I’m getting ready to take a group to Peru for a two-week spiritual, energetic, and hopefully, life-changing experience. It’s my first time. Ever since my initial trip in 1996, where I participated in the Hatun Karpay—an initiation where one moves from the third level of consciousness to the fourth—friends and students had been asking, "When will you take us to Peru?” My answer was always the same, “Never.” Peru belonged to my Teacher of the Andean Mystical Path— Juan Nunez del Prado. How could I bring a group without his guidance and leadership? After all, he is the Master.
During that first initiatory journey with Juan (there were three others and way too many stories for this venue), I was lying on the peak of Apu Huaynu Picchu, the tallest mountain at Machu Picchu, and had an extraordinary, energetic experience. What appeared to be a simple gesture (I watched Juan with the others before I took a turn) became a life-changing healing. A gentle touch of his mesa on my solar plexus—on/off—opened an invisible floodgate that released a lifetime of hucha (heavy energy) from my body and soul. Nothing could have prepared me for that. I used my breath to surf the intensive, wave-like energy, and as it peaked, a primal scream spontaneously arose from my depths. I believe if the hucha had remained, it would eventually have manifested as systemic cancer.
On Valentines Day weekend 1997, Juan came to my house and helped ground and give context to the shamanic initiation I had survived three weeks previous, just three months after the Hatun Karpay. A few of us spent the weekend with him. We took him to Muir Woods, where we sat in an ancient, lightning-struck Grandmother tree and grounded. I had a vision, and he anointed me. I wonder how long would it have taken me to integrate and move forward without Juan's caring presence, wisdom, and integrity?
That same year, I had a visitation from Putu Cusi, the only female mountain at Machu Picchu, who asked me to perform a specific task for Her. I agreed, but I needed Juan. So, during the summer, a few of us spent a month traveling with him in Bolivia and Peru. Juan was supportive of my relationship with Putu Cusi and arranged for us to stay in Aguas Calientes an extra day so we could do the ceremony. After a surprisingly powerful experience for everyone, while Juan and I walked back into town, he chastised me for my indecision about something. “A Master always knows,” he sternly said. I’ve never forgotten that teaching. I took it to heart a few years later when I was with a small group at the North face of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet facilitating a ceremony for the planet.
This past October I journeyed to Peru for the first time without Juan. I traveled with one friend. Once the plane landed, I gathered my luggage, walked outside the airport, and inhaled the crisp Cusco air. I love high altitude. That's when something stirred within my soul, and I knew—Peru is inside me. We have our own relationship. My inherent Inka seed had aroused from its slumber on that first trip with Juan and was finally strong enough to stand beside the energies and spirits of Pachamama, the Apus, the sacred sites, and Indigenous people. I was ready.
I recently saw Juan and his son, Ivan, for a week of Andean Path teachings. I’d never done that before—sat in a workshop with Juan for eight hours a day for six days. Listening, taking notes, participating in experiential exercises. I had learned “in the field." In vans, restaurants, trains. At the ruins of sacred sites. During ceremonies. While creating despachos. Walking up steep mountains. Sitting at the base of a glacier with Q'ero elders. In caves.
How can I possibly bring a group to Peru without Juan’s guidance and leadership? Because my Inka seed, first awakened by him in 1996, has been nourished ever since and grows abundantly inside of me.
Thank you, Juan Nunez del Prado.
For sharing, leading, teaching and healing.
For awakening my Inka seed.
For walking your path and continuing to pave the path for the rest of us.
This is Juan and me in 1997 after the ceremony for Putu Cusi.

11 comments
Beautiful sharing. Love the picture! I am honored to be part of your first group to Peru.
Ah Annie, what beautiful recognition of your teacher. I am so grateful to you, for you have been my teacher. Much love and many blessings on this new journey of yours!
Well, you are my Juan!!!! And I love it!!!! Always asked to be guided to Peru with someone that would give me the ” Spiritual Essence” of Peru – and I know you are the one!!!!
Thank you Pachamama for answering to my request!!!!
🙂
I love how certain and grounded you are as you walk your path going into this big journey. I honor you! I love you!
I can only imagine the radiance you will all bring back. For some reason Ecuador or Guatemala calls, but one never knows.
May Peru bless us all. Have fun!
What a beautiful posting and tribute to your teacher.
I can’t wait for my teacher, whom I also honor and thank for paving the path, to get down here!! I so look forward to spending some time with you and the group in this magical country.
I just love you!!
Annie,
This is beautiful, and a teaching in itself. Thank-you, A Ho!
And it is true…I am deeply grateful for you and your path.
I love you, Gena
Annie, what a gracious and beautiful example you’ve just written, of honoring that which we are moving on from. I learn from what you know, and what you do!
I know this Peru trip is going to be something super amazing.
LOVE YOU ALL
Salita
I’m so excited for you and for everyone going with you on this journey. I can already feel the love that emanates from Peru and calls out to all of you. May you continue to bless and be blessed. Much aloha dear Annie.
Thank you for being my teacher and helping me with my spiritual growth. I will be thinking of all of you on your beautiful journey.
Much love to you Annie, and to all who will share this journey with you in both the physical and the spiritual realms.
Marita
Beautifully written, Annie. This re-awakening is precious. I am excited for you and those who will witness and share in all Peru has to offer.
Much love,
Julianna