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The Q'eros,
descendants of the Incas
- 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!
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