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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
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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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