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Francisco Montes Shuña:

The Visionary Art of a South American Shaman

 

 

Francisco Montes Shuña, The origins of Ayahuasca and Chacruna

 

Natural pigments on bark

During a vision induced by the ingestion of the ayahuasca brew, don Francisco Montes saw the origins of the ayahuasca vine and the chacruna plant: the ayahuasca and the chacruna plants were seen growing out of the dead body of an Inca shaman,  named Aya. The quechua name of "ayahuasca" held thus - according to this vision - the meaning of "vine ( =huasca) of  Aya". The word "aya" in quechua translates also as "dead", "dead person" or "soul". Pachamama (the mother spirit of the earth) is seen here as an old woman behind the dead body of the shaman, whilst Sachamama [the spirit mother of the jungle] is the boa that appears in the lower part of the same picture, on the right hand corner. Amazingly, the same vision was confirmed - independently - by don Ruperto, during the same ceremony.

Francisco Montes Shuña, Spiritual Purification 

Natural pigments on bark

This painting symbolizes the spiritual purification achieved through the use of the Canelilla and Huambisa Chacruna plants, both used in Sachamama as admixture to the ayahuasca brew and believed to have the property of cleansing spiritually the body.

Francisco Montes Shuña on top of being an impeccable vegetalista  (a perfumero ayahuasquero, as he defines himself) with over 40 years of experience in working with plant teachers - is a remarkable and well acclaimed visionary artist, whose work - along with that of his cousin and spiritual brother, don Pablo Cesar Amaringo - continues to be exhibited around the world, from Europe, to the US, to Japan.

Integral part of the programme offered in Sachamama is the chance to experience directly with don Francisco the secrets of making paintings with natural fibres and dyes, obtained from jungle plants, through workshops and informal classes. His art is entirely inspired by the visions he received through 'learning' the plants themselves. People dieting with the plants in Sachamama are often invited by don Francisco to express their visions through paintings.

 

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