Pachamama
Mother Earth
Andean Living tradition
Reverence for Pachamama is a living practice across the Andes.
Andean Mother Earth, who nourishes all life and is still honored with offerings.
Across the Andes, people give back to Pachamama before planting, building or celebrating, sprinkling drinks on the ground or burying a carefully prepared offering bundle called a despacho. August, when the earth 'opens' before the new planting season, is especially devoted to her.
Symbols
In the ancient sources
Colonial chronicles
- Pachamama
- “Mother Earth, Mother of the world and of time” her name
- Juan de Santa Cruz Pachacuti Yamqui (c. 1613) His drawing of the Coricancha altar in Cusco places Pachamama, the earth, opposite Mamaqocha, the sea, in the Inca order of the world.
- Bernabé Cobo, History of the Inca Empire (1653) The people worship the earth as Pachamama, especially farmers, and make offerings to her in the fields.
These accounts were written by Spanish priests, or by Andeans under Spanish rule, often while trying to stamp out the religion they describe. Offerings to Pachamama are a living practice, and today's traditions are the best source.
Cross-checked against these texts and records, in public-domain or freely available versions where they exist. Line, section and chapter numbers follow the standard editions, so a particular translation may differ slightly.
Correspondences Explore all
- Festival
- August
- Element
- Earth
- Offerings
- Coca leaves, Chicha (corn beer)
These come from the tradition itself, and practice differs between regions, lineages and houses. To go deeper, learn from the people and communities who keep this tradition.