MaPi is what the locals call Machu Picchu. When I went in 2000 June, I felt so pulled, almost a gravitational pull, to these ruins. It was inexplicable. In the wake of my father's death, and visiting MaPi on the days that coincided that year with both Father's Day and my father's birthday, I hiked around and toured and learned...and sat and just meditated. The pure energy that the rocks constructing the ruins emitted was so powerful that it energized me, it infused me with so much goodness...it is definitely one of the most closest moments to God I have ever in life experienced.
I did climb Huayanu Picchu, the peak in the background overlooking MaPi that I always thought looked like the arms holding MaPi in a deep embrace and looked down not only on the Río Urubamba snaking around and carving out the canyon far, far below but also on the beautiful ruins from there...they were hardly recognizable from that angle, which I found interesting. But it was then that I decided that, in a former life I must have been an Incan princess, one of the sacrificed virgins of Machu Picchu perhaps--I even found my "throne" atop Huayanu Picchu and laid there in the sun for a few moments...it fit my rear end perfectly, as if made for me!!
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Here, yesterday was like an oasis in the middle of a desert. The sun came out and heated up our Earth so that the frozen ground melted, I got down on my hands and knees in the backyard and worked the Earth with my bare hands. I destroyed my right hand's skin but I hate working with gloves on--I love to feel God's creation on my fingers, even if it is pulling weeds and vines. The sun was warm and filled me with wonder and awe at such a mid-winter gift. Today is supposed to actually hit 72/21 C and I plan to be out in it, my hands in the Earth, as soon as my morning class ends today.
I've always wondered. Now I know. Thank you.
ResponderEliminarWe are supposed to be in the 30's today but it snowed like crazy last night. I wish I were nordic skiing today instead of sitting in front of a computer. I remember those days so well.
Light jacket because for some reason when it snows like this 30 can feel like 60, boda bag full of wine and lunch in my backpack and just the sound of my skis. Sometimes I would look up to see an eagle circling or a fox back in the trees.
I miss my nature time.
Although I absolutely love being in the outdoors in no matter what context, Machu Picchu was so incredibly spiritual that it left a deep, deep mark in my life. When my friend and I arrived, it was cloudy, misty, very mystic looking and almost haunting. That day we toured and did the "technical" stuff. We went back down to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the base of MaPi, found a hostel, went to the hot spring, ate, went to bed early and then she and I went up first thing the next morning. The difference was amazing. It was clear, sunny, bright, hardy a cloud in the sky and hardly any people; we, in fact, got in a few hours there before the tour groups started showing up, when we left.
ResponderEliminarTo see two vastly different representations of the same ruins was magical, in the short time we could be there before heading back up to Cusco.