Find the Best Shamans in Peru

Ayahuasca drink is known around the world, and thousands of people come to the Sacred Valley and other spiritual places in South America to go through a mysterious healing ritual. Those who have met Mother Ayahuasca admit that it was a precious life-changing experience. Some people share their stories on the Internet, and you are free to read them. 

Since the popularity of the “magical” tea keeps growing day by day, it is even possible to purchase its ingredients online. Lots of people try to use this option to change their lives without spending much time and money on going to the motherland of the sacred plants, which is a big mistake. Not only is it dangerous to use the drink without professional supervision, but it may be absolutely useless, as the tea is only a part of the ceremony. Without the presence of a shaman (curandero, healer), there is no chance to gain an authentic ayahuasca experience.

So, who are those people leading the healing ceremonies? Are they all the same? Answers to these and other questions are provided in this article.

About Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a beverage prepared using different ingredients, but the two main ones are ayahuasca (a South American liana also known as Banisteriopsis caapi) and Chakruna (a perennial shrub also known as Psychotria Viridis). Each plant medicine is chosen very carefully to achieve the best result in the safest way.

During the ceremony, participants drink the brew, and a curandero guides them through their amazing journey. People go to such ceremonies for different reasons because the drink allows managing various problems from different diseases, such as cancer, to mental issues, such as addiction. The tea and shamanic healing techniques have been used for thousands of years by indigenous people, helping those of them who aimed at getting a new perception of selves and the world.

Ayahuasca Ceremony

There are many conditions important to ensure the success of the rite, including the following:

• The right drink. There are different recipes used by different tribes, and there is no one that could be considered correct. However, some people are sensitive to certain ingredients; therefore, before you consume the drink, it is important to consult a healthcare specialist working in a retreat center. Also, the drink should be prepared by an experienced curandero;
• The right place. It is important to go through the ceremony in a silent, sacred place, and the best choice that you can make is to actually go to the motherland of the drink;
• The right curandero. The popularity of the tea can be used by scammers. Not everyone calling himself/herself a healer is really the one. It is important to deal with a true healer with a long family history of shamanism;
• The right attitude. Do not take the powerful drink just for fun or because you are curious. It is a potent ritual you should feel the need of for improving your life;
• The right health condition. It is important to go through a preparation period, during which you refuse the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances. It is also recommended to avoid having sex and eating meat.

Usually, the ceremonies take place at night in a group of people. A healer prepares the drink for the ritual. A reliable retreat center will check your health conditions first and allow you to prepare for the ritual well. It is also important to choose the right dose, which is done individually. Today, reputable centers ensure effective mutual work of shamans and healthcare professionals. After drinking ayahuasca, you will start experiencing its effects in up to 60 minutes.

After you have this drink, you will open the door to a different dimension. The use of ayahuasca is associated with a range of effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and others. Even the most unpleasant effects are an essential part of the purification procedure. People often experience hallucinations, both visual and auditory, which can be pleasant or terrifying. The duration of the ritual may last for up to 8 hours.

What Shamans Are Important?

Shamans living in South America, particularly in Peru, are those healers leading scared ayahuasca ceremonies. They use ancient techniques inherited from ancestors and discovered lots of years ago for healing body and soul. Shamans are an essential part of every ceremony. During the ritual, the healer reaches altered states of consciousness to be able to interact with a different world. Such people are intermediaries between the world we live in and the spirit world we cannot see.

They are doctors who know what treatment you should get. A shaman works with the spiritual aspect of disease by making the path to the spirit world full of different animals, forces, plants, spirits, etc.

There are different tribes practicing shamanism. The Shipibo culture has a long history of using ayahuasca. It is one of a few cultures of the Upper Peruvian Amazon that has own languages and traditions. Shamans from this tribe are considered to be the most powerful healers in the region. Most often, a healer is a community leader of an indigenous tribe. Such pure and wise people are respected by other members of the community. 

During the ritual, the healer sings an icaro, a magic song, plays instruments and smokes sacred tobacco. The curandero feels what is best for each of the participants. Therefore, it is important to actually have a clear idea of your goal or your question that you need to find an answer to thanks to the ritual.

How to Become a Shaman?

You cannot just go to a certain school to learn how to be a curandero. It is an ancient practice, and usually, shamans are people with a strong and long family tradition of shamanism, which means that they possess the knowledge and secrets of several generations.

However, it is not only about knowledge and experience. A good healer must be patient and have a good intuition. The healers also have a deep insight into plants. People need to feel a strong desire to become one, which is similar to a mission. It may take actually years to go through training to become a real healer.

Today, lots of people try to make money on this ancient tradition. There are even courses for those who want to become a shaman, and some people can even get a special certificate! They may call themselves shamans, who they are really not. It is dangerous to go through the powerful ceremony with the help of those quacks. A good healer has not only the necessary knowledge but a strong desire to help people. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your retreat will be led by a real curandero.

Where Can You Meet the Best Healer?

There is a belief that there are evil shamans, and it is maybe so. Also, as you already know, some people calling themselves shamans after completing a quick course are not a good option to deal with. So, where can you meet a real healer?

There is no better way than actually going to the heart of the ancient tradition with its scared places, healers with precious knowledge from their ancestors, and mysterious plant medicines.

It is understandable that you want to save some money, and it may be tempting to agree and pay a low price when it is offered. However, if you are really looking for a way to heal your soul and body, you should entrust this work only to a true healer.

There are various retreat centers based in South America, and you can read some information on each of them on the Internet. It is important to conduct good research to consider different offers and choose the one you like the most. Avoid dealing with suspicious centers and “healers,” and do not try to conduct the sacred ritual at your home.

Conclusion

Before you actually start searching for a real healer, you should get as much information about the ritual as possible. You should be serious about healing your body and soul. Read about other people’s experiences and get ready for a range of unpleasant side effects. Go through the information about the best retreats with powerful and helpful shamans.

It is better to wait for a year and save some money for coming to the motherland of the healing drink and having an authentic experience rather than purchasing the ingredient on the Internet or going to people calling themselves shamans because of a certificate. If you want to discover the gifts of Mother Ayahuasca, you should do this correctly, and finding a real good healer is crucial for your success.