"Believe me, I have found it, you will find more in the woods than in the books; Trees and stones will teach you what no master teaches you. (Bernard of Clairvaux)
When people saw themselves as part of Mother Nature and knew that everything around them had a soul, they respected and honored her in a very different way than they do today. Offerings were an important aspect of life, to give thanks to Mother Earth and the gods who surrounded her, to ask for help or protection. "Offering" sounds heavy in today's ear, almost dangerous. But what was sacrificed?: e.g. flowers, seeds, the first harvest, fruits, etc.
In the Andes of Peru and Bolivia these ceremonies are still a very important part of everyday life and I felt very connected to these rituals since my arrival 15 years ago. I felt that they are very powerful and very soon they became a part of my life.
Especially as an animal communicator and medicine woman, I know that everything that surrounds us is alive, you can communicate with everything. Every animal, every tree, every mountain holds messages for us. And then why not thank and honor these beings as well (as we do among humans) - and then feel their gratitude, just as each person of us feels when receiving recognition or thanks! After each offering, an unbelievable feeling of deep connection spreads within me.
Yesterday I went to the mountain that called me to the Sacred Valley of Peru and at the foot of which I have been living for more than 5 years to thank him and all the beings and ancestors of the Tawantinsuyo with a very special offering. Since my youth they had called me to this part of the world, feeling a fire in me to travel to South America without knowing the reason. However, they knew that I should heal my past and that of my ancestors here in order to rediscover the lost roots of my own homeland.
My boundless gratitude and appreciation goes to some very special people here and the ancestors of this world, who have kept their rituals, habits and traditions despite the brutal colonization that continues to this day, so that I too can remember my roots again. For a long time I felt part of the Andean people, but now I know why I couldn't accept my own German roots for so long. I'll write more about that soon.
Today I also bow to all my four-legged masters who have accompanied me on this path. They too have made many sacrifices so that I can take off my armor. They were all present yesterday and I felt their presence, especially that of my dog Inti, who died in this place more than 3 years ago and has set a decisive sign for my healing process.