In the Peruvian Andes, at 12,800 feet above sea level, lies one of the great mysteries – and it’s not Machu Pichu! It’s called Markawasi. It sits on an ancient plateau that is three miles long and less than a mile wide. The landscape, rocky and barren and mostly shades of brown, is punctuated with massive, enigmatic carved statues, like the one in the photo. That figure is known as Peca Gasha, which in Quechua means witch, sentinel or guardian. Peca Gasha is 80 feet tall.
Other statues are those of animals – camels, tortoises, winged sphinxes, elephants, sea lions, a fallen horse, animals that aren’t indigenous to the area. Then there’s The Prophet, the Druid, the Alchemist, Nefertiti, a Chinese ideogram, the profile of an Inca, the face of Mars, the Face of Humanity. In all, there are hundreds of such statues. They are found in clusters and due to the progression of the sun through the day, look different at different times of the day. Here’s the amphitheater where you camp.
There is some controversy about how these huge statues were created. One theory: wind and erosion. Another theory, put forward by Daniel Ruzo, the man who discovered the area in 1952, is that these megaliths, like those in the Sacred Valley of the Kings in Egypt, Stonehenge, Tepotzlan in Mexico and other sacred spots,, were created by a race that lived around the time of the great flood and Noah.
Ruzo, using astrological cycles, determined that human life has consisted of five humanities, each one lasting 8,608 years, with four sun cycles of 2,125 years each. At the end of each major cycle, humanity suffered a catastrophe. “Following the zodiac, humanities have survived catastrophes of earth, fire, and water,” wrote Lisa Rome in Markawasi: Peru’s Inexplicable Stone Forest.”According to Ruzo, who died in 1993, the next catastrophe will be by air and will occur between 2127 and 2137.”
There are at least 22 energy vortexes on the plateau, called cruces – crosses – and all are healing vortexes. Here’s a picture of one of them. These crosses are divided into three distinct types of energy. The first type, the most powerful, can be experienced at three of the crosses. In the second type, there are 7 crosses that are tied to the days of the weeks. In the third type, tied to the phases of the moon, there are 12. Each one has a particular healing power.
Carlos Seclan, a Peruvian who studied under Ruzo, had been researching Markawasi for fifteen years when he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed for nearly a year. The doctors basically wrote him off and told him he would never walk again. But he was convinced that there was a certain energy at a certain vortex that could heal him. He convinced his friends to carry him up the mountain – no small task, since it’s a walk of nearly three miles upward 2,800 feet. They carried him to the vortex he indicated and left him there for a week.
On the seventh day, a stranger, an ordinary Peruvian man, appeared. They talked about Carlos’ injuries. The man gave him some exercises to do and Carlos felt heat rising up through his body, experienced a buzzing in his ears, then a tingling throughout this limbs. As the heat and buzzing reached the top of his head, “he was aware of a light entering the top of his crown.” And then he fell asleep. When he woke awhile later, the man was gone. Carlos was able to sit up and then stand and made his way down the mountain. Today, he’s the most important living scholar about the vortexes.
Not too surprising, Markawasi is known for its UFO activity. If you Google the name and UFO, you’ll find some firsthand accounts. In fact, a travel agency in Lima leads a Markawasi Mystical Tour – 4 days, 3 nights – that takes you to the UFO areas. Apparently the villagers in the nearest town, San Pedro de Casta – consider UFO sightings business as usual.
This fascinating place is detailed in a book by Kathy Doore, Markawasi: Peru’s Inexplicable Stone Forest. Our friend Bruce Gernan, with whom Rob co-authored The Fog, met her, dropped the book by the house yesterday, and we’re all going to have lunch next week. We knew that she and Bruce were going to be on the second season premier of Ancient Astronauts, so we set up the TiVo. Shortly after 10 PM, we tuned in – and realized it was the wrong episode. Rob flicked back through the recordings, found the right one, and we came in right at the instant when Kathy Doore began talking about Markawasi. Synchronicity.I have a feeling this place may be our next trip.
Great post – thanks. Peru is on my 'list'.
Trish wrote the Markawasi post above, and today I finally had a chance to peruse the book that's mentioned.
As I turned to page 11, I noticed a sub-head: Synchronicity. Of course, that caught my attention, and I read on. In part, Kathy Doore writes:
"Synchronicity is the art of meaningful coincidence; the deliberate act of heeding the still, quiet voice within, and connecting oneself with a purposeful reality. It presents a tangible mystery at our very fingertips, and is the hallmark of an inner life outwardly expressed. My imagination was set on fire; in turn, events were set in motion. That night, I consciously acknowledged this emerging awareness by scrawling these words: 'Signs!' and continued, '…they are everywhere.' I had acknowledged the ancient journey of heart, and stepped consciously upon the path of discovery."
Thanks for the links, Daz. I'll check them out. I'm sure there are connections among all these places.
Cole – if you're drawn, then you'll find a way to go!
nat – this is probably a stupid question, but when you have a guide from a culture different than you're own, with a different language, how do they speak your language?
Looking at that area reminds me of an area a few hundred miles from where I live called Girraween National Park.
https://www.rymich.com/girraween/index.php?page=gi_gallery_01
Like "The Sphinx/The Frog" rock in Markawasi / Marcahuasi,Peru,it also has a rock formation called "The Sphinx" (here's a link);
https://www.campinginoz.com.au/community/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=54&func=view&catid=13&id=1332
Both Girraween National Park (Australia)and Markawasi / Marcahuasi(Peru)look like magical places to me.I'll at least have to make the trip to Girraween one day.
I too have always loved the idea of going to Peru. My husband not so much. I have been wanting to go for years. I hope I do make it there while I am still young enough to climb and trek my way through all the many sites to see. Very much drawn to the appeal and beauty of Manchu Picchu. I see myself just sitting down on a step overlooking the mountains and valleys. I am sure there is an energy there! I know it will happen, but I wasn't aware of this other area of interest. Now I have two things to hope and plan for!
Good luck planning your trip! Sounds mystical.
We went to sedona years ago and visited some of the vortexes. I didn't feel much of anything.
The area around Sedona, Arizona is known for vortices that become popular with visitors during a convergence of the planets when the magnetic field becomes more powerful.
Ray
gypsy – sent you a few links.
oh, wow! thanks so much for travel info, trish! that seems a great price to me! gee, what a trip! what a trip! great that megan can go as well!
Never a dull moment here is there?
WOW!!! What a place!!!!! I feel very strongly drawn to Peru. For a few months now, a guide has shown up in meditation and he is Incan and formidable.
It would make a terrific book setting! Can't wait for that one. 🙂
back in early "03" (late March I'm thinking) a good friend of mine left Caly and returned to his home region of NH,, going back after spending his 20's as westerner,, Seattle, Arizona, then Caly,, more Truman then human is what they might of said about him,, within a couple of days and his return to NH,, what happened to their famous land mark……
Gypsy – that's what I did last night.Miami-lima, RT, slightly over $600. Lima to san pedro, the closest town, probably doesn't cost much. 3 hour drive. san pedro de casta has 5 basic hotels – they recommend u spend a night there to get accustomed to the altitude before trekking the 3 hours up to the plateau.When u see pics of the town, you know you won't be spending much for a room. We're looking at early june, so megan can go too.
ok, i can't seem to stop! can you just imagine being there with big canvasses and PAINTING!!! what spirits would come to life on the canvass!!!
wv = denest – the nest – densest?
oh, yes, for sure, book location!!! absolutely – and then movie location!
wv = pothmer = mother p [peru]?
so, was i texting you about this all the while you all were tivoing it? the show was incredible! and i didn't have any way to record it and/or the fantastic shows that aired before/after and this morning!! what an incredible place – just for heck of it i'm gonna check airline info – and start tucking away my pennies!!!
great great post, macgregors!
wv – sououtad
I just love these mysterious places. What a wonderful find. I hope you will take a lot of photos for us when you go.
Book location!
Very interesting! Sounds like the perfect place for a trip, and a new book location.