Asi Habla un Q’ero by N. P. Calcina has served as a starting point to learn more about one of the most ancient cultures in South America and to begin to explore our inner world.
In short…
The Q’eros are an ethnic group living 4000 metres above the sea level in the Cusco region of Peru. They consider themselves as the direct descendants of the ancient Incas, of which they have preserved the tradition and religious practices. Their shamans are very much respected by the local communities and the entire world.
Nicolás Pauccar Calcina is a Q’ero shaman and healer. In this book he tells us his story.
Since his childhood, Nicolas has always been considered as the “chosen” by the members of his community. Instead of playing with the other kids, he was supposed to spend most of his time with the elder wisemen, who taught him how to find his way. Son of a shaman, it was thought that Nicolas had inherited his father’s direct connection with the Apu[1].
In Asi Habla Un Q’ero, Nicola describes his path to the Knowledge, the joys and difficulties faced during many years of practice and research. But this isn’t only a life tale, it is also a short essay on the Andean mysticism and its rituals, practices and cosmogony.
This Q’ero mindset and way of life has at its core the research of the connection with Mother Nature, which the indigenous call “Pachamama”. According to the Q’eros, the Nature needs to be listened to and known in depth for the man to appreciate its gifts.
What’s the purpose of the author’s work? Here is how he explains it:
Today my target is to create projects that can improve and balance the relationship between Man and Nature and spread a global awareness to preserve the ancestral Andean wisdom and culture. I am trying to share the little I know to help create a united humanity during its process of evolution. It’s important that everyone learns how to share
Nicolás Pauccar Calcina, Così parla un Q’ero (pg. 20 ed. Il punto d’incontro)
What we loved
In Asi Habla un Q’ero the Andean mysticism is explained in a very clear and simple manner, easily understandable by readers with a completely different cultural or religious background. The author often tries to establish connections with other religions or systems of belief, structuring the narration on universal concepts.
When writing on this kind of topic, it’s common to forget that the reader might not be an expert. This is not the case of N.P. Calcina, whose clear arguments make his work even more precious.
What could have been better
There is nothing that we didn’t like about Asi Habla un Q’ero. What we disliked was our confusion and fragility when exposed to this reading.
Asi Habla un Q’ero ends with a series of questions to the reader, among which “Why do you love?”, “How would you like to love and be loved?”, “Summarize what you know”, “Write what you would like to share and why”. These questions and instructions might look like trivial exercises, but they do help to dig deep inside.
Looking inside and trying to find the words to answer questions like these has not been easy. Actually, we didn’t even manage to answer them all.
Recommended for
We recommend Asi Habla un Q’ero not only to those of you who are interested in learning more about ancestral knowledge and practices.
Mysticism aside, the book’s most important message is about the need to re-discover, nurture, and preserve the connection between Man and Nature. This is the only way to stop the environmental destruction (although it’s already almost irreversible).
Finally, we would recommend it to anyone interested in improving oneself and to whom is brave enough to look at his/her own internal chaos.
Important note: so far the book has been published only in Spanish and Italian.
In conclusion
In about 100 pages, Nicolás Pauccar Calcina has managed to prove how the true knowledge doesn’t need to be complicated, contorted and far from common sense.
Beauty lies in simplicity and this book demonstrates it. The great curandero is capable of transmitting images and complex concepts with the simplicity of a child. This is the attitude that we all should have in order to improve our lives.
[1] Mountains and protective god
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