Importance of Llama Fetuses

Llama fetuses are one of the most important elements for an offering, caled a mesa, to return all the favors that gives Pachamama (Mother Earth) gives us. You could say that its use is daily and is much requested by the people who want make payments, as we call offerings, to the land.

Since Inca times, reciprocity with the earth is very important since it gives us hat we need to eat and clothe outrselves. We give as part of the offering a llama fetus so that the Pachamama will be satisfied. This is because the fetuses of llama contain zing and this is the only way in which we return the zing to the earth.

The llama is a very important symbol ever since early times. Different chroniclers and scholars talk about its use and give meaning to findings from excavations. They speak of animals used purely for offerings in ceremonies.

The mesa for payment to the land must have many items, among them products in small quantities, or could say a little of everything we have. For this reason, the size of the llama fetus has to be correlated to the products and articles which are put on the table.

It is known that llama fetuses are obtained from miscarriages, though in many places they obtain them by killing female llamas. This element can be obtained in some places within the city of Cusco, as is the San Pedro Market. People buy a small amount exclusively for payments to the land.

The places where the dried fetus is found in large numbers are to the south of Cusco, the town of Juliaca in Puno and the neighboring country Bolivia. In the markets and witchcraft shops abound llama fetuses and they can be found in all sizes. This element reaches the city of Cusco from the south.

In the month of August, the sale of llama fetuses rises considerably since this is the month of payments to the land. Since the llama fetus is a very important element of the offering, it can not be missing from the table to return goodness to the pachamama.