The Ayahuasca

The tradition of the use of ayahuasca and other master plants in the Amazon originated more than five thousand years ago as part of a magical-religious system, from which Andean cultures undoubtedly nurtured. The use of ayahuasca was, in fact, known to the Inka state elites. Ayahuasca is actually a mixture of several sacred plants: the first plant is the ayahuasca (a vine or liana of the family of the mapighiaceas) and the second plant, known as chacuruna (Psychotrya viridis) is what strengthens the ayahuasca´s visionary journey.

Ayahuasca plants before being transplanted in the jungle

The Shaman

The shaman doctor of the Amazonian tradition adopts the role of a guide or teacher in the world of essences or spirits of men, animals and plants. Unlike the Andean shaman doctor, his symbolic space is the entire inner world of the individual, as well as the collective unconscious.

The shaman, upon entering a trance or ecstasy, is charged with cosmic or quantum energy and from this position he enlists the aid of supernatural forces. He becomes a medicine man and expresses these powers through specific songs, called the icaros. The icaros, which tones reach very high vibrations are to be perceived by the spirits he wants to summon, for example the great otorongo (jaguar) or the great yacumama (anaconda) or the sacred condor; either from the same mother ayahuasca, from toé, from coca or mother Yarina. He also calls upon the spirit of certain mineral elements, such as iron (steel), gold, silver or other elements such as water, air, fire or wind, all depending on what the Master believes is necessary for the cure of the patient.