Spirituality and the Pachamama in the Andean Aymara Worldview - Earth Stewardship: Linking Ecology and Ethics in Theory and Practice - page 66

6.2 Andean Symbolism and Interpretation for Planting

Careful observation of nature is an important aspect of daily life. The Aymara
pay close attention to the pacha (time and space)—will rain come early or late,
will it be a dry or wet year, when is it going to snow, freeze or hail?—given that
the fruit of the earth is the vital source of family survival. For this reason, they
communicate with nature as a living being. The Aymara have faith in what the
Pachamama transmits.
Simón Yampara ( 1992 , p. 160) explains:

Forecasting the weather and ascertaining the right moment for planting are of capital impor-
tance for the Aymara. This is done by observing the planets and the stars, climatic phenom-
enon, fl ora and fauna; also through spiritual knowledge, the interpretation of dreams,
reading coca leaves, and reciprocal relations with the Achachilas and the Pachamama. All
these provide knowledge for organizing life in the Ayllu and for determining how to use the
sayañas, qallpas and the aynuqas. It lets them foresee what the weather will be and thus
prepare for agricultural production.
In Ticohaya, the elderly, especially the women, are mainly involved in observing
and interpreting these natural signs. They watch closely certain plants that announce
the beginning or postponing of the planting season. My maternal grandmother
annually closely observed the little uluypina plant. If this little plant blooms early, it
means that planting potato should be moved up but if it is late, then planting should
be postponed. If, during its growth and fl owering, a plant is eaten by a rat, the plants
will be affected by freezing rain and if the leaves dry out, then there will be frost
damage. If it fl owered beautifully, then there would be a good harvest and so it
always was.
Animal conduct also provides signs that help the Aymara know when to plant.
Fox, toads, sheep, pigs, and birds give valuable information. If the fox has her pups
in a low area, it means that place is good for planting. Likewise, if the place is high
up, then planting should be there. Big toads appearing in the fi elds while the soil is
being prepared for planting potatoes, is a sign of good luck and announces a good
harvest. But little, skinny toads mean a poor harvest. Toads are considered symboli-
cally as juyra or isaplla (the vital spirit of potatoes), so they must not be mistreated
nor killed, lest they weep and prevent the production of good potato. Playful lambs
and piglets indicate that there will be good rains. When the cows moo, rain is com-
ing. When the unqallas and quillwas or Andean gulls, fl y over places normally free
of high water, it is said that there will be fl ooding. If large fl ocks of small birds
called khunu jamach'is come around, snow is forecast. When the jamach'i or the
phichitanka do not sing, then there will not be a good harvest. If pankatayas or
beetles appear, or brown colored k'isimiras or ants, it means that there will be a
period of drought. Likewise, when little rocks are found in the bird nests, sleet will
be coming.
Other natural features are important for the information they provide. The
Aymara always observe the phases of the moon for signs about how to proceed
with agricultural work. The moon also indicates when women and the soil are