Living August in the Andean tradition

Every 1st of August, the Andean peoples, before beginning the agricultural cycle, perform ceremonies to the Pachamama, she is thanked for all her gifts and venerated for being a source of life: food, water and fraternity with all the beings that inhabit our environment.

Here at the Cajamarca Rural Libraries Network we have this reverential ritual as the starting act of all our adventures: when we begin an Assembly or a training meeting, a book presentation, when we start a reading circle or when we visit our apus or our lagoons. The offering to the earth is one of our essential rituals to know that we are linked to our dear land, our deceased and our sacred mountains. In other words, ‘we live in August’, because remembering and living our Andean traditions we feel that we can continue in the midst of forgetfulness, consumerism, and injustices of a system that does not know of gratitude and bonds, of ayllu and love.

The Andean world is made of wisdom and enthusiasm, of sacredness and respect. Here I learned to offer a little wine, beer or brandy to the Earth; a fact that José María Arguedas describes in his book Todas las sangres: “Five community members poured a few drops on the palm of their hand so as not to wet the carpet, and blew the drops of brandy into the air. In this way they made that the mountain gods participated in the toast.”

I also learned to make my ball of coca as the most genuine ritual to converse, to rescue stories or simply to be with everyone in communion.

Recently Alfredo, our teacher and brother, explained the following to me: “The kinto (also kintu or cocakintu) is a special bunch of coca leaves. Usually it is made with three leaves (although it can also be done with two or four) selected as the most "beautiful" or whole. It is an offering for beginning, but it is also a sign of very high and heartfelt greeting, respect, affection or recognition. It is usually accompanied by the pukay (or pokuy = blow, exhale, breath), before delivering it. For this reason, when we "arm ourselves" (making the ball of coca), before putting the leaves in our mouths or making our little offering, we talk to it and give our breath. Just this.”

This August then, I made my daily offering to the mountains, and with it to the entire Andean world who have taught me the best and most important lessons for a good, sweet life, full of meaning and sacredness.

Let this be my opportunity to thank this immense "growing field" of the Rural Libraries Network, all the library families for their teachings, for their wisdom and, above all, for the love, joy and strength that make up their immense souls.

Nathalia