A Table of Union
The Peruvian Mesa as a Syncretic Tool

There is more to the Altar than meets the eye. Many times, we take it for granted, or simply admire the decorative aspect of someone else’s creation—usually that of the shaman or teacher. The mesa, or altar, functions as the anchor and source of the shaman’s inner...

When you walk through a place, the land will reveal its secrets to you by actively engaging all your senses. In the high Andes of Peru, each step climbing Mount Salcantay felt like a conversation with the earth. The thin, frost-covered air challenged my lungs, until...

There is more to the Altar than meets the eye. Many times, we take it for granted, or simply admire the decorative aspect of someone else’s creation—usually that of the shaman or teacher. The mesa, or altar, functions as the anchor and source of the shaman’s inner...

When you walk through a place, the land will reveal its secrets to you by actively engaging all your senses. In the high Andes of Peru, each step climbing Mount Salcantay felt like a conversation with the earth. The thin, frost-covered air challenged my lungs, until...

A traditional role of shamans is to preside at or contribute to (bring the Spirits to) rituals that mark important transition in the lives of members of their communities. In shamanic cultures, the rites for honoring the death of a loved one have been practiced for...