This is Victor, a distinguished Q’eros ‘paqo’ or shaman, performing a blessing on amountaintop above the tiny village of Palcollo, approximately 16,000 feet up in the Andes of southern Peru. (Thanks to my good pal Amy Bucher for this photo.)

The blessing had begun earlier in the day, with a complex ceremony at lower altitudes during which Victor had “set the table” for Pachamama: placing chicha and coca leaves and candy and seeds and confetti and various other treats (including the mummified fetus of an alpaca) on a square of wrapping paper, then wrapping it up and tying it in a bow like a present, later to be sacrificed to the Apus of the high Andes.

Now, on this rocky 16,000 foot mountainside, in close proximity to the sky world, the world of the condors, Victor was repeating the blessing for each of us, chanting in Quechua and holding the package to our heads and then bringing it around our bodies, emphasizing the importance of simple gratitude. For most of us, I believe, it was an important moment — perhaps even a pivotal moment in our lives.

Now a photo of 55 year-old Victor, after the blessing was finished, taking advantage of his freedom to explore a new part of his home eco-region with uncomplicated joy as he practically skipped up the steep mountainside above us.

A few moments after this photo was taken he stood sky-lined on a ridge high above us, raising his arms wide in greeting and encouragement. Some of us started to follow him upward. At this altitude it was a slog, though for me at least it did miraculously seem to get easier as we climbed. I think this was exactly what Victor had been trying to communicate when he raised his arms encouraging us to follow. It was well worth the climb.

My point in recounting all of this, beyond just chronicling a cool thing that happened to myself and a group of friends, is that it was part of a noticeable pattern that became one of my main takeaways from this trip to Peru.

Another place we visited was Machu Picchu, the location of the work of sacred architecture pictured here, the Temple of the Condor. The stonework of this temple is to me indicative of that pattern I noticed again and again in Peru: the sense of play coexisting with the celebration of the sacred.

You can see the same playful spirit at work all over the site of Machu Picchu, which is an enduring masterpiece of human ingenuity celebrating the beauty of the local granite in ways that are incredibly creative and incorporate the topography and the surrounding landscape in ways that boggle the mind. And it’s clear that all of it was built with a sense of fun very much in mind.

If there’s anything this trip to Peru has taught me, it’s that acknowledgement of the sacred as we confront the more difficult aspects of human life—such as power, survival, death, sex, our relationship to nature, and the underlying meaning of our brief sojourn here on this planet—does not have to be grim or solemn. Often what’s called for is a sense of fun, a sense of humor, and the kind of exuberance of spirit Victor demonstrated as he seemed to dance and float up that 16,000 foot mountaintop.

I came home revitalized, renewed, and convinced that at this point in history we could all use could use both things: more of the sacred and more of the play. If you’re thinking of traveling to Peru, I recommend it unreservedly. And don’t hesitate to shoot me a note if you want some advice; I spent months planning this trip and am happy to share my knowledge and contacts.

I’ll leave you with a video of the stunning Gocta waterfall, another sacred place that inspires, or did for us the day we visited, a sense of play in the form of a chilly cold plunge.

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Okay, everyone!

I’ve been lurking here on Substack for a long while, but I’m finally going to start posting some of my writing. We’ll see how it evolves, but my interests are eclectic and will likely include thoughts on fiction and the writing craft, off-the-beaten track travel experiences, occasional insights on the world of publishing, and a whole range of topics from ancient wisdom to modern science and great art. Posts will be mostly brief, to the point and enjoyable to read. There will probably also be occasional videos and photo essays.

It won’t be every week necessarily, or even every month, but I do make two promises:

1) I have no plans to monetize this, so full access will be free.

2) Posts will always be interesting. I’ll never publish something just to get it out there, and promotion of my own books, classes, and travel programs will only happen in the context of posts that are worthwhile for other reasons too.

If you want to come along for the ride, whether you’re already on Substack or not, you can sign up here:

I look forward to good conversations!

Quick excerpt: “It’s a relatively simple idea, but Tim Weed makes it into something special with first rate nature writing and a story that underlines how connected we all are to our human and physical environment—which can be a source of resilience even as everything falls apart together.”

Read the rest of the review & round-up here.