Meet the Shaman
Meet the Shaman
Don Augustine Machacca Florez
Discover the wisdom and warmth of the Q’ero Shamans-keepers of ancient Incan knowledge. Meet the healers who guide our ceremonies and connect you with the energies of Pachamama, the Apus, and the spirit world.
A Pampamesayoq of the Q'ero Tradition
At the heart of Quechua Spirit Healing Retreat is the wisdom and guidance of Don Augustine Machacca Florez, a revered Pampamesayoq from the high Andes of Peru. He carries a pure, ancestral lineage of Q’ero shamans, passed down through generations of medicine men and spiritual healers.
Lineage of Sacred Service
Don Augustine's calling began early. At just 16, he showed deep curiosity in the ways of the Despacho and the sacred healing arts. His father, also a Pampamesayoq, recognized this spiritual inclination, and his grandfather-a respected Altomesayoq-received a dream confirming that Don Augustine was meant to continue the family’s sacred path.
Lineage of Don Augustine Machacca Florez:
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Great Grandfather: Manuel Machacca Zamata
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Grandfather: Don Francisco Machacca Zamata (Altomesayoq)
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Father: Pampamesayoq
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Don Augustine Machacca Florez: Pampamesayoq
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Son: Santos Machacca Apaz (currently in training)
Through sacred dreams and coca leaf readings, Don Augustine’s destiny was affirmed. He received karpay (energy transmissions) from his father and other Q’ero masters, completing four years of intensive training before beginning his healing work at the age of 20.
Today, he serves communities in Cusco and Q’eros, and travels internationally to share authentic Andean wisdom. His desire is to pass this sacred knowledge on to his son, Santos, who is slowly walking the same path with intention and heart.
Sacred Symbols & Healing Tools
Don Augustine’s healing work is deeply rooted in the spiritual tools and sacred symbols he carries-each one a reflection of his relationship with nature, spirit, and the ancestral world.
His Hat: A Crown of Connection
Rarely seen without his vibrant, handwoven Pampamesayoq hat, Don Augustine wears it as a sacred link to Pachamama, the Apus (mountain spirits), and the three worlds of Andean cosmology: Uku Pacha (Lower World), Kay Pacha (Middle World), and Hanan Pacha (Upper World). The hat represents yanantin, the sacred harmony of dual forces-light and dark, masculine and feminine, sky and earth.
His Ceremonial Poncho
A Tapestry of Sacred Story
In Q’ero tradition, weaving is not just art-it is sacred memory. Don Augustine’s ceremonial poncho, lovingly woven by his wife Benita Apaza Flores, contains the essence of wind, sun, moonlight, and the spirit of the Andes. The woven designs, called pallay, preserve ancient knowledge and carry the stories of ancestors, natural forces, and sacred cosmology.
The central motif in his poncho honors Inti (the Sun) and the Chuncho, pre-Incan forest dwellers believed to have transformed into trees due to their sensitivity to sunlight. Each poncho takes nearly a year to create and is worn during ceremonies and healing rituals.
His Mesa (Misha): A Sacred Bundle of Power
A Mesa, or Misha, is a sacred healing bundle that holds the personal spiritual tools of a Paqo. It is the embodiment of the shaman’s power, lineage, and service to the spirit world.
Don Augustine’s mesa includes:
Black Khuya From the River
Inherited from his father, used to absorb and release heavy energy (hucha)
White Khuya from Huaman Lipa
His sacred mountain – for clarity, balance, and connection to light energy
Eagle Stone
Used to access Hanan Pacha, the Upper World, for divine vision and spiritual guidance
Chunpi Stones
Powerful stones used in rituals to weave energetic belts (chunpis) connecting to cosmic beings such as Inti Tayta (Father Sun), Mama Killa (the Moon), Papa Wayra (the Wind), and Hatun Ch’aska (the Stars)
Each stone in the mesa carries the spirit of sacred mountains like Ausangate and Salkantay, with whom Don Augustine shares a deep spiritual connection. During healing sessions, he channels these energies to clear blockages, restore harmony, and transmit transformational karpay to his clients.
Bringing the Andes to the World
Don Augustine’s presence is humble, grounded, and deeply attuned to the rhythms of the Earth. Whether leading a Despacho ceremony, offering a Karpay, or performing a personal healing, he channels the energies of the mountains, rivers, stars, and wind with reverence and precision.
We are honored to host Don Augustine in person at Quechua Spirit Healing Retreat. The only way to experience his healing, teachings, and sacred transmissions is by joining us on-site in Campbell, Texas.
“He weaves energy like thread—blessing, healing, and connecting all who come into his care. Don Augustine doesn’t just teach. He transforms.”
