Ayni is a powerful principle and practice in the Quechua culture here in Peru. It means reciprocity or mutual exchange. It means as we give, we receive and as we receive, we give.
Yesterday I was reminded of the true deeper meaning of ayni at its best, with the confluence of two lovely encounters.
In the morning I met a special young friend, Diana to arrange an interest free loan for her and her husband to buy some land in the Valley where they could eventually build a house.
Afterwards, I had lunch with my dear friend Karen. We first met each other 17 years ago when a mutual friend suggested she come see me for inner child work, to transform and heal her early childhood trauma.
Halfway through our lunch Diana unexpectedly appeared at the same restaurant and gave us both a big hug. I was only then reminded that Karen had been Diana’s therapist a few years before when she was going through a difficult time.
After doing inner child work with me, Karen was inspired to train as a therapist and over the last decade, she has helped many people to heal and transform their lives.
Because I was helped (by the counsellor who did inner child work with me years ago), I have been able to help people, who in turn have helped others. My parents assisted me with an interest free loan to buy my first house, which (among other things) inspired me to assist Diana whose parents are no longer living.
She runs an amazing project in the Valley helping children learn sustainable farming, ecology, art, music, reading and much more, thereby helping their families and communities to also learn and prosper. The project’s work changes many lives in positive ways, so I was happy to support the ones who support and encourage so many others.
Ayni ripples out into the world in ways we don’t always know and see. We learn to give and share because others gave and shared with us. It’s a significant way for the world to heal and transform. Ayni keeps the ripples flowing so the impact we have is greater than we can imagine.