Despacho
In my recent Despacho ceremony held at my property in Costa Rica, I embarked on a ritual that to restore harmony and balance with Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the forces that guide us. Despacho is a sacred offering from the Andean tradition, where we create a symbolic “package” of gratitude and intention, aligning ourselves with the universe. By offering up prayers, gifts, and symbols, we connect deeply with the natural world and open ourselves to receiving blessings. And just like any other ritual, if allows for concentration of the energy towards a specific topic.
Building the Altar and Honoring the Intention
The ritual itself is like a living mandala—an intricate design made with seeds, plants, spices, and offerings, each contributing to a greater harmony with the universe. It’s a beautiful, symbolic dance with the elements, where every piece placed on the altar holds significance.
The process of creating the Despacho begins with building an altar—a space that supports the energy of your intention. This can be done even at home on a piece of paper but in this case I specifically chose to uncover a piece of the land on my property, to also condition the land for supporting my intention of guiding men. My intention therefore was: to inspire others through my own transformation and show them that it is possible to aim for the stars, no matter where they begin.
The Despacho Ceremony: The Offering
The actual Despacho ceremony involved a blend of prayers, offerings, and sacred acts. I began by laying down cane sugar, the foundation of sweetness, as a cross that would serve as a bridge between worlds. Then, I placed kintu—three leaves representing the upper, middle, and lower worlds—into the altar, with each leaf symbolizing a different energy: Munay (love and heart), Yankay (action and power), and Yachay (wisdom and insight). As I placed the leaves, I offered up prayers:
To whom do I call for support? I called upon the spirits of the land, the ancestors, and the energies of the Earth.
Humbleness: I acknowledged that I am still learning, that the body is in transition, but the spirit continues its journey.
Gratitude: I gave thanks for the abundance in my life and offered the best that I could give.
Requests: I asked for the wisdom, light, and guidance to move forward on this journey of transformation.
The ceremony also included sacred oils, like cacao butter or ghee, which would burn as part of the offering to the fire. This would add energy to the ceremony and create a powerful release of intention. Flowers were placed on the altar—red ones for the feminine energy, white ones for the masculine—and the fragrance of the offering would summon the energies and spirits of the natural world.
Symbolic Offerings and Final Rituals
As part of the ceremony, I also placed seeds in the center of the altar, symbolizing the seeds of the person I want to become. These seeds were for growth, change, and new beginnings. I offered corn for sustenance, so that no one may go hungry, and placed raisins as a tribute to our ancestors, acknowledging the lineage that guides us. Dried fruits represented abundance even in times of scarcity, and white sage was used to cleanse the space and purify the energies around me.
A special shell was placed at the center, with a few drops of water as a symbol of the feminine energy. Beside it, I set two figures—the first father and first mother—to honor the divine masculine and feminine energies. I also included cacao, a sacred plant that represents abundance, love, and healing, and is deeply connected to the Mayan tradition. Cacao is also known for opening the heart and uplifting the spirit, perfect for a ceremony of transformation.
Finally, I closed the ritual with rosemary to cleanse the energetic body and chocolate—a gift to Pachamama, symbolizing joy and love. As the offering burned, I felt a profound sense of connection and gratitude.
