On a wet Friday in January, itself a relieving break from weeks of ice and snow, a friend and I arrived at the beautiful Hagal Farm near Bantry in West Cork to be part of a group of 6 all ready to receive the rites. I had no idea what I was opening myself to, only a strong feeling I had to be there, a feeling that had persisted since the rites first came to my attention the previous September. With all nine rites being given over the weekend I knew it was going to be an intense experience but this was the way I had chosen.

As we sat there in that first circle and called in our guides to work with us, mine came quickly; one of my teachers and three of my animal guides, at least that made me feel at home. Mary then explained that while Peruvian Shaman worked with their mesas hitting recipients with them to assist the transfer of energy, she was going to be more gentle with us and would work with a pi stone, a circle of crystal with a hole in the centre, a stone that represents both the circle, or wheel of life and our own energy field.

Once the rites have been received they are yours to pass on in whatever way you choose and the first rite Mary chose to pass on, and the only rite that night, was the Healer's rite, which we were told, would awaken our own healing power and connect us with a lineage of healers who would help to heal the wounds of our past and of our ancestors. Whilst receiving this rite I felt movement around me and over my crown followed by bands of coloured light around my body and red-hot heat up my spine.

After receiving this rite we all chose a card from a self-development tarot pack, the Osho Zen Tarot that shed light on where we each were at that time.

The second day began with us receiving the Bands of Power where five luminous belts were placed around the body to act as filters within the luminous energy field (LEF) breaking down heavy energy into one of the five elements. This helps to protect the LEF not by closing it down but by expanding it without fear. As I began receiving the rite an animal messenger arrived. Receiving the rite I felt movement around me in my LEF and had energy running down my arms, dripping off my fingers. I also experienced a sense of overwhelming joy and afterwards my LEF felt stronger and I felt brighter. 

Once everyone had received this rite we were asked if we would like to practice giving them to each other, only then did I realise how much I wanted to be able to work with the rites. Connecting with Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus (Spirits of the Mountains) and then the rite itself, felt huge, and as I connected I saw a second animal messenger, reinforcing the message of the first animal, a message I later managed to work out.

The third rite I received was the Daykeeper's rite. The Daykeeper's were the masters of ancient stone alters around the world, calling on the sun to rise each day and healing and bringing balance to the earth. This rite is one of the rites that is given with breath and Mary's breath was like fire blowing through me. Images came fast and furious and the energy of the rite felt both strong and incredibly beautiful.

Some of the rites are received lying down and so it was with the Harmony rite where seven archetypes are transmitted as seeds into the chakras. As I lay there receiving I felt as if my central energy column had split open and in that space I became pure energy. In that state I felt the energetic essence of each archetype, each a different quality as it passed into me. Afterwards it took some time to bring my vibration back to the physical vibration of my body and even when my mind was back my body needed longer to settle. Once this rite has been received daily fire meditations are used to feed, grow and connect with the archetypes. This is a minimum of 14 weeks of work as we then learnt and only once this work has been completed are you able to pass the rites on to others. 

Next came the Seer's rite which awakens the 'inner seer' and for some their ability to perceive the invisible world. Here I felt shivers of energy around my head as I was given a crown and necklace of light. Afterwards I was asked to give the Seer's rite to Mary and again I found connecting to the rite to be a very powerful experience. 

The final rite of the day was the Wisdomkeeper's rite, the Wisdomkeepers being medicine men and women who have stepped outside time. This is another rite given using breath and one which brought colours and light into my body.

Reflecting at the end of the day I journalled; 'The intitiations are one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I feel relaxed and at peace'.

On the final day we received the remaining three rites. The first of these being the Earthkeeper's rite. Stewards of the Earth the Earthkeepers help us to learn the ways of the seer and to dream the world into being. The rite itself felt very gentle and during the rite I saw the face of an elderly Native American and heard 'Coming home'. My journal here says; 'I feel as if I have been on a long journey and now I have found my way back'.

The Creator's rite, which connects you with the light or source within so you can co-create your life, was given outside amongst the trees, what better place. During my receiving the rite the wind blew strongly and fiercely and I had an image of Ganesh who I later recalled a friend telling me is the overcomer of obstacles.

According to lore the final rite, the Starkeeper's rite, helps the physical body evolve into Homo Luminous, and to the delight of all the women present, myself included, slows down the aging process. This rite was just beautiful and as it was received lying down I could really feel the energy flowing through me.

The weekend concluded with a fire ceremony where I was able to place all that I wished to release into the fire where it could be transformed. I then took a second Osho Zen Tarot card, which really showed the shift that had taken place within me over the weekend. I fell in love not just with the Munay-Ki but also with this tarot, which has nothing to do with the Munay-Ki, but is a great self-development tool and I now have my own set, the first tarot I have owned.

The first thing I noticed after the weekend was that something had changed. I felt different and realised that I was looking at things as if seeing them for the first time, the space I work in, the things I have in it, my perception of all of this had shifted. I spent considerable time clearing the energy in my workspace to accommodate the 'new me'. I have since learnt that the most common shared experience is that 'something is different'.

Since receiving the Munay-Ki rites, I have found that new aspects of my work have begun to open up, some of my abilities have become stronger, and I am perhaps a little clearer as to my purpose in life. I have been fortunate enough to work alongside Mary over a weekend, helping to give some of the rites and to receive them again and now hold my own workshops where I am able to pass the rites on to others. This has enabled me to connect with the rites on a deeper level and to begin to see how I can use them in my own life on a day-to-day basis. I still feel exactly as I felt the first time I received them, that the Munay-Ki rites have the purest and most beautiful energy I have ever worked with, it is at times almost overwhelming in its purity.

Looking back, I can see how stuck I had become, holding on fast for fear of letting go and moving forward. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that receiving the Munay-Ki rites has helped me release fear and resistance, for now at least. Probably one of the biggest things for me though is that I feel content, completely at one with myself, settled in a way I can't recall ever feeling before. It feels as if I am no longer searching.

It is said that the rites work with you where you are and bring what you need at that time. This is only my experience, yours will be whatever you need it to be. The context in which the rites are given will also be different depending on who is giving them, as each of us brings our own experience, background and interests to them. They may be given over a weekend, over several weekends, one or two rites during an evening or one may even be offered during a healing session. However they are offered, if like me you feel drawn to them, I would say just trust in this feeling and follow it.

I often work as part of a team with past students when giving the rites so if you are interested in receiving the Munay-Ki rites from me and my team in Co. Cork check my Events page or contact me. 

If would like to see if it is possible to organise a weekend (or two) in your area then please contact me so we can discuss your needs.