An Offering of Gratitude in Non-Ordinary Reality

Last evening I completed an intricate despacho ritual with my dear Reiki master colleague Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing and our Duwamish River Blessings.

What is a despacho you ask?  It is a sacred ritual of the Peruvian shamans that offers a gift of gratitude to the spirits that inhabit one’s entire Universe.

I had become familiar with this ritual on my own travels through Peru years ago, but it is quite another story to experience the ceremony firsthand.

Lead by knowledgeable and wise Rose, creating the despacho includes the offering of the ‘best materials’ one has on hand including natural plants, minerals, foods and intention.

Much of the preparation of the despacho I felt the emotional energy of anticipation from the spirits connected to each offering.  I was surprised at how strong and how frequent these presences were.

When I am giving a Reiki session or teaching a class, occasionally I perceive such an ‘etheric’ community.  I was not trained a shaman, as Rose is, so I felt it quite a privilege to be a guest in their circle.

After all the offerings are made, the despacho is wrapped up like a birthday present for the spirits, who feast upon it while it is burned in sacred fire.

It is polite to turn away and not look at the feast, but even with my back turned I could hear the spirits enjoying the celebration!

As Rose stoked the fire, I felt changed, renewed and joyful.  She and I shared the same thought, that we as Reiki masters with our different backgrounds could come together for this gratitude ritual.  This is the way all spiritual circles should be:  embracing each other’s diversity and connecting through our service to the world.

We stood in silence as the fire burned down, the spirits now satiated with their feast.  Looking into the changing faces within the embers I received a very strong insight to ‘embrace life’ and all it’s offerings.

I shall do so and I will continue to bow in amazement and wonder at the vast realms that exist beyond our ‘ordinary’ reality.

Thank you again Rose, it is an honor to have taken this journey with you and also to call you my friend.