The first time Wake and I saw Chumpi Stones was under interesting circumstances. In 2004, we were facilitating a group of shamans in training with the Four Winds on a hiking journey to a very isolated sacred site called Choquequirao in Peru. The trek was strenuous. At the time I thought, If this were any steeper, we’d need ropes. We trekked five thousand feet of elevation, switchbacking our way for eight hours of dusty trail, down to the Apurimac River on the first day. Then we climbed five thousand feet in elevation on more switchbacks until we landed with much exhaustion at one of the last Inca strongholds on the second day.

As was often the case, two shamans named don Francisco and don Chino were with us. On the second morning we saw Chino (photo below) unloading a big textile full of what looked like potatoes onto the ground of the sacred site. It was curious. Chino was moving the potatoes so carefully. Upon closer inspection we saw that Chino wasn’t working with potatoes. Instead he had brought up a bushel full of stones. The stones were smooth and cool. They had bumps and carvings on them of rings and archetypes. They were beautiful, but it seemed crazy. Wake asked Chino why he would carry such a large weight of stones on the difficult hike. Chino told us about Chumpi Stones. He said that shamans and families have carried and used Chumpi Stones for generations as sacred medicine stones. They are used in giving the Bands of Power, in different forms of divination, and as personal connection to the great Apus (mountains). Chino went on to explain that he had brought these stones to Choquequirao as part of their initiation journey. The Chumpi Stones would be charged with the energy of the site at Choquequirao. Then they would be taken to the Apus of Ausangate and Salkantay, as Chino traveled there over the next few weeks. Wake and I helped Chino set out the stones. Each set of seven Chumpis was placed in a little family on the ground – on Pachamama. We followed Chino as he opened Sacred Space and called in the energy of the Inca site of Choquequirao. We called in the energy of healing. We called in archetypes of serpent, jaguar, hummingbird, condor, and more. Then we sprayed the stones with Florida water.

At one point Chino looked up at the sky and started moving towards the top of the site. Wake and I left the Chumpi Stones on the ground and followed Chino. It was early afternoon. Not quite knowing what was happening, Wake and I called to our group to follow. When we got to the top of the ridge, we looked over into a steep valley below. And there moving like a shadow was a condor. It swooped up from below, riding the thermals, and rose above the ridge. It was the first of many condors we would see in the wild, on our adventures in Peru. It was so exciting our whole group cheered and shrieked as the huge bird flew overhead. In all our travels and multiple sightings, Wake and I never got over the excitement of seeing a wild condor. We never learned to stay quiet when we saw them. It felt like one of the biggest gifts we could receive, a personal affirmation that we were in the right place, doing the right work for us at, the right time.

Chino left the Chumpi Stone sets on the grounder and under the stars for the two nights we were on the sacred site, giving Pachamama (the Earth) and Inti Taita (Father Sky) time to infuse them with the energy and gifts of the site.

After our trip with Chino we saw Chumpi Stones everywhere we went in Peru. We saw them with other shamans, we saw them at Q’ero ceremonies, and we saw them in the markets of Cusco and Pisaq, Peru. We started bringing them back to the US with us for ourselves and our students. Ultimately we became connected with the craftsmen who carved the stones, who started creating smaller Chumpi Stone sets that worked well with a Mesa (Medicine Bundle). Now we are old friends with the Chumpis and as in love with our Chumpi Stones as we are with our Mesas. We hope you will find as much joy and connection with Chumpi Stones as we have. In Munay, Kinlen