We’ve just experienced a miraculous convergence of celestial events – the January 31 Super Blue Blood Moon and lunar eclipse! It wasn’t just the second [blue] full moon in one month, it occurred at a [super] moment when the moon was at its closest point to earth, and it was on the night of a total lunar eclipse, during which the moon can take on a deep blood red color!

The primal forces that create such events always capture our imaginations, pull our awareness to the universe around us, and spark the deep memory we all hold of our membership in the universe as a whole. This level of awareness and attention to our ‘big’ membership in the universe are core to the Andean cultures and are central components of their way of life.

They understand that awareness of our belonging ignites our value in our communities and provides the momentum we need to take part in tending the wellbeing of all our collectives.

At ARI we want to take this ‘super’ moment to thank you for all the ways you support the ARI mission and give you an update on our own special event, which you have helped to fund, the construction of our Global Headquarters in Maras!
To date, our Global Headquarters campaign has brought in $130,000 and every penny has gone toward the construction of our beautiful new building. You can see the progress in our video! The first floor is in, the walls are up, and the roof is on. By this summer we’ll have water and electricity running in the ground floor spaces so we can resume some of our very successful art and language classes.

Our well-known weaver’s course will also continue with a new class of students. Nineteen of our graduated weavers have opened their own store in Maras and are doing quite well managing their business. Their success is an excellent example of our vision at ARI, through focused educational programs, to drive the restoration of self-directed prosperity in Maras and other communities in the Sacred Valley.

But we have more courses on the drawing boards, and volunteers waiting to help, and this means we’ll need to complete the second floor spaces and volunteer rooms soon! In addition, we have plans to create a water collection and storage system, which will be a vital asset in the dry climate of Maras.

Thanks to you, the building process has great momentum now, but we need your help to keep it strong!
Our immediate funding goal to finish building our headquarters: $80,000. Your contribution of $100, $250, $500 or more will help us have our building up and running this year.

It will mean the world to the families of Maras and nearby villages. Your donation will help us create incredible ayni for the people of Maras, for you, and for our world!

Donate here!