Protect 300 girls from Child domestic work in Peru

In the month of January we had our first face-to-face meeting with our dear domestic worker friends.

We had the honor of receiving the visit of Auria Paz Aguilar, Peruvian, musician and storyteller. Auria has traveled to different countries exploring nature and meeting people in their cultures. She learned from her grandmothers and aunts to observe dreams, to use plants and other elements to alleviate physical or emotional ailments. The different forms of work and meditation that Auria promotes are focused on raising the level of personal and collective consciousness. On this occasion, Auria is visiting Peru after living in Denmark for years and connected with AGTR - La casa de Panchita thanks to Pilar Cama, our volunteer. The will to invite this ceremony for free, is to recognize the dedication that domestic workers put into their work and collaborate to nurture the mutual support network. The mother and aunt who raised Auria were also domestic workers.

She suggested that we do a cacao ceremony with medicine music. The cacao ceremony is the gathering of people in a circle. We hold a circle of women to drink cocoa in its simplest and 100% concentrated form (without additives such as sugar or milk). The taking was done slowly and ritually, honoring the essence of the plant and that of ourselves.

Music and sound then guided the experience through song lyrics that evoked peace and hope, while honoring the cycles of life. In the ceremony we were able to focus on feeling, healing and connecting with our intuition.

The space was decorated with flowers and a beautiful altar was made that was our center. A safe and containment space was created for all those participants.

The domestic workers arrived early. They were very excited about the meeting. As they arrived, they settled into the beautiful space that we had prepared for them.

While Auria and Pilar heated the cocoa prepared with much love by Auria, Belén, Auria's life partner, began the journey guiding us through a few breaths.

We all drank the cacao together, slowly, and while we did, Auria and Belén accompanied us with the music of the charango, the flute, and their songs.

Music can alter our mood, in particular medicine music has therapeutic purposes.

At the end of the trip we made a circle of words where each one of us shared her experience:

“My childhood has been bitter, I have many family problems. At first I felt the bitterness of the cocoa and I felt that it was the bitterness that my family makes me feel, but then I spoke to the cocoa and it sweetened.” (Estela)

 “Cocoa did the process in my body. I came tense and the music relaxed me and reminded me of my dad and my mom.” (Elizabeth)

"I traveled with the smells and sounds, I liked talking nicely, sharing with you, I leave with a good vibe, relieved." “Me siento liberada, libre, sin esa pena que traje, he recordado el campo donde crecí, gracias.” (Nora)

We all want more and have other meetings like this.

At the end we gave each other a big group hug with lots of love, it was a magical meeting.