Ayahuasca healing retreats with Shipibo shamans in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru

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el mundo magico

Amazonian Shamanism in

Onanyan Shobo

Shipibo shaman Don Mariano ("Shawan Sani"), in the Amazon jungle surroundings of Onanyan Shobo

Don Mariano is an exquisite 70 years old shaman from the Shipibo ethnic group of the Amazon (native of the Tahuanì area, in the province of Atalaya, Ucayali department), whom we treasure and love for his humbleness, inner beauty, moving icaros, silent knowledge and integrity. He dieted - since the early age of fifteen - many different types of palos maestros (teacher trees) - like Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus ebenifolia), Chiricsanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora), Shihuahuaco (Dipterys sp.), Timareo, Coresa, and Renaquilla (Clusia rosea) - along with plantas maestras (teacher plants), like Coca (Erythroxylum coca), Toe' (Brugmansia suavolensis), Piñon Colorado (Jatropha gossypifolia), Mucura (Petiveria alliacea), Piripiri (Cyperaceous sp.), Motelillo (Fittonia verschaffeltii), Ajos Sacha (Mansoa alliacea), and sogas (vines) - including Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis sp.) and Sacha Motelo. He even dieted with hongos de vaca (magic mushrooms !!), and the perfumes Agua de Florida and Camalonga. His teacher was Don Eliseo Capitan, a Shipibo maestro palero ayahuasquero and espiritista.

Don Mariano sings his captivating icaros (shamanic power songs taught by the plant spirits) exclusively in the Shipibo idiom of his people. Those who did have the privilege of listening to the magical songs of Don Mariano during an ayahuasca ceremony in Onanyan Shobo, may remember and still feel the sheer beauty, sweetness and relentless power of his melodies. The true spirit of Don Mariano could be appreciated at his best in altered states of consciousness, during the ayahuasca rituals, when his voice changed, and at times turned into a mysterious vocal duo, projecting the archetypal image and spirit of the shaman, in a timeless, beautiful, and moving fashion. Fruit of relentless long diets with plant teachers, his Spirit-gifted icaros were a blessing for us all. Don Mariano has now retired and Don Alberto Vasquez, El Puma Shipibo, has taken his place in Onanyan Shobo.

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There are many practical uses for which the shaman may employ his icaros, the most diffuse ones being the invocation of the spirits of the plants to aid in a healing to take place, or else, to grant protection. The icaros are sang especially - but not exclusively - during ayahuasca ceremonies, and are also much used by Amazonian shamans to empower a remedy or a preparation.

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The Shipibos are reputed by most anthropological sources to be amid the best shamans of the Peruvian Amazon basin, and their icaros are renowned for being powerful, beautiful, subtle and inducing strong visions. Listen in Real Player at the splendid icaros of Don Leoncio Garcia Sampaya - a former main maestro in Onanyan Shobo - clicking the two links (track 03 and 09) at the bottom of the page http://www.releasethereality.com/elmundomagico.html. We hope to soon present a new compilation of icaros featuring also those of Don Mariano and Don Alfredo.

Back to: Ayahuasca healing in Onanyan Shobo

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