Ceremony

THE HEALING CEREMONIES

After singing the opening five or six icaros, Don Juan then sings several more chosen according to that specific evening. His singing is so beautiful and always helps to soothe any anxiety.

Don Juan sings icaros throughout the ceremony, often singing up to thirty in each ceremony. Most of the icaros are sung in spanish, but some of them are sung in Aymara or other indigenous dialect. Often times the icaros are a mixture of dialects. Don Juan says that the words are not important, however, and that only the vibration of the tones and their sequence in the melody are what is important.

Eventually, Juan begins to discuss with each participant the nature of their afflictions. He prescribes changes in their diet or lifestyle that may help and often suggests herbal remedies and tells how to prepare them. He may ask that a participant visit him the following day for further treatment as well.

Juan then has each person sit in front of him for a short time to recieve personal treatment. Sometimes, people have pain bothering them right at that moment and Don Juan may address that, using his hands to pull negative energy from a part of the body and blowing it away from his hands with a quick breath. The breath and the hands, along with mapachos and the chakapa, are the only tools Don Juan uses to heal.

Mapachos are cigarettes used during ceremonies to soplay a patient with smoke. This process uses the breath, strengthened with tobacco smoke, to cleanse the spirit of the patient. It is also used to cleanse a space or a room, the brew, or one's own self.

A chakapa is a tool made from binding dried leaves from a plant of the same name. It resembles a small broom, and simulates the cleansing experience with physical sensation. Don Juan taps the body of each participant lightly with the chakapa, dusting off their spiritual bodies, removing anything that may have clung to them along the way. The chakapa is also used to enhance the rhythm and dynamics of the icaros.

Don Juan sings an icaro for each patient. Often times, the name of the patient is incorporated into the icaro as well as phrases specific to the patient's situation or afflictions. He is asking spirits for assistance.

Each plant in the forest has a spirit. The spirit of Ayahuasca is believed to be the king of all plant spirits. The curandero communicates with the spirits of the forest plants to find out how to properly treat diseases and to ask for assistance in healing his patients. He also communicates with the spirits of his ancestors, with animals, with the earth herself, and with beings from other worlds. He is a humble man and expresses his gratitude.

The ceremony ends with an icaro by Juan to close the healing circle. The lights are turned on and a brief discussion takes place before people leave to go home or go to sleep there at Juan's house.

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Contact Carlos at AYAHUAYRA to request more information
carlos@ayahuayra.org