Master shaman Heberto (Shipibo name Coshi Niwe) belongs to the Shipibo-Conibo ethnic group of the Peruvian Amazon and descends from a lineage of indigenous Shipibo Merayas (the highest level shamans for the Shipibo people) and Onanya (shamans). A relative of Don Mariano, Don Alfredo and Dona Ercilia, he is the grandson of both Don Leoncio and Don Guillermo Ramirez, one of the last Merayas belonging to the Shipibo culture.
Maestro Heberto (Coshi Niwe) performing the Merayas’ Smoke Medicine Ritual
Photo Courtesy: Isabel Grau
He is native of the community of Maputae (also known as Quebrada con Greda), a place where many Merayas and Onanya gathered to conduct their shamanic rituals and ceremonies. All throughout his childhood Heberto was constantly and directly exposed to the shamanic teachings of his grandpa (Guillermo) and grandma (Lusmilla), who passed on to him their knowledge. Thanks to them he had also the privilege of receiving the Arkanas (spells of protection) and shamanic energies of two elderly Merayas: Don Lucho (Guillermo’s brother) and Bawan Sani (Guillermo’s cousin), in the last stages of their earthly life. Years later, Heberto began his shamanic diets under the guidance of his grandparents and other shamans (from the Shipibo as well as from the Ashaninka and Cacataibo ethnic groups), who transmitted him their shamanic powers.
Shaman of the Wind: The Initiation
It all started very early though, with a storm and the Gods of the Winds stealing his soul, when Heberto was only a two year old infant. One day, whilst his mother, Ines Ramirez, was taking the washing in, a very strong storm arrived suddenly. Heberto ran out crying into the yard, where at that very moment something strange happened: the Gods of the Winds took away his soul.
The Shipibo believe that babies and children must not be left outdoors or be exposed nakedly when strong winds blow. It is said that when storms arrive they bring with them the Gods of the Winds (los dioses de los vientos), who would steal and carry away the souls of defenseless babies or children, should they find them in their path.
When this happens, the soul-less baby or child is destined to die after a short time. Ines brought her child (who had become very weak and emaciated due to constant vomiting and diarrhea) to her curandero uncle, Incan Nima. After having tested the pulse of the baby he declared that he could not save Heberto’s life as he had already lost his soul. Incan Nima, however, recommended bringing the baby to the Meraya Don Lucho, to see if he could help. Ines, in desperation and as last resort, took Heberto to be seen by the Meraya. After making an initial diagnostic assessment he conducted a special ceremony in the afternoon, where he drank his tobacco potion and sat behind a large mosquito net, where entered into a trance. Upon completing the ritual, he related the following to Heberto’s mother:
“The cities of the spirits are similar to the cities of our world: there you have huge houses, buildings, military and civil personnel, amongst other things. In that spirit world dwell ‘storm-men’, ‘lightning-men’ and ‘thunder-men’. I went to the city of the wind gods. I went up and entered the highest storey of the tallest building there, and met some very strange men with large ears and snake-like hair. They were the gods of the winds, seated around in circle. One of them held in his arms your son and was giving him something to drink.”
I then asked:
‘Why did you take my nephew? I came to rescue him, give him back to me!’
And they replied:
‘He will be returned to you but you need to know that we have already given him our magical drink so he may be like one of us. Even if you take him back with you, he will not be any longer a normal baby. From the moment that he drank our magical drink he received our powers and if you will comply with the indications that we will give you, he will be like one of us’ ( a god-like creature or spirit). You’ll need to hide him for three months, so that no one – except you – will see him. Bathe him only with the Niwe Rao and Yoman Rao plants. And give him only vegetables and fruit as food. This will be the pact between you and us. This way he will always be in touch with us!’
The secret held by Don Guillermo, that of being a Meraya, was kept until his last day on earth. He was previously known as a Shipibo writer (specialized in Shipibo culture, legends, myths and shamanism) and a storyteller. It was only after his death, with the discovery of his diary where he had noted all his life achievements as a Meraya, that the different shamanic diets that he did with many different shamans (especially with the Merayas) came to light. Why this secret was kept for all his life remains until now a mystery for both the Shipibo family he belonged to and the Shipibo community in general.
