Ian Parkin is the author of this post.

New Age Machu Picchu Takes You Out On The Metaphysical Limb

I first became aware of New Age Machu Picchu when watching the dramatization of Shirley MacLaine's bestselling book, ‘Out on a Limb’ back in the 1980's. This was her account of the spiritual energy here that led to her amazing astral travel experience in Peru.

While so wonderfully portrayed in the TV production, it was in her later book, It's All In The Playing, that Shirley revealed even more metaphysical wonders that went on while the filming of the miniseries took place. If you are thinking of an esoteric trip to the most sacred site in mystical Peru I'd recommend you begin by watching the two part TV series I’ve placed on this page.

New Age Machu Picchu is the metaphysical mother lode of Mystic Places. The name means ‘Old Peak’ in Quechua, the native language. Machu Picchu resonates with all body chakras, as it links with all Earth energy centers. Tucked away, deep within the jungle of Urubamba Valley, between two higher mountains on a graben (a block of the mountain that has dropped downward). Its base is bordered on three sides by the tumultuous Urubamba River.

Considered the best conserved city of the Incan Empire, a couple of factors account for its remarkable preservation. Buildings were constructed using the “ashlar” process, which means cut, inter-locking stones (many weighing 50-tons) precluding using mortar.

Also, in the 1500s, when Peru was invaded by the Spanish, they didn’t notice Machu Picchu, due to its obscure locale. Thus, its nickname, ‘lost city of the Incas’.

• The ‘how’ and ‘why’ Incas built the sanctuary city remains ‘best guess’, as the culture did not have a written language.

Exploring New Age Machu Picchu

What's so special about Machu Picchu Spiritual Energy?

Sacred Intihuatana Stone

The ancient Incas were sun worshipers. The Intihautana Stone, aka Hitching Post of the Sun, was used when they performed rituals and also served as an astronomic calendar. At noon on summer and winter solstices, the sun hovers over the monument. During solstice rituals, Inca priests ‘tied’ the sun to the Intihautana stone with a sacred cord. - Shamans in Peru say if you touch your forehead to the stone, your will attain enlightenment.

Temple of the Sun

The Temple of the Sun is an ancient sanctuary and the single curved structure on New Age Machu Picchu.  Its purpose was to pay homage to Inti , or the sun. During winter solstice, the sun beams through the window and lights the enormous stone altar, in the center of the temple.

Incans believed the sun created all things and common people were forbidden to enter the sacred temple. Only priests were permitted inside. Legends have it the priests conducted their rituals and performed sacrifices on the altar.

Interestingly, various small holes on its back wall are thought to have once been plugged with gemstones. Contemporary scholars have dubbed it the ‘window of the serpent’.

Temple of Three Windows

The Temple of Three Windows aka the Room of the Three Windows was erected on the Sacred Plaza. The three-walled, rectangular structure showcases three ginormous, trapezoidal windows aligned with the sunrise. No surprise here, since Incas were Masters of Astrology, all the structures within the fortress were positioned to align with the rising sun or the Universe.

A rectangular stone is in the center of this temple, which was used for surveying the solar system from the back end. Legends say that the three windows exemplify the three chief aspects of the Incan civilization:

1. Spirituality – the sky,
2. the mundane - the planet’s surface
3. and the inner-life - Earth’s subsoil.   

Hot Springs of Machu Picchu

At the end of the day, nothing will soothe your weary bones more than a therapeutic soak in the thermal hot springs of Machu Picchu at Aquas Calientes (meaning waters hot). The waters hot rise surface from underground hot sulfur springs.  Let the waters work its magic on your physical body and let your mind wander through the phenomenal events of this day.