The KW team had the opportunity to undertake this as a workshop at Pagan Tribal Gathering. The Despacho is based on a shamanic tradition from Peru which has some beautiful rituals involved.
Here Rachel shares her witchy version with us… The idea is that the despacho is an offering bundle used for all sorts of intentions. Think of it as a spell parcel. The contents are symbolic to the intent and the people involved. The contents need to be biodegradable and able to burn without releasing any nasties into the air. Go with things such as herbs, spices, grains, sugars, leaves, twigs, seeds, flowers, incense, paper, feathers, dried pulses, salt, string/twine, and bark. You will need a large sheet of paper to wrap it all up in and some string.
You can make your despacho part of a ritual ceremony by casting a circle, calling the quarters and all the bells and whistles a ritual brings. Or you can just sit quietly in your own sacred space and create the despacho, just giving a few words of prayer or blessing.
We will begin by working through a meditation designed to highlight areas of your life where things need to be released. Make a mental note of any keywords, feelings, emotions, or situations the meditation flags. We will use these to write on the paper as we create the despacho.
Meditation
Take several deep slow breathes, feel any tension in your body releasing. Ground yourself in your usual way – for example, visualising sending roots, from whichever part of your body is in contact with the earth/floor, deep down to anchor you.
As your world around you dissipates, you find yourself on a grassy bank. The sky above you is grey and cloudy. In front of you is a dusty pathway that leads to an old bridge that appears to span across a large river.
The air around you is still and quiet, but you can hear the river as it meanders along. You make your way to the edge of the bridge.
The river is wide, but the bridge seems to traverse right across to the far side in the distance. Every so often along the bridge there are buckets, each one a different colour.
You walk to the first bucket. What colour is it? What does that represent to you? Painted on the side is the word “release.” Look inside the bucket. What do you see?
You feel drawn to pick up the bucket and acknowledge the contents. What do the contents mean to you? This is something that you need to let go of. Get a picture in your mind of the situation, emotion, feeling, or issue that you need to release and then empty the contents of the bucket over the side of the bridge and into the flowing water of the river. As the contents spill out, release…
You put the empty bucket back onto the bridge, but as you do so you notice that it has refilled with beautiful flowers and foliage.
Feeling lighter and more positive in yourself, you move farther along the bridge towards the next bucket. What colour is it? What does that represent to you? Painted on the side is the word “release.” Look inside the bucket. What do you see?
You feel drawn to pick up the bucket and acknowledge the contents. What do the contents mean to you? This is something that you need to let go of. Get a picture in your mind of the situation, emotion, feeling, or issue that you need to release and then empty the contents of the bucket over the side of the bridge and into the flowing water of the river. As the contents spill out, release…
You put the empty bucket back onto the bridge, but as you do so you notice that it has refilled with beautiful flowers and foliage.
You walk farther along the bridge to the next bucket. What colour is it? What does that represent to you? Painted on the side is the word “release.” Look inside the bucket. What do you see?
You feel drawn to pick up the bucket and acknowledge the contents. What do the contents mean to you? This is something that you need to let go of. Get a picture in your mind of the situation, emotion, feeling, or issue that you need to release and then empty the contents of the bucket over the side of the bridge and into the flowing water of the river. As the contents spill out, release…
You put the empty bucket back onto the bridge, but as you do so you notice that it has refilled with beautiful flowers and foliage.
Now make your way to the far side of the bridge. Turn around and look back along the length of the bridge and all the buckets that you emptied. Take note of the beauty that now fills them. This is you. You have released that which no longer serves you.
There is one last bucket on the very end of the bridge. Move towards it. It is full of an herb. You brush you hand over the foliage and are greeted with the scent of thyme. Your hand has made a connection with the plant, and it has some wisdom to share with you. Listen carefully…
When you are ready, thank the plant and take one last look back over the bridge. You won’t be crossing back—now you are ready to move forward.
Step off the bridge and onto the grassy bank in front of you.
Lay the sheet of paper out start writing your keywords or phrases onto the paper, things you wish to release, cleanse, or let go of. You can even draw images, symbols or doodles that are representative of that which you wish to release.
When you are ready take a pinch of each magical ingredient and sprinkle it into the centre of the paper followed by the chant:
Coriander seeds
Coriander strong and true
Help me release and breakthrough
Thyme
Power and magic of thyme
Help me release and upwards climb
Mint
Cleansing strength of magical mint
Negative energy released and leave no hint
Mustard seeds
A boost of magic in mustard seed
Release that which I no longer need
Now carefully fold the paper so that it wraps the contents securely, begin by folding the paper away from you as you want to demonstrate letting go.
Next tie the parcel careful and securely with twine.
Lastly, we will offer the parcels up to the flames and say:
With the power of magical herbs and plants,
Into the fire to release following my chants.
Flames and fire now let things go,
A new pathway now for me to show.
Presented here with kind permission from Rachel Patterson – Witch & Author
You can see a recording about this here