August in San Pedro de Atacama welcomes one of the most significant Andean belief ceremonies: the offerings to the Patta Hoyri, also known as payments to Mother Earth. These ancient rituals represent a powerful system of reciprocity between the material and spiritual world.

At the heart of this ancient tradition lies a deep purpose: to give back to Mother Earth what she has generously given us and to express our deepest wishes for the life and well-being of our loved ones. The ceremony takes place throughout the month, with the first day of August marking its start.

Offerings to the Patta Hoyri are manifested in two fundamental ways: in homes, with private offerings, and at the peaks of mountains, where the community gathers so that the Lickanantai sages, also known as Yatiris, carry out ancestral ceremonies and receive blessings of the Patta Hoyri.

These rituals are a manifestation of the deep relationship between the Andean people and Mother Earth, especially the peasant. Through the symbolic offering, the human being restores harmony and reciprocity with nature.

The rituals also honor the spirit of the mountain through the offers, a display of cosmic reciprocity and a realization of universal justice according to the Andean Cosmovision. The balance in the natural, social and religious systems for the Andean people is fundamental, and the breach of this principle could have serious consequences.

In the ceremony, the wise men display their ancestral wisdom when preparing the table or offering. They carefully select and order coca leaves and other ceremonial elements, such as sea shells, seeds, and huayruro, according to the intention of the offering. In addition, they can carry out healings with medicinal plants and diagnoses through the reading of the coca leaf to predict good or bad luck, and offer amulets and talismans.

In the symbolism of the Chakana or Andean Cross, present in the native cultures of the Andes, we find the marking of the 8 important dates of the Andean worldview, including August 1, the day of Payment to Mother Earth or Patta Hoyri.

Let us honor Mother Earth on this Special Day, recognizing her role as protector, provider, source of life and fertility. Through these ancient ceremonies, we connect with our essence and renew harmony with the nature that surrounds us. Let’s celebrate this legacy of wisdom and gratitude towards Mother Earth!

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