Hi Terri,

It's been a long time since I worked with Americo, but I may be able
to shed some light on what he is talking about with these terms. Ayni
is a stance of the heart, an inner alignment, as you indicated. But
in the Andes is also an action. For instance, an act of ayni would be
to help your neighbor with a project, work in their fields, lend them
some money or food or whatever in a crisis, etc. It's not charity,
but instead is an offering of assistance and friendship, undertaken
in the spirit of community and caring. Similarly, in the mystical
work, ayni can be an act as well. Blowing your finest breath or
offering coca leaves toward an apu is an act of ayni. Not killing a
snake or spider you come across but letting it slither or crawl away
unharmed would also be an act of ayni. Offering a despacho is an act
of ayni, of reciprocity of spirit, love, appreciation, friendship or
of whatever it is that you want to offer to something outside
yourself in the spirit of honoring what you feel you have yourself
received from that being or thing. Ayni, really, is establishing any
kind of link, whether through an energy transmission, thought, word
or deed.

The kawsay ayni (spellings differ in Quechua)may be referring to an
actual ceremony, although I have heard it and participated in it
often under a slightly different name. Kawsay is energy, the universe
of living energy (and a lot more!). Ayni is reciprocity (and a lot
more!) So literally this would be referring to the act of exchanging
energy or being in reciprocity with the universe or nature.

There is a ceremony with a very similar name: the Karpay Ayni. So, I
wonder if this is what is being referred to? The Karpay Ayni is the
sacred act/ceremony of exchaning your "finest energy" with someone or
something. With Juan Nunez del Prado, we usually open a group meeting
with the Karpay Ayni. You place your hands on the other person's
head, close your eyes, and send that person your finest, happiest
memory or enery. Then that person does the same for you. The
combination of the words "Karpay Ayni" in this case would indicate
that there were at least two people/things "actively transmitting"
energy during the exchange.

I am not saying this is what Americo meant, but it is probable since
these are common enough terms in the work of the Andes.

Blessings,
Joan Parisi Wilcox