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Iquitos is getting quite a
reputation as a drug-tourism destination, due to the misunderstanding of
and misinformation about ayahuasca and shamanism. A shaman is a healer who
uses natural as well as spiritual resources. Ayahuasca is a tool he uses,
among other things, to enter the spiritual world.
The Ayahuasca Ritual, Amazon Basin,
Peru
To many people, the Amazon
Basin of Northern Peru is a fascinating place because of its biodiversity.
And they are right; the birthplace of the Amazon, the mightiest river on
Earth, is still the most biodiverse place on the planet.
But this region is more than
just a collection of countless plant and animal species. It is also the
homeland of 23 native tribes that have lived here for over a thousand
years. Each one has its own language, culture, customs, myths and legends.
Shamans, or medicine men, have
inherited the knowledge of dozens of generations. They know everything
about the natural, but also about the mystical and spiritual side of the
jungle. They know every plant, every animal, but they also know the power
that the forest holds. The sheer amount of different medicinal plants is
simply astonishing, let alone their applications, whether in combination
with other plants or not.
One of the better known
medicinal plants is ayahuasca (pron: aya-wasca), a vine that can easily be
found deep in the rainforest. Ayahuasca is treated with great respect by
the local population, because it is one of the most powerful plants in the
forest. Only the shaman is allowed to use, prepare and apply ayahuasca,
because messing with this plant can land you in a world of trouble.
Knowledge and experience are necessary!
According to the shaman,
ayahuasca is the key to the spiritual world. Those who use it, open the
gate to ‘the other side’. Ayahuasca causes incredibly clear and
detailed visions en sometimes provides answers to old questions.
Whether you believe in
spiritual visions or in hallucinations; this product is known for its
strong cleansing qualities of both body and spirit. Those who undergo an
ayahuasca ritual usually have to go through a
phase of severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Therefore a preparational period of a few days up to a week is recommended.
Those who don’t keep to a strict diet as prescribed by the shaman
during this period and furthermore smoke, drink alcohol or consume other
types of drugs should realize that they are in for a heavy session. But
many people who have taken part in an ayahuasca ceremony describe it as a
life-changing experience.
Unfortunately, ayahuasca is becoming
better known around the world as a hallucinogenic drug. Iquitos, the capital of
Loreto, the northern Peruvian province and birthplace of the Amazon, sees
increasing numbers of ayahuasca-tourism. Because of the rainforest, the
natural environment and the low prices, Iquitos was already popular with
young, hippy-like backpackers, but now more and more people come to this
region, just to use ayahuasca. Not to experience its spiritual cleansing
qualities, but just to get high. And for that you don’t need a
shaman. Or so one believes!
Go to Page 2
Read Caleb Whitaker’s blog posts about ayahuasca: God’s
Cartographers and A Love Story
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