The word Pachamama translates to Mother Earth from the ancient Quechua language, in South America’s Andes region – pacha meaning universe, world, or earth, and mama meaning mother.

According to the Andean worldview of the Incas, Pachamama is the mother who nourishes and sustains all living beings. This goddess fertilizes the fields and brings abundance to the harvests and well-being to the community. She is part of the Andean duality, that is, the complementarity of one another, in this case, the god Inti. As an element that fulfills the feminine role of its masculine counterpart, she is of utmost importance.

For The Andean peoples , giving and receiving are fundamental aspects that maintain balance. From a Western perspective, nature is often viewed as a resource to be managed or exploited. In contrast, the Andean worldview sees Pachamama as a relational being rather than an object. Instead of ownership, there is reciprocity; instead of control, there is balance.

This difference explains why many Andean communities prioritize harmony with the land over economic gain, a worldview we in the west would be wise to adopt.