In the Quechua language Hatun Machay means 'Great Cave'. Up in Ancash province in the central highlands of Peru it refers to a specific place located about an hour south of the city of Huaraz. It is an enormous 'Forest of Rocks', a geological marvel of lithic forms created by an ancient volcano located way out in wide open country up at 14,000ft with views of much higher snow-capped mountains to the east.
On one side of this unusual geologic formation there is a painted and carved cave that has been used for millenia for shamanic ceremonies perhaps going back 10,000 years or more.
On June 10 2017 David Fields and I participated in a traditional shamanic ceremony facilitated by the impeccable Chavin huachumero Martin Loarte. We had previously taken part in two huachuma sacred plant ceremonies back in Chavin a few days before so we were well primed to go deep into the energy field of sacred mystery that permeates this extraordinary place.
Here are some of the archaic painted and carved sacred images from inside the cave:
Here is the cave with the Chavin huachuma mesa set up on a natural rock altar
Here maestro Martin Loarte shamanically engages with the ancient spirits of this special place after using mapacho tobacco and agua de florida to purify the space.
Drinking huachuma
In the Forest of Rocks
This was our view looking east as we left Hatun Machay at sunset. It is a part of the Cordillera Blanca.
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