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The
bark of stems and trunk from the ayahuasca
vine, and leaves from the chacruna
tree or the oco yagé
(chagraponga) vine are the fundamental ingredients of the Ayahuasca
medicine in the Peruvian Amazon.
We'll
gain advanced insight in the role and uses of each plant component, including
medicinal and magical admixture plants, as we assist our teachers and healers
in the preparation of this powerful holistic rainforest medicine.
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We
will have the opportunity to share this ancient sacrament in three or more
nocturnal shamanic healing
ceremonies called "la limpieza"(the cleansing) or "la purga"
(the purge). The Ayahuasca medicine is prepared and drank by curanderos
to "see" the the true causes of illness and receive the guidance and healing
power of their ever-present spirit helpers.
Participants
in the ceremonies may or may not wish to drink Ayahuasca with the shamans.
Ayahuasca cleansing is typically a rigorous process involving temporary
discomforts including vomiting and diarrhea. These purges are beneficial
and typically begin to subside in the second or third ceremony as the body,
mind and spirit are cleansed and prepared for movement to spiritually transcendental,
visionary levels and sometimes classical shamanic ecstacy.
Work
with Ayahuasca requires passage through multiple levels of physical, mental
and spiritual experience to realize the lasting positive benefits. The
experience is different each time the initiate drinks as one realizes increasing
harmony and positive relationship with the medicine. This is why
serious work with Ayahuasca requires at least three drinks to initiate
beneficial long-term processes continuing long after one's return home.
This
process normally involves personal catharsis on one or more levels, depending
on personal issues and current physical, mental, and spiritual state of
being. Physical trauma, mental apprehension, emotional fear, and unpleasant
visions are often experienced, especially at the beginning of the process.
These challenges are integral to the process but greatly mitigated by the
positive and supportive physical and human environment surrounding the
SpiritQuest
experience. As one progresses, beautiful spiritual visions and
deep holistic cleansing of body, mind, and spirit are often experienced
with positive lasting benefits.
The
SpiritQuest
experience is not an initiation to become a shaman but rather an opportunity
for individuals to find new pathways for continuing personal spiritual
growth and healing in their personal lives. The path of Amazonian
shamanism is a long and rigorous one requiring years of apprenticeship,
discipline, dieting, study, and journeying to master.
Dieting
and mental/spiritual preparation are required for safety and fullest benefit.
Health
and medication restrictions apply. Women in the flow of menstrual
cycle are not permitted by the shamans to drink Ayahuasca in the ceremonies
but they can attend. This is an ancient and long-established tradition
of ayahuasca healing relating to safety for women and cannot be waived.
Please plan accordingly.
licensed
in Perú
