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An Authentic Curandero

Our experience with the curandero was very mystical.  At first we were wondering how authentic he was, but we soon found out. 

To get your coca leaves read, you need to wear a "mesa" of coca leaves close to your heart for a while to absorb your energy.  A mesa is a special cloth filled with items required for the unique healing.  In our case, it was coca leaves, since we were wanting to have them read.

The cuandero, dressed in his traditional sacred outfit, goes through a spiritual ceremony and prayer before beginning to read.  He then opens your mesa and lays out a few of the coca leaves in a particular pattern.  Then he picks up some of the other leaves and "throws" them at the pattern.  Depending upon how they land - face up, face down, pointing in particular directions, on top, alone...- different meanings appear.  He first gives you a general reading, then answers any questions you might have.  It was uncanny what he was able to read!

At the end of all our readings, we participated in a "despaucho" or ceremony to give thanks to Pachamama and to close the ceremony.  He made and burned a despaucho mesa that contained coca leaves with our intentions, alpaca fat, incense, herbs, earth and other items.  It was a very interesting and enlightening experience. 

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