The Q'eros - alongside other indigenous communities of the high Andes - distinguish essentially between two different shamans: the Altomesayoq (or Alto mesayoq), a higher shaman elected by the Apu (spirits of  the mountains) and stroke by lightening three times, and the Pampamesayoq (or Pampa mesayoq) - a "normal" shaman, of lesser rank. Both are called Paqos (or pakos).

The ritual of initiation is a hard one for the Pampamesayoq, who have to go alone at night on the top of a sacred mountain (without carrying any flashlight, matches, wood, matches, food or water), waiting for the Apu to reveal itself. For the Alto mesayoq it's an even harder election process.

An Alto mesayoq is someone chosen by the Spirit, and chosen in a very special way: in very isolated places and stroke by lightning!!  Three times hit by lightening, and with no one around to see or help the "candidate".

This must happen out of sight from other people, or else,  the life of the candidate will be taken by the lighting.  After a few hours (about 3 hours) the candidate has to prepare a mesa (altar) with the stones hit by lightning, i.e. the very stones taken from the area where lightning stroke. Then there are several initiation rites to complete the process, rites/ceremonies that the Pampa mesayoqs attend. The initial key element in the selection process is for the future candidate to be stricken by lightning. That's the way the Spirit chooses the candidate. So, if one has not undergone this very special selection process, one cannot held the status of candidate for been an Alto mesayoq. It's not a matter of personal choices, or else, of thinking/feeling to be especially attuned to the Apu. It's a matter that the Apu decides, when, where and whom. And the Apu makes its choice by selecting the chosen one with lightning. One may die in the process, or else, may become an Alto mesayoq!