|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Plantas
Maestras'
of the
Canopy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colita
de gabilan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Extractions
prepared from 'Plantas Maestras' are taken by a shaman's apprentice while
following a diet. Apprentices under Shuña abstain from sugar, fruits,
salt and cooking oil. The dwelling in which they stay is relatively isolated
and they will be visited only by the shaman and the cook. Every so often the shaman may cover
their bodies with clay from the river's bank that dries in the sun and is
then removed. He may soak herbs and flowers in water for several hours, after
which he pours it over them and asks them to rub the pieces over their skin.
A selection of flowers is put in alcohol and the liquid is sprinkled on
a bunch of certain dried leaves that is moved rhythmically over the body
while the shaman sings. A stone of meaningful colour and form may be wetted
with this essence too, and moved over the skin in circles or used to massage
a painful area. |
|
|
|
|
|
Colita
de gabilan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Huayra
runa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Resin may be
burnt through which the apprentice will move, and to initiate or finalize
a meeting, the shaman may blow tobacco smoke on top of his head, on the
inside of his hands and along the back and front of his body. An extraction
of a particular 'planta maestra' will be taken several times throughout
a week, at a specific time of the day depending on each plant. The apprentice
will only leave the hut to be refreshed and cleansed with the cool water
of a small stream nearby, or to go for a walk with the shaman and be introduced
to other plantas maestras, plants known purely for medicinal application
or plants known for both. Most of the days and nights will be spent concentrating
on noting the experiences and observing the changes that take place along
with the ingestion of the plants under these circumstances. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Campana
ayahuasca |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Yana
ayahuasca |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The plantas maestras growing in the canopy, such
as the epiphytes on this page, are generally taken after many years of
experience with other plants because of their strenght.
Twice a week the shaman will generally lead a ceremony during which the
ayahuasca mixture is taken and experienced by all who are invited to do
so. During these ceremonies the shaman is focussed on healing those who
are not well, and the apprentice is asked to join him under his guidance
according to his/her ability to do so. See the bibliography under links
for titles of books on shaman apprentices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cielo
ayahuasca |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|