Andean duality and lunar wisdom: women, nature and the continuity of agricultural and livestock practices in the Andes

Abstract

In the Andean world, human life and nature are not separate entities, but rather interdependent dimensions of a single cosmic whole. This principle of duality represents the complementarity of opposites, where man and woman, sun and moon, earth and water, night and day, above and below coexist in harmonious balance. This contrasts sharply with Western philosophy and practice, which emphasizes struggle, rivalry, and competition. This worldview has guided the social organization, spirituality, and agricultural and livestock practices of the indigenous peoples of our continent for centuries, and remains particularly strong and relevant today in Peru and Huánuco. This article explores the symbiotic relationship between Andean people and nature, with special emphasis on the role of women as guardians of seeds, water, and fertility. This study also analyzes the connection between lunar cycles and agricultural practices, and examines how the Peruvian state, through Intercultural Bilingual Education (IBE) and cultural policies, seeks to revalue and strengthen this ancestral knowledge. Finally, it reflects on the need to advocate for the formulation of public policies at all three levels of government aimed at revaluing and strengthening ancestral best practices in an appropriate, respectful, and efficient manner.