Our Shamanic School of Knowledge
Onan Yatishovo
THE PATH OF THE SHAMAN
The origin of the practice of the medicine
The origin and processes of medicine are deeply rooted in the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world. Humanity, a marvel of nature and cosmic forces, thrives through the sustenance provided by the intricate web of life and universal energies. Among these energies is the concept of TSENTSAK, a term that may refer to a life force or spiritual power within various indigenous belief systems. This energy is believed to be pivotal in maintaining the harmony and proper functioning of all bodily systems.
Thoughts, when focused and positive, are said to contribute to the well-being of the individual, reinforcing the idea that the mind and body are interconnected. This connection is central to holistic approaches to health, which consider the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of a person.
Spiritual medicine, particularly the use of Ayahuasca in traditional healing practices, underscores the importance of rituals and ceremonies as therapeutic interventions. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally used by indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin for spiritual and medicinal purposes. The ceremonies led by experienced shamans at the Flower of Life Healing Retreat Center utilize Ayahuasca within a framework of ritualistic healing, aimed at purifying the body, mind, and spirit.
During these ceremonies, natural elements are employed symbolically and practically to facilitate healing. The wind, often represented by mapacho (tobacco), is used to clear negative energies. Water, such as Florida Water (a floral-scented cologne often used in shamanic practices), is utilized for cleansing and purification. Fire and earth elements are also incorporated, with fire symbolizing transformation and earth connecting individuals to Pachamama, or Mother Earth, often through the act of making offerings.
The integration of these elements within Ayahuasca ceremonies is believed to create a space for emotional release, spiritual insight, and physical cleansing, providing participants with a holistic healing experience. Such practices highlight the diverse and culturally rich approaches to medicine and healing found around the world.
Natural Medicine
Healing rituals play a crucial role in purifying the body, mind, and spirit through the transformative power of natural elements. Consuming brews like Ayahuasca and San Pedro can induce purging, cleanse the blood, aid vital organs such as the liver, and promote the strength of bones and tissues. In conjunction with these practices, fasting and detox diets offered at our center further support the healing process.
Mastering the use of Ayahuasca and other medicinal plants is a fundamental aspect of the journey towards understanding natural medicine. Prospective students of Shamanism and Curanderismo are required to dedicate a thoughtful two-year period to their training under the tutelage of experienced master shamans, who draw wisdom from their ancestral teachings. Throughout this training, students will gain knowledge about medicinal plants, their properties, and various healing techniques.
Central to this practice is the recognition of the inner energies within individuals. In many shamanic traditions, individuals are viewed as complex beings, each embodying a great spirit that is interconnected with other spirits of diverse vibrations and frequencies. This holistic perspective underscores the interconnectedness of all aspects of being in the realm of natural medicine.
Causes and symptoms of energy imbalance vary at different stages of life.
Extreme emotions, deep-seated feelings, soul disturbances, and mental disorders can profoundly impact an individual’s happiness and overall well-being. Within the shamanic tradition, these aspects are diligently addressed to prevent further imbalance, alongside ensuring the protection and purification of the working space.
Shamanic therapy for spiritual healing involves invoking the healing spirits or “doctors.” This ancient wisdom and techniques passed down by ancestors encompass space cleansing, where spiritual light forces are summoned through sacred songs known as icaros or prayers. The ultimate goal is to harness clean and pure energy, facilitating the body’s reunion and nourishment at the highest vibrational frequency.
The Pachamama
The Pachamama is an embodiment of the Earth, akin to a nurturing mother who ceaselessly cares for her children. Yet, we have strayed from her nurturing embrace. It is imperative that we seek a heartfelt reunion with our Mother Earth, for without her we are like orphans adrift. Embracing Pachamama in our hearts is the path to reconnection.
Ayllu encapsulates the profound bonds we, as humans, share with our forebears. It extends to the intricate web of relationships between parents and their offspring, shaping our existence. These connections are not merely physical but also spiritual, linking us to the unseen realm of our ancestors.
Shamans play a pivotal role in maintaining these sacred connections. They understand the significance of spiritual offerings and rituals, harnessing the potent energies of plants like Ayahuasca and San Pedro. These practices are more than ceremonial; they are a form of wisdom transmission. The shamans mentor us in discerning between spirits that may cause harm and those that bring healing.
Through the profound insights gained from Ayahuasca and San Pedro, we learn to navigate life beyond the shadows of trauma, fear, and anger. These power plants guide us toward a recognition of our inner divinity and encourage us to live harmoniously with universal truths.
Ayahuasca, revered as an ancient and sacred medicine, imparts lessons on mutual support and shared responsibility in our interactions with others. This sacred plant guides us to transform our emotions into mindful awareness, attuning us to the messages of Pachamama during our collective journey of healing.
Indeed, all medicinal plants are acknowledged as sentient entities, each capable of communicating vital information to our cells, facilitating a profound personal metamorphosis.
This revised text aims to communicate the spiritual concepts more effectively, with a focus on the interconnectedness of life, ancestral wisdom, and the transformative power of shamanic practices and medicinal plants.
Offerings to Pachamama
The act of presenting offerings to Pachamama is a profound gesture of reciprocity, symbolizing the harmonious balance with cosmic guardians. Within the shamanic tradition, the healing modalities of silence, sound, and color are embraced to foster a deeper connection.
I seek unity with the fundamental elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—to cultivate my light body, enhancing my understanding and vision. Human existence is intrinsically woven into the fabric of time and space, governed by universal principles.
The mystical number 333, representing time, along with the four elemental forces—air, water, fire, and earth—converge in a symphony of perfect harmony.
The sacred medicinal plants, such as Ayahuasca, are revered as living entities, offspring of Pachamama herself. They serve as our guides, teaching us the arts of healing, both for ourselves and others. These plants are present at the milestones of life—birth, union, and departure—and can address imbalances, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
The spirits of these plants are powerful agents of transformation, altering energetic frequencies and dispelling negative vibrations. This shift fosters an ascension in consciousness, opening us to new realms of awareness and understanding.
The Icaros
When we intone the icaros, as imparted by our esteemed maestros, we envelop ourselves in a resonant cocoon that transcends the confines of the conscious mind, granting us passage into the boundless cosmic tapestry of creation. Through these sacred chants, we attune our energy centers, dispelling heavy energies and pent-up emotions, thus fostering a deliberate reawakening of our connection to the Sonqo (heart chakra) and the vast universe.
The Transformative Smoke (Mapacho Tobacco)
Engagement with the smoke is a revered Ancestral Tradition shared among shamanic cultures worldwide. It serves to shift our energy frequency and elevate our consciousness, facilitating a bridge to our spiritual realm. This smoke is more than a mere vapor; it purifies, heals, safeguards, and brings our Spirit into alignment.
In the shamanic view, all is imbued with life, and a perfect alignment becomes apparent when one attains an understanding of the spiritual essence inherent in the plant kingdom.
Why is it important to learn about medicinal plants in this Shamanism and Curanderismo course?
The interaction of medicinal plants such on the body, as Ayahuasca, San Pedro and other master plants from the Amazon jungle that are favorably used in traditional medicine treatments, has caused impact and recovery at the cellular level of the patient. The medicines contain the necessary curative properties and potential chemical components that also apply to conventional modern medicine.
The benefits that Ayahuasca medicine brings us are innumerable and its use in shamanism practices is transcendental, healing and valuable for the apprentice student of shamanism.
The Ayahuasca vine has been used since ancient times for its different properties: antioxidants (anti-aging), anticancer, anti-inflammatory and, even, its ability to delay apoptosis or programmed cell death, as well as other benefits for the human body and mind.
Ayahuasca as a natural medicine gives us the possibility of taking advantage of the resources to take care of our physical, mental and spiritual health.
It is a good option to treat or prevent certain diseases. According to the World Health Organization, natural or alternative medicine is considered traditional medicine.
The knowledge that one has of the variety of medicinal plants, and Ayahuasca above all, is essential since it has healing properties and can alleviate some ailments.
Some medicines are made with parts of the plants, such as the roots, bark, flowers or fruits, rather than just the leaves of the plant.
The focus is always on well-being lifestyle improvement.
Each student of the Shamanism and Curanderism Course may have the ability to control linear time or non-time, prophesy, interpret dreams or visions as well as use astral projection and travel to the upper and lower or multidimensional worlds.
In the traditions of Shamanism these phenomena have existed throughout the world since prehistoric times.
Learning Shamanism and Curanderismo in the Amazonian Peruvian jungle
Shamanism and Curanderismo are spiritual practices that involves connecting with the natural world, spirits , and the unseen realms for healing, guidance and transformation.
Medicinal plants have long been used in shamanic traditions to support and enhance the practitioner’s skills and experiences.
There are several reasons why participants may prefer to come to the Amazonian Peruvian jungle to learn about shamanism through courses, workshops, or training.
. Altered states of consciousness: Many medicinal plants have psychoactive properties that can induce altered states of consciousness. These altered states are often sought after by shamans as they facilitate communication with spirits, ancestors, and other non-physical beings. Plants such as Ayahuasca, San Pedro or Psilocybin mushrooms are known for their ability to induce profound visionary experiences that can enhance shamanic journeys.
. Spiritual protection and purification: Medicinal plants are often used in shamanic practices for spiritual protection and purification. Certain plants, such as sage, palo santo, or cedar, are burned as incense or used in smudging rituals to cleanse the energy field and create a sacred space. These purification practices can help shamans clear any negative energies or influences that may hinder their connection to the spirit world.
. Healing and energy work: Medicinal plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine for their healing properties. Shamans often work with medicinal plants to facilitate physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Plants like chamomile, rue, lavender, or rosasisa, may be used to support the body’s healing processes or to restore balance and harmony to the energy system.
. Enhancing intuition and perception: Some medicinal plants are believed to enhance intuition and expand perception. For example, Noya Rao is considered a powerful plant ally for shamans, as it is believed to enhance dream work, lucid dreaming, and intuition. By working with these plants, shamans can develop their psychic abilities, intuition, and gain deeper insights into the spiritual realms.
. Grounding and centering: Shamanic work often involves journeying into different realms or altered states of consciousness. Medicinal plants can help shamans stay grounded and centered during these experiences. Plants like tobacco is commonly used to anchor the shaman’s energy, provide stability, and ensure a safe return from the spirit world.
. Rich Shamanic Traditions: The Amazonian Peruvian jungle is known for its rich indigenous cultures and deep-rooted shamanic traditions. It is considered one of the best places to learn authentic shamanism directly from experienced practitioners who have inherited the knowledge and techniques from their ancestors.
. Connection to Nature: The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, teeming with a vast array of plant and animal life. Many people are drawn to the jungle to connect with nature in a profound way and believe that the pristine natural environment enhances their shamanic experiences and learning.
. Medicinal Plants: The Amazon rainforest is home to numerous medicinal plants that have been used by indigenous shamans for centuries. Learning shamanism in the jungle provides an opportunity to explore the healing properties and spiritual aspects of these plants, such as ayahuasca,San Pedro which is commonly used in shamanic rituals.
. Cultural Immersion: Immersing oneself in the indigenous cultures of the Amazonian Peruvian jungle allows for a deeper understanding and appreciation of shamanism. By living among the local communities and participating in their rituals and ceremonies, students can gain firsthand experience and insights into the shamanic way of life.
. Authentic Learning Experience: The Amazonian jungle provides an authentic and immersive environment for learning shamanism. Being in the natural habitat of the shamans and experiencing their practices firsthand can provide a more profound and transformative educational experience than learning about shamanism in a classroom or urban setting.
. Personal Transformation: Many individuals seek out shamanism to explore personal growth, self-discovery, and spiritual development. The Amazonian jungle, with its ancient wisdom and profound energies, offers a conducive setting for such transformational journeys.
It’s important to note that if you are considering participating in a shamanism course or workshop in the Amazonian Peruvian jungle, it is crucial to approach it with respect, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to learn from and honor the indigenous traditions and practices.