The Andean worldview

Pachamama (Mother Earth)

Pachamama is at the heart of the Andean worldview. She represents Mother Earth, who nourishes and sustains all living beings.

For the Andean peoples, Pachamama is not a resource to be exploited, but a living being to be respected and thanked. This is the origin of the rituals of payment to the earth, where coca leaves, chicha, corn, or sweets are offered as symbols of gratitude and reciprocity.

Traveling to the Andes is also an opportunity to feel that spiritual connection with nature.

The Three Andean Worlds

In the Andean worldview, the universe is conceived as three interconnected levels that explain life and cosmic order. These are not separate worlds, but planes that constantly communicate with each other:

Hanan Pacha – The world above

This is the celestial plane, the place where the gods, the stars, and the higher energies dwell. There live the Inti (sun), the Killa (moon), the stars, and constellations such as the Pleiades, which are fundamental to agriculture. Hanan Pacha symbolizes the divine, spirituality, and hope.

Kay Pacha – The world here

This is the earthly world, the space where humans, animals, and plants live. It represents everyday life, community, and the present. Kay Pacha teaches us to live with balance and respect, reminding us that our actions affect everything around us.

Ukhu Pacha – The inner world

This is the inner plane, linked to the earth, the deep and the hidden. It is related to the fertility of the fields, the seeds under the ground, and also to the ancestors.
Ukhu Pacha teaches that life arises from the invisible and the hidden.
These three planes are not hierarchies, but parts of a whole. Together they form a circle of life, where the sky, the earth, and the depths are in constant dialogue.

The Andean Trilogy

These three worlds were also represented by the Andean trilogy, and these were represented by three sacred animals:

The condor (in the hanan pacha)

a majestic bird that flies close to the sun. It represents spiritual connection, freedom, and union with the divine. It is considered a messenger between men and gods.

The puma (in the Kay Pacha)

a strong and agile animal that symbolizes power, courage, and wisdom. It represents the ability to act with firmness and balance in earthly life.

The snake (in Ukhu Pacha)

associated with occult knowledge and the renewal of life. By shedding its skin, it symbolizes transformation and rebirth. It represents the connection with ancestors and the energy of the earth.

The Chakana - Andean Cross

The Chacana, known as the Andean Cross, is one of the most important symbols of the Inca worldview. It is not just a geometric figure; it is a spiritual and cultural map that explains how the Andean peoples understood the universe and the place of human beings within it.

Structure of the chakana

Its square, stepped shape has multiple meanings:

• The Three Andean Worlds:
  
  
  • Hanan Pacha: the upper world, of the gods, the sun, and the stars.
  • Kay Pacha: the earthly world, where humans, animals, and plants live.
  • Ukhu Pacha: the inner world, linked to ancestors, fertility, and rebirth.
    
    
• The four sides indicate the cardinal points and symbolize the union of the peoples of Tahuantinsuyo (the four regions of the Inca empire).
• The central circle represents the sun, source of life and energy, and at the same time the point of balance between all planes.

La Chacana is also a representation of universal order and harmony. Its steps show the process of human evolution: from the material to the spiritual plane, from earthly learning to connection with the divine.

In this way, the Chacana taught the Incas that life is a path in constant transformation, where each person must seek balance between body, mind, spirit, and community.

Beyond its geometry, the Chacana is a spiritual guide:

• It explains how the three worlds (heaven, earth, and the inner world) are connected.
• It reinforces the principles of reciprocity with Pachamama.
• It reminds us that human beings do not own nature, but are part of it.

That is why it can still be found today in temples, textiles, and Andean crafts: as a reminder of the ancestral wisdom that invites us to live in harmony with the universe.

Values of Andean life

The Andean worldview not only explains the universe, but also teaches principles for living in balance. Among the most important are:

• Ayni (mutual aid): cooperation and solidarity among neighbors, where everyone supports each other without expecting anything immediate in return.
• Reciprocity with nature: thanking Pachamama with offerings before receiving her fruits.
• Respect for the Apus: the sacred mountains that protect Andean communities.
• Community work: Through the minka, collective effort was put at the service of the common good.

These values reflect a philosophy based on harmony with the earth, the community, and the spiritual realm, a teaching that remains alive to this day.