That morning, we saw doves, goldfinches, eagles,
hummingbirds, falcons, and pigeons. After breakfast,
we discussed how Americo was part of the idiot court

Of Salvador Dali. We walked a long time, down very
steep crevices in Rio Machaupacha, fed by the glacier
from Ausangate. Last night, Maria and Donà told us, “Be

Aware of very old beings on trails we planned to walk the
next day.” If we met them, we were instructed to not greet
them. Pachamama might bring honey—making us fall

Down. It actually happened on the way down from Pisac.
Hence, we did not stay long enough for me to fully
receive the blessings of the House of the Female Spirits

At the Hitching Post of the Sun. Then I fell down on
my tailbone close to the end of the trail. Nonetheless,
everything was very good yesterday—nor did I fall

On the way to the Rio. I held Fernando’s hand and
walked with my feet sideways, each step digging
into Pachamama with my toes pointed towards

The hillside—not the precipice. At the river, we were
instructed to find a stone to meditate with, to cleanse
the area of the dolor of the angels or open up the three

Andean chakras and listen for a message from Ausangate.
A mauve stone attracted me to a light
grey stone facing down river. With eyes closed, I found

Myself free of internal dialogue and hooked into the
rush of the water—vivid colors all across my third eye.
Feeling like a river otter playing in the flow, I experienced

No blocks at all to the light. The sound of the river spoke
to me with words like—heal, you are a healer, feel.
Sensing the rushing and cleansing through every

Chakra and filament. Closing my eyes at one point,
in a deep vermillion, I glimpsed an eye—what had
resembled a slit or an entrance in prior meditations

There was the eye of Pachamama. Then very fast,
my consciousness began spinning in a deep, deep purple.
The river said, “Roll over.” I did.

There, viewing Ausangate. I was told, “You will
become an elder. You will see and speak for
Pachamama.”