Glossary of Terminology
of the Shamanic & Ceremonial Traditions
of the Inca Medicine Lineage

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Acamani: The name of the mountain on which the “magicians,” the Kollahuayas made their home.

Aca pacha vraque (AYM): (n) Earth or ground upon which walk the living. ASD

accorasi: (n) A small gold plaque called, a symbol of prestige among the Inca, which is secured to the Ilautu by a round bead made of spondylus seashell (see, mullu). MAAM (See, image at llautu.)

Aceropunta (Span): (n) Literally, sword tip. An esoteric steamship that can only be seen under a very strong mareación, when it is called by a well-sung icaro. It comes from a great distance, producing an electrifying sound. Its mission is to travel around the world, paying visits to all who call it for help. It has seven different forms of appearance: battleship, submarine that emerges from the depths, speedboat with four stories, big ship like those of the Vikings, aircraft carrier, trimaran, and airship. In each of these forms the bow tip of the ship is made of dazzling white steel. Its crew consists of, e.g., doctors, great murayas and bancos (shamans specializing in high alchemy.) AYV (See, alquimia palística.)

achuma: See, huachuma.

acufa aputiri cala (AYM): (n) Magnet stone. ASD

acurun (Amaz): See, supay-lancha.

achachi (AYM): (n) Grandfather, elder male. ASD

achachillas: (n) Mountains. JLH

achalaw!: (interj) How beautiful! RS

achi mama: (n) Godmother.

achiote: (n) (Bixa orellana L.) A plant whose seed that, when ground, forms a red powder. Often used in cooking, it is also a magical plant. Its color defends against dangerous animals, humans and malevolent spirits, making the user invulnerable to attack from enemies visible and invisible. THIM

achiq: (adj) Light; clear; clean. (n) Light; glow RS

achiqyachiy: (v) To clarify. RS

achiqyay: (v) To shine; to dawn; to clear up; to get light RS

achi tayta: (n) Godfather  RS

achi wawa: (n) Godchild RS

achuni-casha: (n) (Rheedia macrophylla) A plant only males can use as a powerful aphrodisiac. It can also be used for sorcery and love magic. Its mama is the ch’ullan chaki. AYV

achupalla: (n) A spiny terrestrial bromiliad (Puya  parviflora) found mainly in high, unforested areas whose seeds are added to a wiska despacho to disintegrate and explode disruptive energies. JLH

Adam Kadmon: (n) Divine symbolism of the human body and its relation to the cosmology of the Universe. (See, torus.)      

afiro (AYM): (n) Snake. ASD

aflihiy, aflijiy: (v) To grieve; to worry (sp).  [From Span. afligir: to afflict, to sadden.] RS

agradisiy:(v) To thank (sp). RS

ahijada, ahijado: (n) Goddaughter, godson. (sp)  ROR

Ai Apaec: (n) Fanged deity (creator) of the Moche and later Chimú. Earlier fanged being images on Chavin pottery may have been his prototype.  MAN Moche people regarded him as their principal divinity. DRB

ajo macho (Span): Green male garlic, stronger than regular garlic, used in wiska despachos; snakes don’t like it. JLH

ajosacha, sacha ajo: (n) Wild garlic. An important plant teacher in the initiation of Amazonian shamans. Mental strength, acuity of mind, saladera, for ridding spells, self healing. Originally used to enhance hunting skills by covering up human smell, it enhances the senses. The plant part that is harvested is the leaf. SCU (Mansoa alliacea). Used in ritual baths for good luck in love or business (sp). AYV

ajosquiro, ajos chiro (Span): (n) (Gallizia corazema.) Few people ingest this tree because the diet it requires is very rigid and severe. It is used as a defense against enemies. Those who ingest it become very hot and always want to bathe. The kapukiri produced by this tree makes the person become very nervous and feeling as if a worm was biting him/her. AYV

The ajosquiro tree, from a painting by vegetalista
Pablo Amaringo. AYV

aka k'ichki: (n) Constipation. RS

Akapana Temple: A temple at the core of Tiwanako believed to have been used for Sun ceremonies. MAN

aka siki: (n) Literally, a shitter. A bastard. RS

akayta mikuy supiyta pitay: (expr) Eat my shit and smoke my fart! RS

aklla, aclla: (n) Chosen woman trained to serve Inti and be the consort of the Inca ruler. Chosen at age eight, they were housed in the akllawasi (Temple of the Virgins of the Sun) in Cusco and watched over by elderly women known as Mama Kuna (the Guayrur Aklla). MAN Specially chosen to be sacrificed so as to keep the sacred fires burning. DRB In times of dire emergencies they willingly sacrificed their lives to appease the gods. WPO (See, qhapaq hucha and yanakuna.)

Actresses portraying akllas.                                Akllas, from a drawing by Felipe

                                                                                  Guaman Poma de Ayala

aklla chaupi cataquin: See, aklla.

akllawasi: (n) House of the Selected Women. So named by the Incas for the abode of the maidens who conducted rituals to worship Inti. THIM (See, akllas and wasi.)

akllay: (v) To choose. QP

akulli: (n) Portion of coca to chew. RS

There is a bump on the right

cheek of this ceremonial doll

(also pictured at llautu) that

is the akulli, the bolus of

coca. MAAM

akulliy: (v) To chew coca. RS (n) The act of choosing and chewing coca leaves in a ceremonial way, the act of the kurak.  KOAKIt was a practice related to religious rituals and was thus reserved exclusively for the Incan elite. MAAM

akulliy hura: (n) About 10:00 am; time of break from morning's work to chew coca (sp). RS

akupana: (n) Sunset. QP See, Akapana Temple.

akurma: (n) (bot) Horsetail (medical plant with thin, green, hard stalks used for healing internal and external inflammations). RS

akuy: (intr.v) To grow coca.  RS

alabado: (n) Prayer (sp). RS

alakhpacha (AYM): (n) Sky place of the saints. ASD

alakhpacha thaqui (AYM): (n) Path of the sky. ASD

alawaru: (n) A musical phrase used to indicate stages of a ritual sequence, derived from alabado (sp). ROR

Alcavicca:  Pre-Incan lord of the Valley of Cusco who links Lake Titicaca, the place of origin mythically of Wiracocha, and Cusco. Wiracocha wandered from Lake Titicaca through the Cusco Valley to Cusco, where he summoned Alcavicca from the earth and made him the ruler of the Alcavicca people.  When Wiracocha left the valley, he ordered the Inca to rise out of the earth upon his departure.  This act gave the Inca divine precedent for their conquest of other cultures. MAN

alchemy (Greek): (n) A medieval form of science that aimed to discover ways of finding a universal solvent, the elixer of life, and turning base metals into gold. This is seen by many philosophers as metaphoric for attaining higher states of consciousness. PGO

alferados, alferes (unk): (n) There are a lot of festivals and it is a custom that someone is organizing and paying for the party (food and drinks for all), caring for the religious image, sponsoring musicians and serving the food and chicha. The organizing couple is called los alferados or alferes. ABMP

Los Alferados of a festival in a

village called Juncal.

alittiri chuymani (AYM): (adj) Humble. ASD

alma (Span.): (n) Spirit; soul RS

alpaca: (n) The alpaca is a domesticated guanaco bred specifically for its wool, and it is thus much hairier than its llama kin. WAZ

Alpacas

alquimia palística (Span): (n) Plant alchemy. AYV (See, ciencia vegetalista.)

Altarani: See, Gateway of Aramu Muru.

Altiplano (Span): Literally, high plane. The Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. FOD The High Plateau is the biggest natural altar on the planet. It is the fulcrum of the coast, jungle, and mountains. IGMP

altomesayoc, altumisayuq: (n) Shamanic level, has the power to summon the spirit of the mountain; high shaman; high priest; an Andean priest of the third level; diviner of the highest level (sp). KOAK RS The altomesayoc meets her wayqi. JLH

alunsillu (Span): (n) Medical plant used against internal irritations.  RS

allchi, allchhi (AYM): (n) Grandson or granddaughter. ASD PSL

allin: (adj) Good; fine; ok; nice; healthy; right; sensible; useful. RS

allinaqni hutama (AYM): (phrase) Literally, in good time come. Please come back when things are better. ASD

allinchay: (v) To fix, make good. PSL

allin mama: (n) Godmother. RS

allin tayta: (n) Godfather.  RS

allin tukuy: (v) To recover; to convalesce; to cure; to become healthy; to reconcile; to become better. RS

allinyachiy: (v) To heal; to make good. RS

allinyanakapuy: (v) To make peace; to reconcile. RS

allinyay: (n) Relief.  RS (v) To recover; to convalesce; to cure; to become healthy; to reconcile; to improve. RS

allin yuyay: (n) Conscience. RS (See, yuya.)

alliq: (adv) Right; right (side). RS

allpa: (n) Earth; dust; ground; soil; terrain; dirt; spirit of earth. RS

allpa-huichcan: (n) Literally, dirt cell. A mythical round tomb or pyramid. The people who dwell in these tombs are expert in psychic perception and assist the vegetalista. AYV (See, allpa)

allpa mama: (n) Earth mother; the womb of our world. RS (See, mama.)

allpa pacha: (n) (ast) Planet earth. RS

allpa-pishco (Amaz): (n) Literally, bird of the earth. Vegetalistas use this bird to make astral and planetary trips. AYV

Allpa-pishco, seen in the background enduring
great temperatures. In the foreground is the
yura-aya, with four antennae. AYV

allqoruna: (n) Literally, dog man. A pejorative often used to refer to the White man; inhuman, thief, liar.  THIM

allquchakuy: (v) To lose control over oneself. RS

allyuni: (n) A relative. RMFA  (See, ayllu.)

Allyuni Inti: (n) Relative of Inti. RMFA

amahuaña, amahuani (AYM): (n) Love (probably sp.). ASD

amahuata (AYM): (adj/n) Dear(est). ASD (See, amahuaña.)

Ama llulla, ama qilla, ama suwa: (expression) Don't lie, don't be lazy, don't steal. The common expression of the Three Inca Laws. RS One variation adds “Don’t be dirty.” PBS2

amapanki: (n) (bot) A plant used to contain any damage by bathing ten Tuesdays and Fridays in water boiled with it. RS

amaru: (n) Snake; viper. RS Halluciations of snakes are very common in ayahuasca sessions. Three large snakes -- Wayramama, Sach’amama and Yakumama -- preside over the sky, jungle and water realms of the Amazon shamans. They provide knowledge and understanding to those who know how to properly contact them. The mamas of the ayahuasca and chacruna vines are snakes. Certain higher order beings appear as fire snakes to the vegetalista. When the neophyte receives his yachay (def. 2), it comes in the form of a snake [among other possible forms] which enters the mouth, travels to the chest and grows. The snake in an ayahuasca vision transmits its cunning and sensitive hearing. The repetitive pattern on the snake is symbolic of the link between the individual and his ancestors and descendants. AYV The term is important in Quechua meteorology because it is used for rainbows, which are believed to be giant serpents. ACES (See, k’uychi.)

Amaru: (n) symbol of knowledge and learning in Inca times; the organizing principle of the Ukhupacha. The regeneration of life, birthing process. The creative force of everything. Also a symbol for water, wisdom, revolution and revolt. RS JLH ROR

Amaru Mach’ay: (n) Literally, cave of the serpent. A natural cave near Cusco that has been intricately carved with various symbols.

Amaru Topa Inca: See, Tupac Amaru.

amarun: (n) A term used in the Amazon for the anaconda. AYV (See, amaru.) The ultimate source of power, the hydrosphere, as embodied by the anaconda (amarun), which may break all bonds of hegemony but contains within itself the genesis of destruction and reemergence of chaos. WCE

amauta, amawta: (n) Great teacher. JLH Sage; learned person. RS Inca court poet-philosophers responsible for keeping history alive through oral remembrance. As the Inca empire expanded, the amautas were tasked with incorporating the myths, lengends and religious tenets of the conquered people.  After the Spanish conquest, the amautas were a rich source for the Spanish chroniclers. MAN (adj) Wise. RS

amaychura: (n) Cachexia, a medical condition of general ill health with emaciation due to chronic disease, such as cancer. RS  

amparo (Span.): (n) Protection for magicians against powerful demons and spells, and malevolent spirits, especially when the magicians are engaged in curing people of sicknesses caused by spells.

Ampato: A mountain in the southern Peruvian Andes near Arequipa. Archaeological artifacts such as mummified human remains, bags of coca leaves, and clothing found at various sites on the mountain, suggest that its environs were regularly used for human sacrifice to Inti or Wiracocha. MAN (See, qhapaq hucha.)

The woman of Ampato, a qhapaq hucha sacrifice.

amuqlli unquy: (n) Tonsilitis. RS  

amuta: (n) Thought; reason. RS

amutay: (n) Science; reasoning; reflection. RS  

anaconda: (n) A large aquatic constrictor snake, the embodiment of the Yakumama. There is a myth of the Canelo Quichua of Ecuador in which yaku puma cut into pieces the penis of a young man which had become too long after copulating with a green frog. Yaku puma threw the segments into every stream, big river, lagoon, and lake, where they remain as anacondas. AYV

anan: See, hanan.

Ancestors (Eng.): (n) As conceived by the Australian Aborigines, in the Dreamtime, aboriginal Ancestors rose from below the earth to form various parts of nature including animal species, bodies of water, and the sky. Aborigines believe some of the Ancestors metamorphosed into nature (as in rock formations or rivers), where they remain spiritually alive. WIPC The Aborigines believe that sometime in the distant past the Ancestors woke up and that was the beginning of the existence of the Earth. The Ancestors were superhuman beings sleeping under the surface of Earth. Once they appeared on the Earth, the sun began to shine. They freed humans and breathed life into them. Life started. The Ancestors performed many marvelous deeds; composed stories and set a code of behavior. After these acts they returned to the rocks. Some of them took the shape of trees, rocks or animals. WGMX

anchanchu: (n) Goblin. RS

Ancochinchay: (n) A star that protects many kinds of animals not protected by other stars. AEAA (See, Chocachinchay, Urcuchillay.)

anchayay: (v) To get worse (health). RS

anga: (n) Bird spirit.

angash-machohuallpa: (n) Literally, brave blue cock, which appears when an initiate breaks the rigorous diet necessary to become an efficient vegetalista, since the meat of a hen is very bad when on a diet. If a sick person, who has been treated with icaros and blows by a curandero, eats hen’s meat, the sickness returns with a greater force and he may even die if not treated in time (sp). AYV

anguila (Span): Electric eel.

anima, animu, animus (Latin): (n) Universal energy, subtle energy of man. RS Spirit plus fire. JLH (See, nuna.)

animism (Eng): (n) The belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls or consciousness; that souls may exist apart from bodies; that the soul is the principle of life and health. RHCD

animu huahana: (v) To call back the anima of someone to heal him.

anka: (n) (zoo) Sparrow-hawk; eagle; falcon. RS

anka kay: (n) Peace. RS

Anky Inti: (adj) Comes from Inti. RMFA

anqil: (n)  Angel (sp). RS

anqil simi: (n) Literally, angel mouth. A matrimonial mediator (sp). RS

antara: (n) Pan flute. RS  [See picture at zampoñas.]

Antisuyu: (n) Northeast corner of the Inca Empire, the Tawantinsuyu, comprising Andes mountain regions north, east and southeast of Cusco as far as the foothills overlooking the Amazon forests. MAN Mythically, it has to do with learning realities through conventional means and the shaman learning through revelation, awakening directly through tukuy munayniyoc. Corresponds to North direction of a medicine wheel. JLH

anti unquy: (n) A tropical disease. RS (See, onqoy.)

añanchayki!: (expr) Thank you!; Thanks! RS

añaychay: (n) Gratitude. (v) To thank. RS

apacheta, apachita: (n) (1) An offloading, a refusal; (2) A pile of stones to honor Pachamama. A sacred cairn of stones deposited by worshipers for the spirit guardians of a place, most often found at crossroads and mountain passes. RS ROR MAN A modern transliteration of apachiqta, apachita now refers to the large stone houses often erected at the peaks of mountains to mark one's passing and honor the spirits. NND (3) The sacred places of a dead deity. These are marked with piles of stones. WGC (4) An energetic opening or doorway. (See, nierika, torus.) MBE

apachi (AYM):(n) Grandmother, elder female. ASD

apachiqta, apachekta (n) An ancient prayer of thanks spoken upon arrival at the top of a mountain, meaning roughly, lord, surely you must have carried me. RS

Apocatequil, Apotequil: (n) He was also the chief priest of the Inca moon god. WMO He was a god of the lightning, and statues were erected upon the mountaintops. WPO He produces thunder and lightning by battering the clouds with his club. He is also responsible for twins being born when he turns into a lightning bolt and participates in mortal lovemaking. WGC When the oracle issued an unfavorable ruling to Atahualpa, the king beheaded the chief priest, broke apart the idol, and burned the shrine to the ground. JAR

apsu: (n) Daughter-in-law; sister in law; any female familiar adjunct. RS  

apu, Apu: (n) Literally, lord.  (1) A god, supreme being. The spirit of the sacred mountain; the most powerful of all nature spirits. Sacred mountain, home of the ancestors. ACES Apus are generally considered male nature energies, except for a few aberrant females like Mama Simona in Cuzco, Veronica in the Sacred Valley, and Putukusi in Machu Pijchu. NND Salkantay is a female apu. JLH The chacra of the Apu includes the minerals, the crops, the animals, and the people under the protection of the Apu on their particular mountain. However, an Apu can assist and work with any person, near or far, who makes contact with that particular Apu and asks for the Apu’s assistance or intervention in the Hanaqpacha. Don Mariano could read people and know who was in harmony with the Apus. This ability was considered a sign that these people could develop healing powers or the knowledge of how to communicate in the different Pachas [Hanaq, Kay and Ukhu]. The Apus are like wise and loving ancestors. They want to teach about the Cosmos. It is possible that special agreements can be made with a particular Apu and the Apu would grant special powers. IGMP (2) Chief; boss; authority. One of four officials in charge of one of the four suyus of the empire. The four apukuna formed an imperial council for the Inca and resided at court much of the time. ACES (adj) Mighty; powerful; rich; wealthy; supreme. QP KOAK, RS ROR (3) The twelve sacred apukuna of Cusco are Ausangate, Salkantay, Mama Simona, Pikol, Manuel Pinta, Wanakauri, Pachatusan, Pijchu, Saqsaywaman, Wiraqochan, Pukin, and Senq’a. (See, Appendix I.) NND Other Apus are Akamari, Illampu, Lady of Illimani, Machu Picchu, Pitusiray, Putu Cusi, Tunupa, Wakac Willka, Wayna Picchu, and Yanantin. IGMP (See, Appendix I.) (4) A light being that exists within special mountains. These spirits live in both the middle and upper worlds and can intercede for humanity. IGMP

Apuchin: (n) (1) Organizing principle of the Hanaqpacha, the becoming, destiny. Oversees the flow of life, birth and death of galaxies JLH Represented by the condor. (2) Mythologically, the condor’s energies are extremely positive, providing different perspective into a situation or organization. These energies help in ridding you of aspects or things in life that are dead or no longer serve you, as well as experiencing the freedom and magic of spiritual flight. SAI The Condor is our messenger from the Cosmos and connects the reality of the Light Beings [of the Hanaqpacha] to this reality. The symbol of seeing very near and very far the perfection of creation without judgment. Apuchin flies in different dimensions, but soars in this reality. IGMP (See, chin.)

apu despacho: (n) See, Appendix J.

Apu Illapu: (n) A god of thunder.  EFD Also spelled Illapa.

Apu Kon Tiki Wiracocha: (n) The highest, hermaphroditic creator god.

apunchik: (n) God. RS

Apu Punchao: See, Punchao, Apu.

apurema: (n) Talking river.

apu simi: (n) Mandate. Literally, word of a god. RS (See, simi.)

apuski: (n) Ancestor; former generation. RS

apu wayra, apu huayra: (n) Angel. WWKN

apuyaya: (n) an invocation of the sacred [masculine]. See, Yaya-Mama. JLH

aqi: (n) A woman's mother in law. RS (See, aqu.)

aqllawasi: See, akllawasi.

aqu: (n) Mother-in-law of the man. RS (See, aqi.)

aqha: (n) Drink (made of fermented corn); chicha; corn beer; corn liquor. RS

aqha raphi: (n) Drunkard. RS

aqha wasi: (n) Chicha bar. RS

ara: (n) Altar or other flat surface. ROR A large stone on which to build an offering fire. SAI

ara madrina, ara padrino: (n) Horizontal sponsors at a wedding (sp). ROR

Aramu Muru: The legendary master teacher who brought the Golden Disc from the ancient continent of Lemuria to the Andes in order to connect the people to Hatun Inti. IGMP (See, Gateway of Aramu Muru.)

araphoqtoy: (n) Twelve silver coins carried on a silver platter by the ara padrino as a symbolic gift for the bride. ROR

arambasa: (n) An aggressive black bee whose slightly acidic honey is prized as a tonic. THIM

archetype (Greek): (n) There are two kinds: (1) Unconscious archetypes are elementary, or ground, ideas.  Carl Jung formulated these as archetypes of the unconscious.  Jung’s archetypes were collective and biological in origin, manifestations of the body organs and their powers. These archetypes come out of cultural experience; i.e., hunting cultures will not develop agricultural archetypes. (2) The personal Freudian unconscious is biographical and its archetypes come out of repressed personal traumatic experiences. POM In Jungian psychology, an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective experience and present in the individual unconscious. DRC

arco rojo de doce cuernos (Span): (n) Literally, red rainbow of twelve horns, one of the most powerful mamas in all of vegetalismo. AYV

arkana: See, hark'ana and hark’ay.

arkay: See, hark’ay.

arkayuyu: (n) (bot) An aromatic herb promoting digestion. RS

armakuy: (v) To bathe, wash (oneself). QP (See, maqchhiy and t’aqsay.)

aro checachatha (AYM): (v) To speak the truth. ASD

aroma (AYM): (n) Night. ASD

arona pha khrachaaña (AYM): (adj) Energy in the speaking (emphatic). ASD

arpa, arpay: (n) An offering; sacrifice of a llama or alpaca. ROR  (See, napa.)

aro pucuacatha (AYM):  Thinking over what should be said in good or in bad. ASD

arpha ñawi: (adj) Blind. RS  

arphayaykapuy: (v) To go blind. RS  

arqhiy: (v) To bleat (llama); to breathe heavily. RS

arqhuy: (v) To agonize; to breathe with difficulty. RS

arrepentikuy, arripintikuy: (v) To repent (sp.) PSL RS

arriba seeds: (n) Red and black seeds used in despachos. JLH

arwiy: (v) To bind; to confuse; to get into disorder; to entwine  RS

asiku: (adj) Laughing; smiling; cheerful; merry; in good spirits. RS  

asikuy: (v) To smile; to laugh. RS  

asina:  (n) Joke. Laughter. RS

asinayay: (adj) Funny. (n) Laughter. RS  

asiri:  (n) A smile. RS

asirikuy: (v) To smile. RS QP  

asiy: (v) To laugh. QP

asnapa: (n) Herb (general). RS

assemblage point (Eng.): (n) The point within our energy field where we assemble our reality. In most people, it is located slightly above and behind the left shoulder. This is the location for consensual reality.  Entering different realities requires shifting the assemblage point. JLH AVO Perception is ruled by the position of the assemblage point. PS

asukar: (n) Sugar (sp). QP

aswan: (adj) More. QP

aswan allin: (adj) Better. QP

aswan hatun: (adj) Bigger. QP

Ataguchu: (n) A god who assisted creation. EFD The God who found the way out of the Cave of Refuge at Pacaritambo. The Gods had been holed up here for some time since a colossal worldly disaster. WGC (See, Tambo Toco, Capac Toco, Uñu Pachacuti.)

Atahualpa: The 14th and final pre-conquest Inca ruler (ruled 1532-33). At the time Francisco Pizarro landed in Peru in 1532, a civil war had been raging for six years between Atahualpa and his half-brother, Wascar, had just concluded with the defeat and capture of Waskar. The brothers’ father, Huayna Capac, had died along with his chosen heir, Ninán Cuyúnchic, throwing the succession up in the air. Atahualpa was beheaded by Pizarro in 1533 after his defeat and capture at Cajamarca, giving rise to the legend of the return of the king, the Inkarrí, in which Atahualpa, his severed head slowly growing a new body, will eventually return and overthrow the Spanish, bringing the Inca empire back. MAN Other accounts give the history as Wayna Capac survived and divided the empire between Wascar and Atahualpa. FAE Twelfth ruler of the Inca Empire. Son of Wayna Qapaq and his Equadorian queen. He waged war against his brother half brother, Waskar, and lost his empire. Because he and Waskar inherited an empire and did not return one to their children, they broke the law of ayni, therefore becoming full of heavy energy and sinking to the underworld. Myth states that he and Waskar are in the underworld now teaching ayni to the beings there until they can return to this world. QNO When Pizarro was holding Atahualpa, he received a visit from the priests of Pachacamac. The Spanish were surprised to see Atahualpa treat the priests with contempt, even suggesting his jailers put the priests in chains to see if their god would free them. He explained his animosity when he replied that the oracle was false, for on three crucial questions it had given bad advice. It had predicted that Wayna Capac would recover from his illness if taken out into sunlight [when in fact, he died]; the oracle told Wascar that he would succeed in the civil war that divided the brothers [Wascar actually lost]; and the oracle advised Atahualpa to attack the Spanish, assuring him he would prevail. IAWS

                                        The imprisonment of Atahualpa, drawn by Felipe

                                                               Guaman Poma de Ayala.

atillcha: (n) A friend. RS

Atoq: (n) The Fox, one of the Yana Phuyu, seen as the dark spot between the tail of Scorpio and Sagittarius. As the sun travels along the path of the ecliptic throughout the year, it enters the constellation of the Fox at the time of the December solstice. Therefore, as the sun rises in the southeast with the constellation of the Fox around the time of the solstice, terrestrial foxes are born in the direction of the June solstice sunset. At the June solstice, the breeding season of the fox begins, the babies are born in December. The fox is directly associated not only with the sun in its two solstice positions, but also with the times and places of the intersection of the sun with Mayu, the Milky Way. ACES (See, puma and condor for video footage of this animal.)

athema: (n) A ceremonial knife, specifically a sharpened condor or llama bone. SAI

atipaq: (adj) Powerful. QP

atipay: (n) Power; ability. RS

atiy: (n) Power; ability; abilities. RS (v) To be able. QP

Atun Wiracocha, Hatun Wiracocha: One of the many names given to Wiracocha, this one by the people of Urcos. MAN

atuqpa ullukun: (n) (bot) Wild olluco. Literally, fox olluco, Andean plant with edible leaves and tuber -- the leaves are used in soups, the tubers heal inflammations. RS Also known as papa [Sp. potato] lisa.

auca: See, awka.

Aucayacu: Literally, warrior water. A power area of the Amazon in Peru. (See, awka, ayahuascero, Cocha Supay.)

Aucaypata: Literally, warrior square, located in the center of Cusco, reputedly laid out by Inca Manco Capac. Also called is the Plaza de Armas in Spanish. AEAA (See, awka.)

auqui (AYM): (n) Father. ASD

auquini yocani (AYM): (n) Father and son (or daughter). ASD

aurando (Span): (n) Paq’o. WCH

Ausangate: (n) The name of one of one of the sacred mountains of the Inca empire. Its mystical meaning is the awakening to knowing, revelation. Mystery teachings; largest body of information.  Ausangate is the most important of the mountains. Call the apu into every ceremony and prayer. JLH

authentic self (Eng.): (n) To get to know your authentic self you must pay attention to the energies inside of you. You can stay locked in your personality and habits, or you can take the time to be aware that there is a self, a higher spirit, or a soul that lies deep within you. This is your authentic self that is your spiritual self that lives beyond the physical body and beyond the conscious mind. It can only be experienced, not studied or understood by the mind. It experiences many levels of reality, yet it is always with you and accessible right here and right now. In the spiritual body we can find the essence of the authentic self, for each of us is a unique ray from the same Sun. It is when we do not connect with this part of ourselves that we feel empty. IGMP (See, pana, wayqi.)

Awka: (n) The name of an entity who told the people of Lake Titicaca that if they went into certain places forbidden by the Apus, they would find the flower of fire and they would then have the same power as the Apus. As the people climbed to these forbidden places, the pumas tried to stop them and fought with them. Many died. Inti Tayta was so unhappy to see many of his children dead that he cried, and his tears became the lake. IGMP

awka, auca, awqa: (n) Fiend; rebel, enemy; rival. RS

awkapuriq, awqapurej: (n) Wandering warrior. RS

Awka Runa, Auca Runa: (n) Literally, warrior people, the people of the Inca Fourth Sun. There was increased warfare and people were forced to live in stone houses and fortified towns. People were divided in this age into ayllu lineages. MAN (See, Pachacuti, awka, pukara.)

awka sirenas: (n) These mermaids live within rocks and when anyone tries to capture them, they simply approach a rock and disappear into it. The small pools of water atop their rocks are like solar mirrors that can be transformed into strong lasers with which they are able to capture even the most powerful of enemies. AYV (See, picture at wiracocha mermaids.)

awki: (n) Minor spirit or deity; grandparent; prince; old man.  Protective ancestral spirit and mythical personage living in highest mountain peak. RS ROR Secondary mountain god. QP (See, apu.)

awkicha: (n) Grandfather. (See, awki.) ROR

awqa: See, awka.

awuha: (n) Sewing needle. QP

Axomama, Axsomama: Her name means Potato Mother. Potatoes have been the staple food of the peoples of the Andes since ancient days; they come in a wide variety, which are only now being discovered by distributors in industrialized nations. WPO (See, mama.)

aya: (n) Corpse,  dead body, cadaver; soul; spirit. RS