AYNI DESPACHO
Ayni in the Andean dialect of Quechua, means reciprocity. This despacho is about the sacred give
and take that governs our lives. It gives thanks by giving back. Interestingly when you give thanks
with and Ayni Despacho, you receive much more than you give.
Open Sacred Space
Begin by opening Sacred Space. Call in the cardinal directions, the earth & the heavens.
Piece of paper measuring approximately 30 x 30. White is traditional. Make the despacho at the
center of the paper, leaving enough room on all 4 sides to fold it up as a gift when finished.
Sugar for sweetness and love, sprinkled in a circle.
Incense 2 sticks, criss crossed, invites the presence of the divine, place on top of sugar to represent
the assemblage of reality, the intersecting of time and space for the manifestation of life to occur.
Anise Seeds sprinkle over the incense to feed the elemental spirits of earth, fire, water and air.
Lavender and/or rosemary and/or sage for cleansing and the power of directed action.
Rice for fertility and abundance.
Red wine Call on the earth to bless the first layer, then sprinkle some red wine onto the despacho.
White wine Call on the mountains to bless the first layer, then sprinkle some white wine onto the
despacho.
Big bundle of leaves (traditionally coca leaves are used) use Bay leaves.
Make the leaves into Kintus (leaf sets) by assembling 3 leaves together face up, stem side down with
the largest leaf in the back and the smallest in the front.
Blow your prayers into the kintu. Your prayers can be for anything including healing, assistance,
guidance, favors etc. Remember to make your prayers general and without attachment to outcome.
Make up to a dozen kintus. Less can often be more.
Place the kintus in the despacho.
Sugar sprinkle onto kintus for sweetness.
Seashell to hold the intent of the despacho.
Female and male figures place into the shell to represent complimentary opposites.
Two tiny kintus place in the shell to nurture the male and female figures.
Gold and silver bead put into the shell to represent the sun and the moon.
Gold and silver paper small bits put into the shell to represent the wisdom of the earth (gold) and
the wisdom of the mountains (silver).
Gold and silver cord put in the shell to represent our connection to earth and heaven.
Silver and gold flute or other music item to represent sound. Celestial music brings harmony to all
the elements of the despacho.
Candies to represent everything we are in relationship with, bringing harmony throughout our
environment including any enemies upstream, and making peace with ourselves, to be in right
relationship.
Candy sprinkles multicolored for the elemental spirits.
Chocolate for the earth.
Black licorice for protection.
Lima beans to represent places of power that contain the creation energy of the universe so we can
tap into this energy and come into synchronicity with our path.
Corn for sustenance, gifting back to the earth what we have been given.
Garbanzo beans for protection so our path is clear of obstacles.
Small red beans to represent places of emergence such as springs.
Peanuts to represent old trees, the plant people.
Lentils to represent the abundance of the earth
Raisins to represent the spirits of our ancestors, our blood lineage, for healing for them and for us.
Cranberries to represent the gardens, our localities.
Figs to represent spirits of ancient ones who dwell in sacred mountains.
Starfish to connect us to the stars and bring our destiny into this world.
Animal crackers to honor the animal spirits
Alphabet noodles to enable us to step outside of time and beyond language and linear reasoning to
true understanding and wisdom.
Two candy frogs as messengers to carry our prayers.
One dollar or other paper money, as a measure of our success to ensure the success of the
despacho.
Cotton balls to represent the clouds, the provider of our waters.
Rainbow yarn or multi-color ribbons to represent the rainbow and a bridge between the worlds
and our capacity for transcendence.
More yarn to encircle the despacho. This represents the weaving or tying together of our prayers
and offering to bring them into harmony.
Confetti to celebrate all of life.
Flowers for healing.
Feather for flight.
It’s important to keep the prayers intact - do not turn the despacho upside down or shake it up.
Fold despacho. One by one, bring each corner of the paper over the contents of the despacho so all
corners overlap in the center. Now the despacho is a small square.
Tie despacho closed as a gift with yarn or ribbon, remembering to protect the prayers by not
turning it upside down or shaking it up.
Last kintu blow into it the intention to include any forgotten prayers.
Tuck this under the yarn tie.
Enclose the despacho in decorative cloth and one by one, bless each participant with it by running it
from head to toe on all four sides of the body.
Within 24 hours of making the despacho, burn it (remove decorative cloth first) for an explosive
transformation. Make a fire with enough fuel to completely burn your despacho, or use a gas
fireplace or bbq.
When the despacho is placed in the fire, turn around and do not look at it. This symbolizes non-
attachment to outcome and a release to all claim to that which is being given away. If you can’t burn
the despacho, for slower, more steady results bury it.
