rainforest animal adaptations
Ayahuasca Retreats – an interview with an Amazonian shaman
After being virtually ignored by Western civilization for centuries, has been a huge increase of interest in Ayahuasca recently. There is a growing belief that it is a kind of "medicine of our time", giving hope to people with 'incurable' diseases like cancer and HIV, drug addictions and appropriate responses to major environmental problems of modern civilization.
Ayahuasca is not a drug, is considered a gateway to another reality, a reality that coexists with our physical world. From this fact the whole experience interconnect can be experienced personally. Ayahuasca is also known as The Purge (Purge) due to "offset" is physical powerful, but is more than physical compensation is also an energetic clearing of personal history as well. It is never too taken lightly and only under the supervision of a shaman who is well versed in the ways of the plant.
Spirituality is at the center of the Ayahuasca experience. Purification and cleanliness of body, mind and spirit in a shamanic ceremony can be the beginning of a process of profound personal and spiritual discovery. This process can continue indefinitely, even if one never drinks Ayahuasca again. One thing is certain, is that each person has a unique experience. Seriously believe that the way Ayahuasca is used we can improve our life experience and benefit more from this medication.
Ayahuasca is the jungle medicine of the upper Amazon. It is made of ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) and plant leaf Chacruna (Psychotria Viridis). Both are a potent drug that opens the door to experiencing the energetic world which underlies the world of everyday life. The vine is an inhibitor that contains harmala and harmaline among other alkaloids, and the leaf contains vision inducing alkaloids. Like all natural medicines, is a mixture of many alkaloids that makes their properties unique. For example, Peyote, the cactus used by Native Americans, is said to contain 32 active alkaloids, so when one of the alkaloids, mescaline (LSD) is synthesized in a laboratory, contrary to popular opinion, the result is not at all the same.
Ayahuasca is a name derived from two Quechua words: aya means spirit, ancestor, deceased and huasca means vine or rope, for what is known as the vine of the dead or vine of the soul. It is also known by many other names local, as yajé, caapi, natem, Pinder, daime, mihi, and DAPA. It plays a central role in the spiritual, religious and cultural traditions of indigenous people and mestizos (Mestizos) poeple of the upper Amazon, Orinoco plains and the Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador.
Plants were collected from the jungle in a sacred way and it is said that a shaman can find abundant sources of the vine, to hear the "drumbeat" that emanates from them. The mixture is prepared by cutting the vines at cookable lengths, scraping and cleaning of them, knocking them into a pulp, then add the leaves chacruna. The mixture is boiled about twelve hours until a thick brown liquid.
To understand ayahuasca in the local context, one can not help but take a look at the ecological environment, as the forest, cultural environment and indigenous cultures. This has been structured cultural content of ayahuasca.
One of the most romantic story takes place among the Shipibo people living upstream in the heart of the jungle in the Peruvian Amazon.
This story focuses on women rather than men as childcare and health, while men are hunting and fishing. Men are more interested in plants that domestic support in the hunting spirits, while women are more interested in plants let their children grow.
There was one woman in particular who was very interested in plants, who liked to pick the leaves from different plants. Then crush the leaves in a pot and soak in water overnight. Then, take a bath every morning before sunrise (the way to find out about of various plants and their effects is to bathe in them). She bathed in them every morning until she had a dream. In his dream of a woman, said, "Why what is going to bathe every day? "She replied" I'm doing this as I want to teach me. "The other woman said" You should look my uncle, his name is Kamarampi. I will show you where to find it. "She took the other woman of her uncle.'s Uncle taught him to mix the leaves chacruna, a shrub that had taken part since bathe in. He taught him to prepare the drink ayahuasca, he told him to tell people the knowledge how to use the brew.
One of the many mysteries surrounding Ayahuasca is how the vine became to be used with the leaves Chacruna because although both come the same ground, but always grow apart otherwise the ayahuasca winds around Chacruna and kills. Nobody knows this, but we have an idea of how to interact with shamans plant. Javier Arevalo a shaman from the Peruvian Amazon told us "that his grandfather and uncles would sit around after taking ayahuasca and he said that ayahuasca was originally taken alone and in the visions he saw that he lacked chacruna. Ayahuasca say I am the doctor who gives the vision. His grandfather replied, "how we can find this plant? The response in the vision was, you can find it by turning two corners. So they went around two corners and found a bush which attracted them chacruna ie the ayahuasca showed them.
This is a fundamental principle in the vision that is the spirit doctor of ayahuasca which tells them what is wrong with your patient, what medicine they need, or have caused illness or discomfort.
Ayahuasca and the spirit of the plants.
In the West there a lot of stories like "Jack and the Beanstalk" which reminds us that plants have the power of the Spirit, Alice in Wonderland explored this world. There a lot of knowledge of power plants, even if the form has been adapted to fairy tales and 'domesticated', not the rate of wealth Grimm tales.
All plants used in medicine today is known by our ancestors. McKenna suggested that the evolution of primates to humans human was achieved when we left the rain forest they inhabit the savanna regions. We have learned to stand on two legs and consumed psychoactive mushrooms. The interaction of plants and animals, the dietary change was a change of consciousness. The goats have a habit of eating all kinds of herbs so in the Andes, not to eat goat's milk or meat if you have mental problems. In Lapland the reindeer eat mushrooms and drink the urine of the shamans has been "processed."
When a person drinks Ayahuasca, especially with a trusted shaman, there is an opportunity to learn and the confidence of the plant. Find that works the way you. It is a great time to get to this point. Then there is the question of whether the plant trusts us, because it can be abused and used to make the wrong kind of personal power. Without intention, vision, preparation, and a shaman, a drug is not a curative drug.
Worldwide Amazonian ayahuasca, like all plants, has a spirit that is angelic, but also has projected human emotions as jealousy, revenge, anger, etc. When ready, the shaman has to watch over her at all times to prevent bad spirits are introduced. The fire needs tending regularly throughout the mixture 10 hours and the shaman must diet during this time. It is said that the spirit of ayahuasca is very jealous and if rules are not respected preparation is resentful. We wonder if this is a cultural thing happen to us Westerners as well. During interviews consistently found that the general rules for the operation of the ayahuasca not always coincide with our own experiences. For example, the addition of the feet (Bella Dona) and snuff to induce vomiting is supposed to make you have a clear head the next morning, but we found it was sometimes reversed. Found difficult to clarify which were the deciding factors.
Sexual abstinence is another thing that is emphasized, however, this seems a very individual thing. Apparently, however, on reflection, that the purpose and intent of the shaman are among the most important factors, which follow the diet during the preparation for the session. At all times, is putting his energy into Ayahuasca is. This also means that not everyone can be present to observe the process of brewing, their quality as individuals and as if they had dieted, abstinence or the practice of a term, all have an influence. When we saw the shaman Javier Arevalo preparation his wife would do the washing and crushing of the Ayahuasca. After boiling for a while, Javier mapacho lit a large (outside forest rolled snuff) and blew smoke at the top of the mixture. The two of us were invited to do this too. Once done you can feel an explosion of boiling Ayahuasca in the face. Later in the session, the shaman or the person who has blown the smoke, feel the return of the explosion and transmitted to customers.
Also it is important that none of the customers see the process of preparation. In particular, a woman passing by who was having her period, could leave a bad energy medicine. This is a controversial issue, whose origin seems to be traceable to Christian, Amazon and countless other traditions.
Anthropologists call it taboo for lack of a rational explanation, but as with everything in the primordial world, there is reason inherited from ancient times, which may have been forgotten. At the dawn of time, the realities are very different than they are today. Mythology can shed some light on the matter, but one thing is certain, no one knows very well! No However, it is reasonable to make the assumption that our ancestors were not frivolous.
We have worked extensively with Javier Arevalo and we had many discussions on the role of the Amazonian shaman and the use of ayahuasca. Javier comes from Nuevo Progreso, a community of 50 families in the Napo River, Loreto, Peru. Several generations of his family before him have been shamans and already at the age of 17 years, I knew this would be his future. However, it was not until I was 20 when his father died of a "virote" (a poisoned dart in the spiritual world) sent by a jealous witch (Witch) who felt compelled to follow the arduous apprenticeship five years to be a shaman.
Javier, what is the role of a shaman?
Learn all about the rain forest and uses that knowledge to heal his people since they have no money to Western style doctors. He uses Ayahuasca to discover in his visions, which plants will be effective for that disease.
How do you see this?
The spirits or plant doctors tell us. Since they are pure, when we are happy too, so you should do diet in order to attract them. That means you should not eat salt, sugar or alcohol, and abstain from sex. The spirits come and say, for example, that cured in two months if the patient has a particular plant. Then the shaman goes in search of the plant.
It is said that every room has the necessary plants to heal people?
Yes, every plant has a spirit, the shaman enters the forest as part of his apprenticeship and spends two years taking plants and roots. He also takes ayahuasca and the spirit tells him that heals. Then the shaman tries another plant, each time you remember why disease is cured.
How often shaman must find all by itself or there is a body of knowledge handed down?
The teacher goes with the apprentice in the desert and gives the different plants and it's like an examination or test to overcome. The teacher is usually a family member. In my case both my grandfather and uncle were teachers. You go into the woods with his teacher and make a simple shelter or "dairy." A shaman must not live in a big house, is only for sleeping and dieting.
How long do you have to diet the plant?
Just one day to learn the process, the day after you move out. That is, if not return to the city, you can get through a lot of plants. This is different from a plant of the diet for a month say.
The same applies to any conditions or diseases have a particular plant to remedy it or is an energy spirit that comes through the plant which can cure many things?
A plant can cure many ailments. A particular plant has a spirit that can heal or kill. As for example with another shaman (who have worked with earlier versions), who had not dieted Ayahuasca correctly and poom! causing fever and colds people trapped.
So why would a plant kill or cure?
Because a witch (sorcerer) also learns of the plants. You can for example learn from the diet of a plant which has spines or phlegm which could be good for certain things. But if it is bad no one can stop him, and 'ffoooo' the night I used to harm or kill. These are the witches who return from the forest with eyes red like huayruro (red beans with black spots). He is a bad shaman and we have to fix people who hurt.
Who would do that?
There are some people who have a dispute with someone, and then they go to see a brujo and say "this lady talks too much and has insulted me, kill her and I will pay. "They get paid and do damage.
However, the shaman who made us ill did not intentionally.
No, of ignorance. He was a shaman from the city not the forest. He went and left us to absorb the negative effects. He may have had a good teacher, but no diet is too fat! (The people of the jungle are rarely fat.)
And probably eat the day of the session and so was launched themselves same!
How does this affect Westerners?
No matter, likely to throw up and not have a vision because when he blows he has condiments his breath. However, matters much less if the clients have eaten or not stuck rigorously to the diet. The important thing is that the shaman diets.
Note: There is much discrepancy between shamans concerning the question of vomiting. Some say it is necessary for the body to get rid of what ever is necessary and that if patients can not unless they get sick. (Ayahusaca is often referred to as the purge.) Others say that if you throw up do not have a view as good and in no way a shaman vomit.
Why and how did you become a shaman?
Never thought about being a shaman. I took Ayahuasca from 14 years just to clean the stomach. Later, my father said I heard him sing, is going to be a shaman. I do not want said. Later, when I was 20 my father died of witchcraft so, I wanted to learn in order to take revenge. During my apprenticeship I had a change of heart and understood that God knew best in such situations.
Why brujo want to kill your father?
Because he was a healer who had healed someone who had been harmed by the brujo. This is because healers undo the work of witches and get angry with us. This is the famous spiritual battle between witches. The priest will send the bad magic back to where it comes from the sorcerers and obtain dirty his own medicine back. So there is a struggle between good and evil.
Howard tells the story of his battle with one of Javier attendants three weeks earlier.
(Javier laughs a lot and explains.) Well, because it was not really a shaman, who functions as a guide, he drinks liquor. Then, when taking ayahuasca and singing is not pure icaros and their doctors to ignore it. The spirits start bothering (annoying) people involved in the session. That's what happened to Howard. When I take ayahuasca I talk to doctors who give visions, I ask that priest, who rule over them because the diet. If not, make you crazy or annoy you.
So if the shaman can not control himself, then the spirits are out of control?
If you can not dominate the spirits of the jungle you are nobody, instead of curing to flee or ignore you.
Therefore the control of the spirits is fundamental?
Spirits are like angels. God withstood 40 days hunger and temptation by the devil and was resurrected. That's what we have to do well.
This is Christianity, but your (Javier) people were practicing long before the missionaries. Is it possible to separate the Christian from the wisdom of the jungle?
No, no, they work together. But it has nothing to do with going to a church. You learn all this in the desert. The spirits are not angels of each plant that will add their clients heal. This is the will of Christ.
Where does the power of the shaman and the spirits final start?
The shaman receives the power of the jungle that has no power of their own that do not get from the forest.
When I look into day I see more than a normal young man, when you wear the clothes and move into the ayahuasca space that are different a different presence, you get bigger …
(Javier laughs!) That the drug is not on the body, the body can wear clothes for example, and you see day. But at night is not my body, my soul is receiving medication that transforms me through the vision. I have to be so pure as to be a receptacle spirit of medicine. It is also essential for a shaman to be happy, the shaman laughs at everything, because a happy heart is what heals. He can not have a long face or fight with his wife and children.
It began with a desire for revenge, which became a shaman?
My grandfather saw that my heart was bitter and he said he was not going to get anywhere. My heart was still hard and wanted to kill! Bit by bit through taking the plants from which I intended of the use of revenge, the spirits told me I was wrong to kill and softened my heart.
About the Author
Howard G. Charing, is an accomplished international workshop leader on shamanism. He has worked some of the most respected and extraordinary shamans & healers in the Andes, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Philippines. He organises specialist retreats to the Amazon Rainforest He is the author of the best selling book, Plant Spirit Shamanism (Destiny Books USA), and has published numerous articles about plant medicines. Website http://www.shamanism.co.uk
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