1685524508-52331200 - Sacred Essence
1685524435-58546800 - Sacred Essence
1685524508-52331200 - Sacred Essence
1685524435-58546800 - Sacred Essence
Q'ero PaqosSKU: M64-CRed / Pink Green

Chinchero Shaman Mestana Mesa Cloth (M64-C) - Sacred Andean Textile

£185.00 RRP£185.00 Sold out
1685524508-52331200 - Sacred Essence
Chinchero Shaman Mestana Mesa Cloth (M64-C) - Sacred Andean Textile
£185.00 RRP£185.00

Pickup currently unavailable at Sacred Essence

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Chinchero Shaman Mestana Mesa Cloth – Sacred Andean Textile

Fresh off the hand loom and never used in ceremony, this beautifully finished Mestana Mesa cloth has been specially woven for us by Andean artisans. Soft yet strong, it carries the living tradition of high-mountain weaving where every colour and symbol holds meaning.

A mesa or mestana is a sacred cloth used in prayers, blessings, and healing rituals to hold power objects and medicine stones. Mesa refers to the plains, while mestana reflects the high plains of the Andes — where sky, earth, and spirit meet.

Woven in the traditions of the Q’ero and Chinchero communities, these cloths form personal altar spaces and medicine bundles, symbolising the relationship between the inner and outer worlds.

Product Details:

  • Design: Chinchero Q’ero-style ritual mesa / altar cloth
  • Primary Use: Sacred altar cloth for holding medicine stones (khuyas), power objects, and ritual items
  • Symbolism: Represents the inner and outer worlds within the Andean medicine path
  • Colour Palette: Rich natural tones — reds, pinks, and greens
  • Approx. Size: 68 cm × 70 cm (26.5" × 28") ±5% due to hand weaving
  • Fibre Blend: Hand-spun sheep and alpaca wool
  • Dyes: Naturally plant dyed
  • Origin: Woven in the Peruvian Andes by Q’ero/Chinchero weaving families
  • Condition: New — fresh off the loom, not previously used in ceremony

In the high Andes above Cusco, weaving is a sacred art — a form of storytelling, prayer, and lineage carried through colour and pattern. This Mestana cloth comes from communities connected to the Sacred Valley and the great mountain spirits (apus) such as Ausangate and Salkantay, landscapes that shape both the people and their weaving traditions.

What Is a Mestana Mesa Cloth?

A mestana is a personal ceremonial cloth used to:

  • Hold sacred stones (khuyas)
  • Wrap power objects
  • Create a portable altar
  • Form the foundation of a medicine bundle

Symbolically, the outer cloth represents your outer life and physical world, while smaller inner cloths (unkunas or wachalas) placed inside symbolise the inner world. A mesa tie binds them together — just as spirit, heart, and body are held in right relationship.

A Cloth of Birth and Becoming

Traditionally, cloths like these were used as birthing cloths, welcoming new life into the world. In spiritual practice, they now support us in birthing ourselves anew as we walk our healing and awakening path.

Each weaving family carries its own symbolic language. Patterns may express:

  • Pachamama (Earth / grounding energy)
  • Inti (Sun / life force)
  • Duality — masculine and feminine, left and right
  • Movement between the three worlds of Andean cosmology

Every cloth has its own energetic personality and story.

Ethical & Cultural Integrity

These textiles are obtained through respectful, fair exchange that allows Andean families to remain on their ancestral lands. Trade may be monetary or in essential goods such as flour, maize, rice, or sugar, depending on community needs.

Aged & Authentic Textiles

Our textiles are purchased directly from individuals and weaving families — never factories. Some pieces are ceremonial and aged; others, like this one, are fresh from the loom. Any signs of ceremonial use are always clearly stated.

Regional Lineage

These traditions come from communities high in the Andes connected to Ausangate, one of the most sacred mountains, and surrounding regions. Weaving styles, colour balance, and symbolic layouts vary by village and family lineage, making every cloth unique.

Some Q’ero cloths are woven in two joined halves, representing duality — masculine and feminine, left and right, and the union of opposites.

Care Guidance

  • Hand wash gently in cool water with natural soap if required

  • Do not machine wash

  • Wax can be lifted using paper and gentle warmth from an iron

  • Natural wear adds character and story to the cloth

FAQs

What is a mestana used for?

It forms the foundation of a personal Andean altar, holding sacred objects, stones, and ritual items during prayer and ceremony.

Is this suitable for beginners?

Yes, this size is ideal for personal practice and medicine wheel students.

Are the colours natural?

Yes. The fibres are dyed with traditional plant-based dyes.

Why do sizes vary?

Each cloth is entirely hand woven on a backstrap loom, so natural variations in size and weave are part of its authenticity.

Can this be displayed decoratively?

It can, but traditionally these cloths are treated as sacred items and placed on altars or in meditation spaces.

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