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el mundo magico

Amazonian Shamanism in 

Onanyan Shobo

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

Photo Credit: Heberto Hiran Garcia Ramirez

Don Mariano

Don Mariano is a beautiful Shipibo shaman native of the Tahuanì area (in the province of Atalaya, Ucayali department of Peru).  He dieted - since the early age of fifteen - with 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 teachers were Don Eliseo Capitan, a Shipibo maestro palero ayahuasquero and espiritista, and Don Rosalino Rengifo, a Shipibo shaman, with a great knowledge of Ayahuasca.

Don Mariano sings his captivating icaros (shamanic power songs taught by the plant spirits) exclusively in the Shipibo-Conibo 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 are a blessing for us all. Don Mariano - when not cultivating his chacra (agricultural land allotment) or doing his diets with the plants - is in Onanyan Shobo.

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New Icaros CD coming soon!!  Pre-book your copy now!!

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.  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. We have prepared - after several months of painstaking work - a new compilation of icaros recorded live during Ayahuasca rituals and featuring those of Shipibo master shamans Don Adriano, Don Mariano and Don Alfredo.

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