter

and energy ha$e no "ree )ill! 'he transcendent realm, ho)e$er, the realm o" mind and spirit,

"alls o#tside o" science, it is not o" the physical )orld b#t is completely transcendent to abo$e

and beyond the physical )orld! (n this $ie) espo#sed by escartes then o#r so#l comes "rom arealm o#tside o" the physical realm, it inhabits o#r body )hich is a biological machine )ith no

"ree )ill and that operates #nder the la)s o" physics and chemistry b#t the so#l is not o" o#r

body! A"ter escartes scientists began to deride the idea o" the transcendent realm, they called itthe +ghost in the machine+ theory, and "or cent#ries p#shed the idea that only the physical realm

o" matter and energy e/ists and that e$erything "ollo)s the basic la)s o" physics and chemistry

and that th#s there really is no s#ch thing as "ree )ill! 'his has led to )hat today )e call the+mind and body+ :#estion, and o#r c#lt#re really only s#pports t)o alternati$es, to say that the

sacred doesn+t e/ist, that e$erything is #st a machine biological or other)ise, or to claim that

the sacred does e/ist b#t in a realm that is separate "rom the physical realm! (n the last hal"

cent#ry other alternati$es ha$e arisen in science, b#t ( don+t )ant to go into them here, as they areirrele$ant to the point ( am making and )o#ld be a long and d#ll di$ersion indeed!

Getting back to the Andean perspecti$e, the Pachamama is the great being )ho isthe planet

;arth! .ote that ( didn+t say she is the great being )ho residesin the planet as )e o"ten en$isionthe so#l residing in o#r body, b#t that she isthe planet ;arth! 'his is cr#cial to #nderstand, the

;arth is not simply a big inanimate rock, and the Pachamama is not a spirit that inhabits the bigrock, the Pachamama is the great cosmic being )ho is the planet ;arth, a h#ge and $itally9

important9to9#s conscio#s node o" "ilaments in the cosmic )eb, )ith her o)n :#alities!

4hile the Pachamama is the most important being in the Andean c#lt#re a"ter all, )e are herchildren, )e spring "rom her elements, )e rely on the plants and animals and o/ygen and )ater


11/16


she pro$ides there are other important beings as )ell! ( )on+t go into many o" them in thisspeech as it )o#ld take too m#ch time b#t ( de"initely )ant to mention the Ap#s! 'he Ap#s are

the great beings )ho are the mighty mo#ntain peaks again, not the great beings )ho li$e in the

mo#ntain peaks b#t the mo#ntains themsel$es! 'he Andean people organiDe m#ch o" their li$esaro#nd their relationship )ith the Ap#s honoring them, making re:#ests "rom them, ser$ing

them, gaining $isions and po)ers "rom them!

'he Ap#s are both a part o" Pachamama and also e/ist in their o)n right! ( think this is a $ery

important, and rather bea#ti"#l, thing to realiDe abo#t ho) the Andean c#lt#re thinks abo#t

reality! 4e can take an #ndi""erentiated )hole, like the Pachamama, see $ario#s aspects o" her,

e/perience and relate to those aspects as i" they )ere there o)n thing, )itho#t losing the#nderstanding that they are also b#t parts o" a larger seamless )hole! 'he plots o" c#lti$ated

"ields, the chakras, are the da#ghters o" the Pachamama, and are also part o" the Pachamama!

'he $ario#s lag#nas lakes ha$e their o)n personalities and po)ers, )hich can be e/periencedand )orked )ith, and they are b#t part o" the Pachamama! ;$en the great being )ho is the

planet ;arth is sometimes tho#ght o" as ha$ing t)o aspects, the Pachamama )ho is her lo$ing

and n#t#ring sel" and the Pacha 'ira )ho is the male$olent aspect o" the ;arth bringing plag#esand earth:#akes!

'he same can be said o" #s as h#mans! 'he yachay intellect, m#nay heart, and llankay bodyare b#t aspects o" an #ndi""erentiated )hole! 4e can also be +di$ided #p+ in other )ays, into the

+right side+ and +le"t side+ )hich the Andean people identi"y as ha$ing di""erent abilities, or into

the se$en chakras o" the Orient, or any other n#mber o" )ays! 'hese parts both +e/ist+, as they

are areas that di""er "rom other areas, and don+t really e/ist, as there is really #st one large )hole!e"ore mo$ing on let me drop one more thing to ponder, in the Andes, as ( #nderstand it "rom

(nge olin+s book, a marriage is an #ndi""erentiated )hole, )hich can be +di$ided #p+ into the

male and the "emale!

.o) ( )o#ld like to t#rn back to the idea o" the +sacred+! (n the philosophical heritage o" my

c#lt#re God, the sacred creator, is separate "rom his creation! 'he sacred, as e/pressed byescartes, lies in a realm that is o#tside o" the physical )orld, o#tside the )orld o" the plants and

animals and hills and mo#ntains! *or some people in my c#lt#re .at#re is seen as anti9sacred,

)here the desires and l#sts o" the body take one a)ay "rom the sacred, and th#s .at#re is e$il!

*or others in my c#lt#re )e, as h#mans, as seen as ha$ing a #ni:#e relationship )ith Godha$ing been created in his image, and th#s )e ha$e a connection )ith the sacred that the rest o"

.at#re does not, in this $ie)point .at#re is not e$il b#t it e/ists simply to ser$e #s! *or yet

others .at#re is sacred in that it )as created by God and all o" his creations sho#ld be )orshiped,

b#t not beca#se they are act#ally sacred b#t beca#se they )ere created by a God )ho is #ni:#elysacred! 'his is the +ste)ardship+ idea, that )e need to take care o" .at#re beca#se )e are better

than it and are obligated to be good masters o" it d#e to o#r re$erence "or God! And then, "inally,there are those "or )hom the sacred is irrele$ant or seen as none/istent! All o" these options

stem "rom the idea that the sacred is either separate "rom .at#re or doesn+t e/ist, the t)o choices

most s#pported by o#r c#lt#ral heritage!

'he Andeans pro$ide a third alternati$e, that the sacred does e/ist, b#t it is not separate "rom the


12/16


physical )orld, it does not lie in some realm that is transcendent to matter and energy! 'he?osmos is sacred, the Pachamama is sacred, )e are sacred, the trees are sacred! 4e don+t ha$e a

#ni:#e relationship )ith the ?osmos other than that each species is #ni:#e, )e are not special

compared to e$erything else beca#se )e )ere made in God+s image, )e are instead all aspects o"an #ndi""erentiated ?osmos that is sacred! And by not being +special+ )e are not separate "rom

.at#re, )e are part o" .at#re! ( remember someone telling me something that shocked me

greatly, both beca#se o" its implications and beca#se ( hadn+t tho#ght o" it be"ore yet it seemed soob$io#s! ( had gotten into the habit o" talking abo#t people, and mysel", as being +Pachamama+s

children+ )hich )e are! 4hen ( )as going on abo#t this a "riend said to me, B4ell Oakley,

don+t "orget, )e are not her +special+ childrenB! O" co#rse, she lo$es all o" her children the

)hales, the beetles, the trees, the polar bears, the p#mas, the condors! And, some o" those arem#ch more connected to the sacred than are )e!

'his takes #s nicely to the Andean term +salka+! (magine, i" yo# )o#ld, that yo# are an Andeanchild! Co# li$e )ith yo#r parents and brothers and sisters in a small adobe, one room, ho#se,

)ith thatched roo", at 1E,000 "eet in the Andes! 'his type o" ho#se is called in the Andes a +)asi9

tira+, )hich means +ho#se o" the earth+, "or it is made o" the $ery s#bstance o" the Pachamama andit is an e/tension o" her! (" someone )ere to break into the ho#se yo# can go to a pa:+o and ask

that he or she contact Ap# As#ngate, )ho )ill in t#rn ask the Pachamama to ask the )asi9tira to

describe the person )ho broke in! 'he heart o" the ho#se is the :+#ncha, an o$en made o" earth, ahardened hollo) dome o" adobe that has a opening on the side "or "eeding )ood into the "ire and

a co#ple o" openings on top that are #st the right siDe "or the pots to sit! Co# a)ake in the

morning to the )armth o" the :+#ncha and the aroma o" so#p that yo#r mother is cooking "or the

"amily! ?limbing o#t "rom #nder the alpaca skins yo# prepare to take yo#r "amily+s alpacas #pthe mo#ntain to "eed! Co# take along yo#r )arak+a, a )o$en sling that yo# can #se to thro)

rocks in "ront o" or to the side o" the herd to direct them )here yo# )ant them to go! 'he

)arak+a is also important in that it )ill help yo# protect them "rom the p#mas, the condors, andthe "o/es o" the high Andes! As the s#n licks the "rost o"" the gro#nd yo# slo)ly lead the herd

#p the mo#ntain, to perhaps 1F,000 "eet, )here yo# kno) there is ich# grass "or them to "eed on!

Co# "ind a com"ortable place to sit! A tho#sand "eet belo) is yo#r home )ith a little smokecoming o#t o" the hole in the roo"! #t #p here it is all )ild! espite yo#r being at 1F,000 "eet

the Andean peaks to)er high abo$e yo#! All yo# hear is the so"t steps o" the alpacas as they

graDe, and the )ind coming do)n "rom the mo#ntains! 'he air is clear and the to)ering peaks

seem almost )ithin reach to to#ch altho#gh they are miles )ay, yo# notice clo#ds gatheringaro#nd the Ap#s, perhaps the Ap#s )ill send rain in yo#r direction, or e$en the deadly th#nder

and lightening! elo) yo# a condor glides do)n the $alley, barely mo$ing its )ing tips to

control its "light! 'hat is salka, yo# are in salka! &alka is #ndomesticated energy! 'he condor

has salka, the chicken has domesticated energy! 'he )ol" has salka, the dog has domesticatedenergy! 'he deer has salka, the sheep has domesticated energy! &alka is part o" o#r heritage as

beings on this planet, it is an energy that )e can access b#t that o"tenseems so "ar "rom thehea$ily domesticated li"e laid #pon #s by o#r c#lt#re!

'here are many paths to the sacred, salka paths and domesticated paths! 4estern religion is a

path o" domesticated energy! 4atch people lea$ing a ch#rch, do they seem more like p#mas ormore like sheep< (n 4estern religion )e mo$e o#t o" nat#re and into man9made str#ct#res to


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2008, Oakley Gordon Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet Page 1>

seek the sacred! (n the Andes they seek the sacred #nder the stars o" the night sky, by the streamas it t#mbles do)n the mo#ntain side, in the s#n as it rises abo$e the peaks! ( don+t do#bt that

many o" yo# here tonight ha$e had this e/perience, o" being in the )ild and "eeling a connection

to something deep and bea#ti"#l that seems to #nderly reality rather than stand separate "rom it,something that is inherent in .at#re itsel"! And one o" the amaDing things abo#t the Andean

approach is that they, as a#thor Ioan 4ilco/ so bea#ti"#lly p#t it, e/perience this nat#ral )orld as

being as a)are o" them as they are o" it!

'here is so m#ch to share o" Andean mysticism, and ( can+t p#t it all in one speech, b#t this last

point is important, and it )ill take #s aro#nd the "inal c#r$e and into the home stretch o" this

speech! 'he Andean people li$e in a respect"#l and intimate relationship )ith .at#re and the?osmos! .ot only do the Andean people respect the Pachamama, the Pachamama in t#rn

respects them, this is a tr#erelationshipo" respect, )hich is something that is hard to "athom

"rom )ithin my c#lt#re+s ass#mptions abo#t reality! ( ha$e mysel" ha$e had the e/perience o"being connected )ith the conscio#sness o" the Pachamama and the conscio#sness o" trees! 'his

is not proo" that these conscio#sness+s e/ist, either to yo# or "or that matter to me, as ( ha$e an

appreciation o" the ability o" my #nconscio#s mind to in"l#ence e/perience, and there is noe/perience that my intellect cannot +e/plain a)ay+! 'his, ho)e$er, is not the conte/t in )hich to

be either skeptical nor g#llible! ( am simply sharing my e/periences o" the )orld o" the m#nay,

)hen conscio#sness lea$es the intellect and mo$es do)n to the heart, )here )e "ind )e areinterconnected )ith e$erything else, and e$erything else is ali$e! 'he Andean people li$e in

relationship )ith .at#re, immersed in rit#als o" respect "or the ;arth, the mo#ntains, the lakes,

the )ind, the trees, the ri$ers! (n these rit#als they ser$e .at#re, not in ser$it#de, b#t in

reciprocity!

'he Andean c#lt#re is based #pon ass#mptions abo#t reality that make them masters o" the )orld

o" the m#nay! 'hese same ass#mptions pretty m#ch g#arantee that on their o)n they )o#ld notha$e in$ented the (Pod or the internal comb#stion engine! My 4estern c#lt#re has a di""erent set

o" ass#mptions abo#t reality that has led to great achie$ements in technology and in the

acc#m#lation o" incredible amo#nts o" in"ormation and these ass#mptions make it likely that )e)ill be bickering )ith each other or playing )ith o#r toys )hen o#r car goes o"" the cli"" and into

the abyss o" ecological disaster!

( belie$e )e need to gather the $ario#s c#lt#res in the )orld together and )ork on o#r "#t#re!;ach c#lt#re brings something o" $al#e to the table, each c#lt#re has a piece o" the sol#tion! (n

doing so )e need to recogniDe that no c#lt#re )ill encompass the sol#tion, each c#lt#re is based

#pon ass#mptions that make it good at some things b#t not so good at others, this is ine$itable,

ass#mptions always)ork that )ay! ( )o#ld like to make clear that this )ill not be a case )here)e simply assimilate a "e) good ideas "rom other c#lt#res and then mo$e on )ith a 4estern

sol#tion! 4e cannot be patroniDing, )e cannot say that )e ha$e @EJ o" )hat is needed and #stneed to t)eak things a bit, )e tr#ly need these other c#lt#res, )e need a sol#tion that goes

beyond any one c#lt#re! (nge olins book, that ( ha$e re"erred to earlier, is entitled B=it#als o"

=espectK 'he &ecret o" r$i$al in the High Per#$ian AndesB! ( belie$e that +respect+ may also

be the secret o" o#r s#r$i$al on the planet earth!


14/16


&o the goal here is not one #ni"orm c#lt#re, b#t instead something that )o#ld technically becalled a +meta9c#lt#re+ , something that is, in Gregory ateson+s terms, a +logical le$el+ abo$e

c#lt#re! *or a :#ick analogy, ha$e yo# e$ery played )ith a stereoscope< (t is that toy )here yo#

insert a )heel o" pict#res and then )hen yo# look into the eye pieces yo# see a three9dimensional image! .o) that is a pretty neat trick, really, "or i" yo# remo$e the disk "rom the

stereoscope and #st look at it )ith yo#r naked eye yo# )ill see that the disk only contains t)o9

dimensional images, i!e! yo#r basic photographs! 'he )ay it )orks is that the disk has t)o$ersions o" each image, one "or the right eye and one "or the le"t! 'he images di""er slightly

beca#se they are taken "rom slightly di""erent locations, "rom t)o cameras ne/t to each other

abo#t the same distance apart as h#man eyes! 'his is one o" the )ays the brain kno)s ho) to

create the e/perience o" three9dimensional sight, #sing the di""erence bet)een )hat the le"t eyeand right eye see d#e to their looking at the same thing "rom t)o di""erent locations there are

other )ays too b#t they don+t come into play )ith a stereoscope! (n the stereoscope i" yo# close

either eye the image becomes t)o9dimensional, or i" both eyes sa) the e/act same image it)o#ld be t)o9dimensional, or i" yo# )ere to take the t)o slightly di""erent images and p#t them

on top o" each other to ha$e one image it )o#ld be t)o9dimensional! Only )hen the eyes can

see t)o di""erent images in the stereoscope )ill this magical third9dimension arise "rom t)o9dimensional images! 'his is the analogy then "or creating a meta9c#lt#re, the $ario#s c#lt#res

need to )ork together, not by blending together into a mono9c#lt#re b#t by each presenting their

$ie) o" the )orld in a conte/t )here each can be clearly percei$ed, "rom this a )ay o"proceeding as a species can emerge that is beyond the ass#mptions o" any one c#lt#re!

O" co#rse, "or this to )ork there needs to be a $ariety o" c#lt#res that together ha$e )hat )e need

to mo$e into a "#t#re o" bea#ty, harmony )ith li"e, and health! 4e can+t #st abandon o#rtechnology and all try to li$e the )ay the Andeans do99almost a stone age e/istence99"or that

)o#ld be trying to mo$e into the past and ( think )e ha$e no choice b#t to mo$e into the "#t#re!

4e sho#ldn+t )ant the Andeans to abandon their c#lt#re and become like #s, "or )e are headingto)ard the cli"" and accelerating, r#nning o$er inn#merable species along the )ay! And, )hile (

kno) basically #st my c#lt#re and some o" the Andean c#lt#re, that certainly doesn+t mean that

they are the only c#lt#res that need to come to the table! Many, many c#lt#res need to come!And, )hile ( ha$e been making the case that )e need them all "or e$eryone+s sake ( also strongly

belie$e that other c#lt#res ha$e the right to s#r$i$e simply "or their o)n sake as )ell!

'he problem, as yo# probably kno), is that many c#lt#res ha$e become e/tinct or are on their)ay there! O#r 4estern c#lt#re is )ashing across the earth like a tidal )a$e and i" it contin#es

there )ill be nothing le"t on the planet b#t one, big, MacLillage! And no matter ho) hard yo#

strain, i" yo# look thro#gh the stereoscope )ith #st one eye the ne/t higher le$el o" perception

#st )on+t emerge! 4estern c#lt#re is also )orking its )ay #p the Andes! 'he 6+ero ( ha$e)orked )ith, and the ?hillih#ani that (nge olin )rites abo#t, li$e at 1E,000 "eet, in $illages that

ha$e #p #ntil recently been a t)o9day )alk "rom the nearest road, there they ha$e beens#""iciently isolated to maintain their ancient c#lt#re! .o) roads are being b#ilt to their $illages,

electrical lines )ill "ollo)! 4ith electricity comes electric bills, and the people )ill s#ddenly

ha$e a need "or money at a le$el they ne$er "aced be"ore and that their traditional )ays can+t

generate! 'hey )ill need to lea$e the $illages "or )ork as laborers, or "all into debt and ha$e tosell their land! ?apitalists )ant these people to stop their s#stainable )ays and become


15/16

2008, Oakley Gordon Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet Page 1E

cons#mers! Mining companies ha$e their sights on the most sacred Ap#s o" the Andes!;$angelical ?hristians ha$e arri$ed and they and their con$erts are trying to stamp o#t the

traditional +pagan+ )ays, going as "ar as s#rro#nding the people )ho are engaged in ancient

ceremonies and playing m#sical instr#ments and lo#dly signing ?hristian songs to disr#pt theceremonies!

'his is )here %enosis &pirit %eepers comes in! 4e are not "ighting this, )e are not "ightinganything, o#r goal is to s#stain and no#rish traditional )ays o" seeking the sacred! 4e )ant to

present to traditional c#lt#res the "ace o" 4estern society that $al#es )ho they are and ho) they

$ie) the )orld, )e )ant them to see that the incredibly materially )ealthy and enticing 4estern

)orld is missing something $ital and "#ndamental that they, the traditional c#lt#res, ha$e, so thatthat can see the $al#e in keeping it! 4e )ant to gi$e these c#lt#res the reso#rces they need to

stand #p to these o#tside press#res and )e )ant to )ork )ith them to create together the ne/t

)ay o" being on the planet 4e )ant to do this )ith as many traditional c#lt#res as possible, b#t)e are starting )ith the Hopis and the 6+eros! 'his s#mmer )e ha$e arranged to take si/ Hopis

to Per# to meet and )ork )ith the 6+ero and other pa:+os o" Per#! 4e )ill see ho) that goes and

plan "rom there! Co#r contrib#tions tonight ha$e helped that happen! ( thank yo# again!

(+d like to "inish by talking abo#t the personal aspect o" the stereoscope analogy! (t took me

se$eral years to start to get the "eeling "or ho) the Andean people percei$e reality! 'hen, "ormany years ( had the choice o" either e/periencing the )orld the 4estern )ay primarily thro#gh

my intellect, my yachay or e/periencing the )orld the Andean )ay thro#gh my m#nay! 'hese

t)o +parts+ o" me "ormed an #neasy alliance, rather gr#dgingly accepting that the other approach

had $al#e, b#t ( had no sense o" integration )ithin me, ( co#ld be one )ay or the other, and thishas been hard "or me, "or despite the tr#ce there is an #nderlying sense o" con"lict, )ith the res#lt

that ( ha$e "elt someho) less than the s#m o" my parts! 'he last co#ple o" years or so, ho)e$er,

( ha$e slo)ly beg#n to "eel some integration, )here both )ays o" e/periencing reality are stillseparate b#t are helping each other, rather than #st getting along )ith each other and taking

t#rns! (t gi$es me hope that this can indeed happen at a c#lt#ral le$el as )ell!

( said earlier that ( )o#ld concl#de my speech by ret#rning to the story o" the Mach#k#na, the

ancient ones, the children o" the pacha spacetime o" the moon )ho li$ed be"ore the c#rrent era,

the children o" the pacha o" the s#n #s! 'hey had a hard "ate, one day the s#n arri$ed and they

all perished in its heat! 'he Andean cosmology does ha$e a +creator God+ )ho ca#sed thischange to occ#r! 'his God, as ( #nderstand it, is not a creator )ho stands o#tside his creation,

b#t instead is to the ?osmos as the Pachamama is to the planet ;arth, the creator god is the being

)ho isthe ?osmos! 'his God is not $ery important to the Andean people, not like Pachamama,

as heitshe is "ar remo$ed "rom o#r li$es and doesn+t partic#larly pay m#ch attention to or careabo#t )hat is going on here! 4hen asked )hy the creator god created the s#n, killing all the

children o" the moon, a common ans)er among the Andeans is that +he #st "elt like it+!

4ell the time o" the children o" the s#n is also limited! According to the 6+ero, at the end o" the

last cent#ry )e passed thro#gh the +Pachac#ti+, the time o" the great trans"ormation, and )e are

no) in a cr#cial interim period )here )e need to get it together as a species or "ace direen$ironmental conse:#ences! 'he pacha o" the children o" the s#n is dra)ing to)ards its close!


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2008, Oakley Gordon Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet Page 1F

'he ne/t pacha )ill be the time o" the +sacred children+ those )ho ha$e mo$ed beyond theirc#rrent limitations into a ne) )ay o" being, a )ay o" being )e need to create no)! Ho) long do

)e ha$e to accomplish this< .ot to )orry, the ancient prophesies say )e )ill stay in the c#rrent

pacha #ntil the earth )arms and the sno) lea$e the slopes o" Ap# As#ngate+!!!!

'hank yo# so m#ch "or being here tonight and gi$ing #s yo#r s#pport! And no), to :#ote my

"riend Americo, ( )ill open the "loor to +:#estions, comments!!!!!and acc#sations+!

Resources

On the 4ebK

Oakley+s )eb siteK )))!&alka4ind!com

%enosis &pirit %eepers )eb siteK )))%enosis&pirit%eepers!org

'onights m#sical per"ormance by Iaime Al$aroK bambooper#Nyahoo!com

=ecommended =eadingsK

Masters o" the 5i$ing ;nergyK 'he Mystical 4orld o" the 6+ero o" Per#! Ioan 4ilco/!

=it#als o" =espectK 'he &ecret o" r$i$al in the High Per#$ian Andes! (nge olin!

'he Hold 5i"e HasK ?oca and ?#lt#ral (dentity in an Andean ?omm#nity 2nd ;d!!

?atherine I! Allen!

Documents

Andean Mysticism and Healing the Planet