There are people all over the world who feel called to learn the ancient healing arts of the shamans of the Amazon Rainforest. One of the oldest traditions of plant medicine has been kept intact by powerful indigenous shamans, called curanderos in Peru. Some of these of curanderos have come forward to teach the science of plant spirit medicine, known as curanderismo, to the seekers of healing traditions from other countries. They realize the importance of this knowledge spreading back to the areas of the world where it has been forgotten, for it is those places that need the healing traditions the most. The question that most people who wish to learn curanderismo ask is 'how do I find a true curandero to teach me?'
The Ayahuasca Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Iquitos, Peru that offers ayahuasca retreats for people in need of healing, but they also have a very special course called the Ayahuasca Initiation. This six week course takes place at a remote jungle camp deep within the Amazon Rainforest that requires a two hour boat ride to reach. The accommodations are very comfortable, allowing the course participants the optimal atmosphere to study the science of plant spirit medicine without being preoccupied by stinging insects or unusual bathrooms. When a student enjoys their accommodations, they have a much easier time learning and can progress further in their studies of healing traditions. The camp has running water, so each room's bathroom has a flushing toilet, sink, and shower and is fully tiled. The rooms are secure, with locking doors, and the windows are fully screened so that mosquito nets for the beds are not necessary. The ceremony space, called a maloca, is also fully screened in and has its own bathrooms as well. So while the accommodations may not exactly be traditional, they allow foreign students to achieve a level of comfort that makes the rest of the traditions to be more easily be kept true to the tradition.
The course involves taking part in plant diets with teacher plants that raise the students vibrations and thus enhance their visions in the ayahuasca ceremonies. There are 18 traditional ayahuasca ceremonies during the 40 days that are spent at the jungle camp. The first part of the course and during the first diet students learn the fundamentals of preparing ayahuasca and leading a ceremony, as well as how to prepare plant baths and plant remedies. Each student is treated for any afflictions and/or problems during the course so that they can feel the effect and understand the medicine even more. Participants go on jungle hikes to learn plant identification and to connect with the jungle, taking cutting of certain important plants, and prepare healing tools called chacapas. Students also learn healing songs, called icaros, which are used to communicate with the spirits of the plants, animals, ancestors, and even extra terrestrials that assist in the healing. They learn soplaying with tobacco and agua florida and chupando, traditional healing techniques of the Amazon. All of the materials covered in the first part of the course are a preparation for the second part.
During the second part of the course, students each take a turn leading a ceremony, using all the tools they acquired from the first part of the course. The teachings on healing continue as do the plant baths and another plant diet. Students learn massage therapy and bone realignment, as well as more icaros and practice a separate ceremony that is used especially to end the initiation. Throughout the course, the students wear traditional clothing prepared for them by the curanderos jungle community and use special pipes also made by the curanderos family. The ceremonials tunics, called cushmas, are blessed in a healing ceremony to retain the spiritual power acquired during the course, and all of the clothing are gifts for the students to take back with them and use when they treat patients in their home countries. Because of the intensive work learning the healing traditions, after just six weeks students are prepared to begin treating patients when they return home.
The course is led by an authentic shipibo curandero who comes from a long line of curanderos and is assisted by me, who translates and helps students to navigate through the mystery of interpretations and ceremonial visions. I have studied with curanderos for over seven years in the Amazon and often times hearing my stories and experiences helps people to make connections and understand curanderismo even more. It is our hope that this course helps to increase the number of curanderos working with plant spirits around the globe, and increases the chances of shamanism returning to cultures all over the world. If you would like more information about this course or the ayahuasca retreats in Peru, please visit our website: //http://www.ayahuascafoundation.org
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That sounds like a fun place to go, I know on my ayahuasca trip I felt a deep sense of well being...
Jamison Lee Schuetz