delsymfan
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
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So to round out my Iquitos Peruvian Amazon festivities, I decided to seek out a shaman for an ayahuasca night. I found one through the people I was staying with.
Normally they have many people but they informed me I would be their only guest, something they hadn't done in a long time.
I ate nothing but a small lunch that day, and by the time I went to meet the two shamans I was dying of hunger.
Firstly there were two people, because one was studying to become an independent shaman. His name was Alfredo. A man in his late 50's, stocky, and interesting. Spoke English, Spanish, and bits of Aymara which is a local tongue. My spanish is fluent so we mainly spoke in it the whole time.
And the master shaman, Froylan. A most interesting person. I expected shamans to be a bit more, shamanish. Rather, I met him on his property half an hour outside the city of Iquitos, laying in a hammock, in jeans and a windbreaker. An aged man, at least 70. He spoke few words, and what he did speak was mumbled so quietly to Alfredo I barely understood him.
He also had a seemingly endless supply of cigarettes. He rolled his own it was clear. And he had a new one every 15 minutes. And I never once saw where they came from. You just suddenly saw his lighter flick and there it was.
We began by taking a short walk to the back of his property. It was quiet there. We arrived to a small circular house constructed from the nature nearby. Inside were chairs, hammocks, and mattresses. I was seated and told to mentally prepare myself.
Out was pulled a plastic bottle, nearly filled with a brilliant ruby red liquid. And it was extremely gaseous. I was offered a smell before I tasted it. It smelled tart, very strong, but not gross.
A small serving cup was brought out and poured about 3/4ths of the way was my dose. I was supposed to concentrate my desires on it, and what I wanted to see. And then, I would drink it, first saying "salud hermanos" which is kinda like cheers brothers.
I downed it in two large sips, it really wasnt that bad tasting. It was just very sour and tart and bitter.
The others drank their doses. Just the 3 of us. It was quiet. At this point Froylan blew out the candle lighting the area and we were enveloped in silent darkness.
I sat back, waiting for things to begin. Within 10 minutes I felt a tingle. By 20 my vision started to blur and warp ever so slightly. I started to feel the purge creeping up on me. I estimate 30 minutes had passed when I actually did throw up. I threw up just twice on the night, and it was a pleasant feeling. As though I had removed something from my body that shouldnt have been there.
I continued waiting for more effects. Within an hour I had extremely faint CEVs. They picked up for about 20 minutes, but were still very light. No more than some dancing lights and colors.
Alfredo and Froylan began to sing for positive spirits and energy. The songs surprisingly were christian in nature. They had rattles made from bound palm leaves, and shook them while whistling and singing. The sound was enjoyable, and soothing. At times they spoke in general and in one case they put my name in a specific song and requested that my body be cleansed and spirit restored.
At this point though, perhaps 2 hours had passed. My body felt cleansed internally but I was feeling tired. There was simply no increase in effect. And it wasnt keeping me awake. And i was hungry, and being eaten by mosquitos. So I found my mood diminishing somewhat.
After about another hour, Alfredo proposed that perhaps I threw up the first dose too quickly. He offered me a second. I passed, as it was 3 AM. At that they decided to conclude the ceremony with a personal spirit cleansing from the shaman.
Froylan had me sit directly in front of him, no more than a few inches away. He lit another cigarette and puffed smoke onto my body. He had me place my hands in prayer form and, pressing his lips to the tips, blew smoke in between them. He then shook his palm leaves on my body, tapping and patting me head to toe. It was quite relaxing, almost therapeutic. He then proceeded to grab some mint liquor they make, and he sprayed it out of his mouth into my hair, back, chest, hands, and face. It was refreshing in fact.
After this they thanked me for their time, and I went to rest in a hammock. I slept only a little bit, and then proceeded to wake up to go back to my room in the city.
Overall i must say the ceremony was very pleasant and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately I really would have liked a stronger trip. Perhaps i threw up too early. I never exceeded a + status and that was a bit disappointing considering I paid $50 for this experience as well. However perhaps another time. Also regrettably I dont really have much more time in Iquitos. I leave monday. So I think I may attempt to buy some to take back. I also have a bunch of san pedro purchased from the market that will give me something to do in Lima.
Spanish version also available upon request
Normally they have many people but they informed me I would be their only guest, something they hadn't done in a long time.
I ate nothing but a small lunch that day, and by the time I went to meet the two shamans I was dying of hunger.
Firstly there were two people, because one was studying to become an independent shaman. His name was Alfredo. A man in his late 50's, stocky, and interesting. Spoke English, Spanish, and bits of Aymara which is a local tongue. My spanish is fluent so we mainly spoke in it the whole time.
And the master shaman, Froylan. A most interesting person. I expected shamans to be a bit more, shamanish. Rather, I met him on his property half an hour outside the city of Iquitos, laying in a hammock, in jeans and a windbreaker. An aged man, at least 70. He spoke few words, and what he did speak was mumbled so quietly to Alfredo I barely understood him.
He also had a seemingly endless supply of cigarettes. He rolled his own it was clear. And he had a new one every 15 minutes. And I never once saw where they came from. You just suddenly saw his lighter flick and there it was.
We began by taking a short walk to the back of his property. It was quiet there. We arrived to a small circular house constructed from the nature nearby. Inside were chairs, hammocks, and mattresses. I was seated and told to mentally prepare myself.
Out was pulled a plastic bottle, nearly filled with a brilliant ruby red liquid. And it was extremely gaseous. I was offered a smell before I tasted it. It smelled tart, very strong, but not gross.
A small serving cup was brought out and poured about 3/4ths of the way was my dose. I was supposed to concentrate my desires on it, and what I wanted to see. And then, I would drink it, first saying "salud hermanos" which is kinda like cheers brothers.
I downed it in two large sips, it really wasnt that bad tasting. It was just very sour and tart and bitter.
The others drank their doses. Just the 3 of us. It was quiet. At this point Froylan blew out the candle lighting the area and we were enveloped in silent darkness.
I sat back, waiting for things to begin. Within 10 minutes I felt a tingle. By 20 my vision started to blur and warp ever so slightly. I started to feel the purge creeping up on me. I estimate 30 minutes had passed when I actually did throw up. I threw up just twice on the night, and it was a pleasant feeling. As though I had removed something from my body that shouldnt have been there.
I continued waiting for more effects. Within an hour I had extremely faint CEVs. They picked up for about 20 minutes, but were still very light. No more than some dancing lights and colors.
Alfredo and Froylan began to sing for positive spirits and energy. The songs surprisingly were christian in nature. They had rattles made from bound palm leaves, and shook them while whistling and singing. The sound was enjoyable, and soothing. At times they spoke in general and in one case they put my name in a specific song and requested that my body be cleansed and spirit restored.
At this point though, perhaps 2 hours had passed. My body felt cleansed internally but I was feeling tired. There was simply no increase in effect. And it wasnt keeping me awake. And i was hungry, and being eaten by mosquitos. So I found my mood diminishing somewhat.
After about another hour, Alfredo proposed that perhaps I threw up the first dose too quickly. He offered me a second. I passed, as it was 3 AM. At that they decided to conclude the ceremony with a personal spirit cleansing from the shaman.
Froylan had me sit directly in front of him, no more than a few inches away. He lit another cigarette and puffed smoke onto my body. He had me place my hands in prayer form and, pressing his lips to the tips, blew smoke in between them. He then shook his palm leaves on my body, tapping and patting me head to toe. It was quite relaxing, almost therapeutic. He then proceeded to grab some mint liquor they make, and he sprayed it out of his mouth into my hair, back, chest, hands, and face. It was refreshing in fact.
After this they thanked me for their time, and I went to rest in a hammock. I slept only a little bit, and then proceeded to wake up to go back to my room in the city.
Overall i must say the ceremony was very pleasant and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately I really would have liked a stronger trip. Perhaps i threw up too early. I never exceeded a + status and that was a bit disappointing considering I paid $50 for this experience as well. However perhaps another time. Also regrettably I dont really have much more time in Iquitos. I leave monday. So I think I may attempt to buy some to take back. I also have a bunch of san pedro purchased from the market that will give me something to do in Lima.
Spanish version also available upon request
