Shamanic Herbal, Clay and Flowering Baths
Like in traditional tribal communities, in modern days society the function of the shaman still remains that of a medium of equilibrium in the world.
Those attending the Ayahuasca healing retreat, and/or doing the shamanic plant diet in Ashi Meraya, will be offered special cleansing and luck-changing ritual baths all prepared by the shamans, and known respectively as baño de limpieza, baño de barro and baño de florecimiento.
The Herbal Bath (Baño de Limpieza)
Shipibo shamans Don Mariano and Don Alfredo, preparing a herbal bath (baño de limpieza)
Photo Credit: Francesco Sammarco
Baño de limpieza means literally “cleansing bath” and is a purifying herbal bath aimed at the dissipation of negative energies/thoughts that may have penetrated the auric field and/or the body of a person, creating a situation of unhealthy emotional imbalance.
The Clay Bath (Baño de Barro)
Photo Credit: Ignazia Posadinu
The baño de barro is is done after the baño de limpieza, with pure refined rainforest clay!
The Flower Bath (Baño de Flores or Baño de Florecimiento)
Photo Credit: Francesco Sammarco
Baño de florecimiento means exactly “flourishing bath”, and has the purpose of attracting good-luck, wealth and prosperity into one’s life.
The baños de limpieza are always done first, and the baños de florecimiento always come after and are done towards the end of the retreat (exception made for dieteros, i.e. those doing the plant diet, who may receive their flower baths more often). Each week, there will be up to two cleansing herbal baths, one clay bath, and two flower baths that pilgrims may receive as part of their treatment during the Ayahuasca retreat. The main ingredients of the shamanic flower bath are the flowers of the Albaca (Ocimum sp. – possibly Ocimum micranthum), Rosa cisa (Tagetes erecta) and Ajos sacha (Mansoa alliacea) plants. Through these ritual baths, the spirits of the plantas maestras are believed to enter more easily in contact with the person.
In a weekly Ayahuasca retreat one should expect to have two “cleansing baths” (baños de limpieza, on the second and third day), followed by a “clay bath” (baño de barro, on the fourth day) – to specifically clean the skin from toxins – and two “flower baths” (baños de florecimiento), on the fifth and sixth day, at the end. When it comes to longer periods of staying, the number of herbal baths one may have are multiplied by the corresponding number of weeks.
There is no pre-fixed number of times for doing baños de florecimiento for those doing the shamanic plant diet: the shamans will prepare each apprentice according to his/her own specific needs.
A period of 15 days of celibacy should be observed after doing a baño de florecimiento, or a baño de limpieza. Plant spirits are believed to be jealous of human sexuality! This timing may vary for diet apprentices. One should also avoid being under the rain (keeping especially the head covered/dry) for three days, after having done a flowering bath.
The shamans recommend that it is equally important not to shed off the flowers from the body, after having done a baño de florecimiento. The flowers should be left on the body for as long as possible (to retain good luck), and you should simply wait for them to fell down, with the natural movements of your body.
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