Winter Solstice Despacho Ceremony

Sacred Andean Tradition
Despacho Ceremony  – Winter Solstice

An invitation to join a fire Despacho Ceremony honouring the midpoint of winter – the shortest day and the longest night.  It’s a turning point of the season – when the days start lengthening.  In Peru, every year, the huge Inti Raymi festival is held to honour the sun for the longer days that follow the Winter Solstice and to express gratitude to Pachamama (Mother Earth) for the abundance she provides us.

A Despacho is an ancient ceremony from the Andes of Peru.  It is an offering made in ayni –  sacred reciprocity to the elements, the cosmos and Spirit.  Despacho translates from Spanish as dispatch.  In the ceremony, specific offerings, each with a meaning, are placed with reverence to form a kind of 3-dimensional mandala.  These include offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth), to Spirit, to the elements, to the plant and animal kingdoms, to stars, to the cosmos, to our teachers and more.  When complete, they are wrapped in a bundle which is then dispatched – in this Winter Solstice despacho – with fire.

At a point during the Despacho, you will be offered a coca leaf into which you place your intentions as you hold it to your third eye.  The leaf with your intentions is placed into the despacho.  During the burning of the Despacho, we let go of any attachments we may hold to the outcome of the intentions set.

The Despacho Ceremony

The Despacho ceremony embodies the principles and symbolism of the Sacred Andean Tradition.

Each symbolic object in this ceremony carries a specific intent for the health and harmony of the individual, community and planet. It is a simple yet profound ceremony that grounds our visions and intentions and expresses our gratitude for the weavings of energy and spirit that support us in moving forward. It is an act of love and a reminder of the connections we share with all beings, elements, spirits and sacred places. It is a wonderful chance to share sacred space, to clear, balance and recharge your energy.

You can read more about the Sacred Andean Tradition at https://sacredandeantradition.com/. 

Robyn, the despacho priest, was initiated in June 2024 in Peru by Kamaq Wageaq of the Sacred Andean Tradition to perform these beautiful ceremonies.  Tracy-Lee Dalton will be assisting.

Please bring a plate of food to share after the Despacho Ceremony and/or a cash donation.

Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held under the huge oak tree in the garden, otherwise inside.

The gate will be open from 14:45  for a 15:00  start.