Nouvelles
January 8, 2010 - Avatar and AyahauscaIn an article on his website, Erik Davis' points out some strong ayahuasca references in 3D Blockbuster Avatar. A quote:
"For while Avatar features nothing like the South American shaman lore and stupendous aya visuals that litter the otherwise very bad 2004 Western released here as Renegade, the film does suggest that the bitter jungle brew, and ideas of ecological wisdom now attached to it, is having a trickle-down effect. The banisteriopsis caapi vine that gives ayahuasca its name (though not its most hallucinogenic alkaloids) is also known as the “Vine of Souls,” which echoes the Na’vi’s Tree of Souls. And when Sigourney Weaver attempts to establish the efficacy of the Trees through a neurological discourse of electrical connection, the corporate tool Parker asks what she’s been smoking—a backhanded way of acknowledging how much Avatar’s visionary take on ecological consciousness is grounded in psychoactive consciousness."
Read the full article here.
Davis is not the only one who sees resemblances between the film and the jungle brew.
November 16, 2009 - Don Pablo Amaringo - 1934-2009
On November 16, after several weeks of illness, visionary artist Don Pablo Amaringo passed away. With his beautiful artwork and his wisdom he inspired thousands of people all over the world. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.
Rest in peace, Pablo.
November 17, 2009
Two Arrested For “Ayahuasca Ritual” In Chile
WRITTEN BY PAMELA MORALES
TUESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2009 05:27
Psychologist Danae Sáenz Razis (37) and her therapist boyfriend, César Ahumada Lira (39), were charged with drug trafficking for distributing the illegal hallucinogenic ayahuasca in workshops designed to improve spiritual health.
According to police, the workshop attendees, mainly professionals from Santiago, paid the equivalent of US$80 to participate in the “ayahuasca rituals” held every other weekend on the couples’ land south of Santiago. Each participant received five millimeters of a liquid made from the plant.
An anonymous tip prompted a three-and-a-half month police investigation during which the couples´ trips and phone calls were monitored. The two were arrested after an undercover officer infiltrated the group posing as an attendee this past Saturday and identified Sáenz and Ahumada as the leaders.
Sáenz provided attendees a receipt for a psychotherapy session so that they could have the money they paid reimbursed by their medical insurer. This may prompt additional charges from the Public Health Ministry.
Police say Sáenz brought the ayahuasca into Chile from the Peruvian Amazon. More than 10 liters of the substance, worth USD$32,000, and 61 grams of marijuana were confiscated from the couples’ home.
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic used by Amazonian shamans and whose main ingredient is dimethyltryptamine (DMT), is illegal in Chile. Though there are a number of studies into the drug’s effect on depression and drug addiction, the district attorney in the case, Jaime Retamal, said ayahuasca “has no known therapeutic or medical use . . . and clearly presents risks to those who use it.”
Sáenz and Ahumada were charged and released pending trial. Their attorney says they are cooperating with authorities. They could receive up to five years in prison if convicted.
SOURCES: LA TERCERA, EL MERCURIO, COOPERATIVA.CL
By Pamela Morales ( editor@santiagotimes.cl )
From: http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17631:two-arrested-for-ayahuasca-ritual-in-chile-&catid=1:other&Itemid=38
November 9, 2009
Robert Tindall on Ayahuasca Tourism
Robert Tindall, author of 'The Jaguar that Roams the Mind', (interview) wrote an interesting piece about modern day ayahuasca pilgrimage. An excerpt from the article:
"Yet as I became aware of the issue, I struggled over whether to publish The Jaguar at all. Did I want to open the floodgates of ayahuasca tourism further? I even began to wonder, had I been an unknowing participant in this form of psychedelic narcissism myself?"
More on Reality Sandwich.
September 29, 2009
Ayahuasca in the news
The latest issue of South American Explorer Magazine features an interesting article on Peruvian jungle shamanism. The article is titled ‘Peru: The Shaman of Nueve de Octubre’. Read more.
A short documentary about the Santo Daime movement in Oregon is now available for viewing on YouTube. Pastor Jonathon Goldman talks about what they do at the church and their legal battle with the Government.
September 4, 2009
UDV seeks to build temple, neighbors express concern over safety
The Church of UDV encounters resistance in their plans to build a 11,000 square feet of structures on 2,5 acres in the town of Arroyo Rondo, California.
Neighbors are concerned about the use of ‘a hallucinogenic tea’ on the property and fear it might negatively impact property values in the affluent neighborhood.
UDV members argue that the amount of ayahuasca taken during services is so small that hallucinations do not result, and merely lead to a state of increased concentration.
Read the full article here
August 25, 2009
Ayahuasca and the realm of spirits
We came across a very interesting article on the use and effects of ayahuasca. An excerpt from the article, specifically about the active component DMT:
"DMT’s consciousness-altering experience has been sampled by William Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, Terence McKenna and Timothy Leary. They all attest to DMT’s potent launching of the subject into a sometimes frightening plane of reality. But they all agree it is a powerful psychoactive experience. The 'trip' itself seems (in a distillation of several accounts) to break down into specific stages:
Firstly, geometric patterns appear in the subject’s vision. They grow in intensity and complexity. They are not static, but mobile, and constantly changing into higher orders of shapes and size. The second stage is the movement of the experimenter through a metaphorical transitional structure; this could be a huge tunnel, encountering a 'membrane' of light, beyond which dim figures can be seen, or entering a vast hall or chamber, where the topmost dome or ceiling opens up to whatever the individual is then about to experience. And this next part is where it gets tricky.
Depending on whom you talk to, this next stage ranges from traumatic to awe-inspiring. Various animals may be seen. Most encounter the 'machine elves.' In some experiences, they’re literally wearing elf-garb, down to pointy hats. In other instances, they may have an insectoid appearance."
Read the entire article here: The DMT molecule: A tryst with spirits, elves and aliens
28 Juillet 2009 - Nouveau livre sur le chamanisme amazonien
Steve Beyer, un ancien professeur à l'Université de Wisconsin, Madison et la Californie, Berkeley, auteur de plusieurs livres sur le bouddhisme tibétain, et chercheur de longue date au sujet de plantes enthéogènes, a écrit un nouveau livre sur le chamanisme ayahuasca, la sorcellerie, et la médecine des plantes - Chant pour les plantes: Guide de chamanisme Mestizos dans la Haute Amazonie - qui sera publié en octobre par l'Université de New Mexico Press. Le chant pour les plantes expose, en forme accessible, ce qui forme le cœur du chamanisme - ce qui se passe lors d'une cérémonie de guérison d’ayahuasca, comment l'apprenti chamane forme une relation spirituelle avec les plantes de guérison, comment les sorciers infligent des dommages que le chaman guérit, et les différents moyens pour lesquels les plantes sont utilisées dans la guérison, l'amour magique et la sorcellerie.
Le site Web du livre se trouve sur www.singingtotheplants.com et intègre l'ensemble du vieux blog ‘Singing to the plants’. Il existe aussi un groupe Facebook
15 novembre 2008 - Tourisme d'ayahuasca?
Dans cet article court, Robert Tindall examine certains des dangers et des défis créés par l'intérêt augmenté pour l'ayahuasca et le bassin de l'Amazone par les Occidentaux. "Je l'avoue, lorsque j'ai commencé mon pèlerinage à l'Amazonie, le concept d'ayahuasca touristique n'avait jamais traversé mon esprit, ni était je au courant des effets nuisibles de cette industrie pour la culture autochtone", écrit Tindall. "Pourtant, lorsque j'ai pris conscience de la question, je me suis fortement demandé si je devais publier Le Jaguar àpres tout. Voulais-je ouvrir encore plus les vannes du tourisme d'ayahuasca? J'ai même commencé à me demander, si moi-même n'avais pas été un participant ignorant à cette forme de narcissisme psychédélique."
Lisez l'article entier sur le blog de Robert : Pèlerinage Ayahuasca ?
20 octobre 2008 - Preuve d’usage de drogues préhistorique
Des archéologues des Caraïbes de l'Amérique du Sud ont trouvé des assiettes et des pipes qui étaient probablement utilisés par l'homme préhistorique pour inhaler des drogues psychédéliques telles que la Cohoba (un tabac à priser fait de Yopo, ou Anadenathera peregrina, et comme l'ayahuasca une source de DMT).
Les accessoires datent approximativement de 400 à 100 avant J.C., et cela est bien avant la colonisation des Caraïbes qui datent de 400 après J.C.
Ce n'est pas la première fois, que des chercheurs ont trouvé des indices pointant vers l'usage préhistorique de drogues. Par exemple, à plusieurs sites de fouilles des graines de cannabis ont été trouvés, et de nombreuses peintures dans des grottes semblent indiquer que l'homme préhistorique était très familier avec l’expérience psychédélique. Les récentes conclusions fournissent cependant des preuves matérielles pour cette théorie.
Source: Proof of ancient drug use
September 28, 2008
New book: "The Jaguar that Roams the Mind"
Dear friends and colleagues,
Robert and I are happy to announce that the long anticipated moment has arrived! His book, "The Jaguar that Roams the Mind" is available as of today on Amazon.com!
As the mid-October date for The Jaguar's release in bookstores rapidly approaches, we wish to request your help in the promotion of the book among your e-lists of interested people. Please spread the word by forwarding on this email to your like-minded contacts! We are now working on updating our website to post events such as book readings and radio programs happening in the next months. Check it out at www.roamingthemind.com
Many of you know that Robert worked for 4 years on this project about our year-long stay in the Peruvian jungle, spurred on by our love for the peoples of the rainforest and their vanishing tradition of curanderismo. Susana has also contributed an appendix on the healing power of the icaros.
Please, follow this link to the Inner Traditions' website to see the whole book description and Robert Tindall's bio.
Besides the poignant introduction, written by the acclaimed ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin from the Amazon Conservation Team, specialists on plant medicines comment on the book. Luis Eduardo Luna, author of Ayahuasca Visions, writes:"Like the twists and turns of ayahuasca, the sacred vine of the Amazon, this wonderful narrative of love and self-discovery connects vast inner worlds of dream and vision, power and magic, with a passionate pilgrimage in time and space. A joy to read." Dale Pendell, author of Pharmako/Gnosis, writes: "If you want to know what vegetalismo is really like, you could go to Amazon, or you could read this book."
Most of all, this book is an engaged attempt to bridge the depths and sacredness of the vegetalismo cosmology and practices to our Western minds. May the higher intention that made this book come to birth reach the minds and hearts of its readers in good ways, shed light in their own paths, and support the healing work of our elders in these times of transformation.
Thanks to you all, and "luz en el caminito"!
Susana and Robert
September 25, 2008
UK AYAHUASCA CEREMONY & WORKSHOP with SHIPIBO SHAMAN Guillermo Arevalo
Venue: The Compass Centre, Bunwell Road, Besthorpe, Attleborough , NR17 2NZ (2hrs from London)
Dates : There are two workshop opportunities: October 22nd-25th and October 25th-28th, 2008
Price: Please get in touch for pricing and further information
A true first in the UK, Shipibo shaman Guillermo Arevalo will perform and guide ayahuasca ceremonies at this idyllic Norfolk retreat, sharing the healing and visionary power of arguably the world's greatest teacher plant, Ayahuasca.
The Shipibo are revered throughout the Amazon as "the masters of ayahuasca" and Guillermo Arevalo is regarded by his peers as "the master's master": the highest authority on ayahuasca. Among his people, the Shipibo, he is known as Ketsembetsa, 'Echo of the Universe'. Filmmaker Jan Kounen's feature film Renegade/Blueberry and documentary 'Other Worlds' are inspired by Guillermo.
For more information and pricing please get in touch.
pr@voidfilm.net
September 23, 2008
We are organizing a seminar in Europe with the master healer Guillermo Arevalo Kestembetsa, who is the spiritual leader of the Shipibo people. Kestembetsa is probably one of the greatest contemporary masters accessible. His intent to spread the knowledge of his people brought him to build several centers in peru and to travel all over the world.
He will be holding healing ceremonies in several European cities this coming October. In this occasion we wonder if you can be so kind as to assist us to spread the word, or let us know if there is somewhere to post this message, so that as many people as possible will have the chance to come to the seminars. It would mean a great deal for us to share this with as many as possible.
If you wish to receive more information about our work and projects, please contact us at: metsavima@yahoo.it.
Thank you.
July 21 2008 - Peruvian government recognizes ayahuasca as national heritage
The Institute of National Culture has declared the knowledge and traditional uses of ayahuasca as national cultural heritage, in order to guarantee their cultural continuation within native Amazonian communities. This resolution was published on July 12 in the law bulletin of the national daily El Peruano. It states that ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) is a plant specimen with an extraordinary cultural history due to its psychotropic qualities that are to be experienced when combined in a brew containing the plant known as chacruna. B. caapi is in the indigenous world known as a 'master' plant which teaches to its initiates the very foundations of the world and its components.
Peruvian government declares ayahuasca as national heritage (English)
Cronicaviva (Español)
Altino Machado (Portuguese)
Juin 12 2008 - Amazon convergence
"Convergence" au Pérou sera une véritable retraite où nous allons créer une communauté pendant neuf jours (Juillet 10-18). Non seulement allons-nous étudier l’enseignement, l'utilisation et les pratiques de l'Ayahuasca et de plantes Master Teacher, mais nous allons aussi apprendre plus sur les entheogenes, sur d'autres plantes visionnaires, sur des états non-ordinaires, sur des pratiques chamanistes du monde entier et sur l'écologie profonde."
Visitez le site Amazon Convergence pour plus de détails.
May 15 2008
Visionairy artist Alex Grey talks about an ayahuasca experience he had in Brazil. Another video was uploaded by the Psychonaut Channel yesterday, featuring antropologist and author Jeremy Narby giving a short talk on the relationship between science and shamanism.
May 8 2008
Another ayahuasca-themed lecture by Jeremy Narby, author of The cosmic serpent, is on YouTube. In his book Jeremy investigates the connections between shamanism and molecular biology. He hypothesizes that shamans may be able to access information at the molecular level through the ingestion of entheogens, specifically ayahuasca. He and three molecular biologists revisited the Peruvian Amazon to try to test the hypothesis, and their work was featured in the documentary film, Night of the Liana (2002).
Watch the lecture Ayahuasca and antropology, which was organized by Stichting Open in December 2007.
April 21 2008
The Psychonaut Channel has uploaded a new lecture by Jonathan Ott on Ayahuasca Analogues. Jonathan describes his own experiences with different MAO-inhibitors and DMT-containing plants, in ayahuasca-like beverages and snuffs. Recorded March 23, 2008 at the World Psychedelic Forum in Basel, Switzerland.
April 14 2008
Reality Sandwich, CoSM and Souldish proudly present... The 2nd Annual "Ayahuasca Monologues: Tales of the Spirit Vine"
"Following on last year's successful event, we are pleased to present five new visionary stories about ayahuasca, the renowned sacred brew of the Amazon. For centuries, shamans have drunk this powerful concoction to heal illness, obtain mystical insights, contact spirit guides, and explore magical worlds. Hear of experiences both miraculous and terrifying when Westerners access ayahuasca's incredible gifts. Music, dancing, and mingling will follow performance."
For more information visit Reality Sandwich
April 8 2008
The Scientific Investigation of Ayahuasca - A Review of Past and Current Research
by Dennis McKenna, PhD
"With its complex botanical, chemical, and pharmacological characteristics, and its position of prime importance in the ethnomedical and magico-religious practices of indigenous Amazonian peoples, the investigation of ayahuasca in its many aspects has been an impetus to the furtherence of our scientific understanding of the brain/mind interface, and of the role that psychoactive plant alkaloids have played, and continue to play, in the quest of the human spirit to discover and to understand its own trancendent nature. Now, the process which has unfolded in Western culture since Richard Spruce first reported on ayahuasca use among the Indians of the Norwthwest Amazon in 1855 has reached a new stage. Ayahuasca has emerged from the Amazonian jungles where it has remained cloaked in obscurity for thousands of years, to become the sacramental vehicle for new syncretic religious movements that are now diffusing from their center of origin in Brasil to Europe, the United States, and throughout the world."
Read the entire article at www.ayahuasca.com
April 7 2008
The Times published an article on the Santo Daime church: Santo Daime: the drug-fuelled religion
April 2 2008
New video on the Psychonaut Channel
The Psychonaut Channel recorded over 20 hours of lectures and interviews at the World Psychedelic Forum in Basel, Switzerland. Among these were some extremely interesting talks on ayahuasca and DMT by Dennis McKenna, Kathleen Harrison, Jonathan Ott, Jeremy Narby and many others. Currently they are very busy editing and uploading the video's, but they have already managed to make nine video's available for us. The first gives a general impression of the symposium, and the second is a short talk by ethnobotanist and artist Kathleen Harrison on "Botanical Dimensions". The most recent video features etnobotanist Dennis McKenna talking about his experiences with ayahuasca.
March 21-24 2008
The World Psychedelic Forum in Basel, Switzerland: www.psychedelic.info
The World Psychedelic Forum with over 60 seminars, lectures, and panel discussions, presented by more than 50 experts, and some 30 young researchers from all over the world, with a rich audio-visual supporting program, and a variety of external events during 3 nights offers a unique Easter weekend in Basel for the young and the young at heart, for the interested lay persons, as well as the professional. Among the speakers shamans, anthropologists and researchers of ayahuasca, DMT and other psychedelics.
March 11 2008
Announcement by Hannah Klautz from Amsterdam:
"Friday 21st of March we are making an ayahuasca-ceremony with Nanki Nantipia, medicine-man from the Shuar-people from Ecuador. He than just arrives from his home-country and he will bring fresh ayahuasca from the Amazon rainforest. I hope that you will understand that a ceremony in this Equinox vibration can be very powerful and can bring you many transformations and healing. Most important in this is your focused intention and your will to change. Things can manifest themselves than very smooth and easily into your reality.
Place: De Ruimte, Weesperzijde 79A te Amsterdam
Time: 19.30 til 09.00 in the morning
Price: 120 Euro
A week later on Saturday 29th of March we will have an ayahuasca-ceremony with the famous Peruvian shaman Don Pedro Guerra. His icaro’s (songs) are mindblowing and can bring you in a strong contact with the spirit-world. There are still a few places available. Place, time and price are the same as above."
March 4 2008
Blog: Jaguar Medicine, by Alberto Villoldo
"During those years traipsing around the Amazon, inspired by McIntyre's discoveries, I came across the opportunity to study with many shamans and healers. Many of them were masters who worked with the ayahuasca vine, a plant with hallucinogenic qualities that is used ritualistically in their culture, which fascinated me. I remember observing one of these shamans, don Ramon, during his nighttime healing ceremonies, as he would load his pipe with jungle tobacco and turn to one of his patients and "sing his jaguar down from the tree."
February 6 2008
News article: Ayahuasca: A Strange Brew, by Gina Piccalo for the L.A. Times
New York writer Daniel Pinchbeck brought ayahuasca to the attention of liberal thinkers, detailing his mind-blowing journeys with the brew (and numerous other hallucinogens) in a pair of books: 2002’s “Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey Into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism” and 2006’s “2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl.” “When I published my first book in 2002 and I spoke to audiences, 50% to 80% of the people hadn’t heard of ayahuasca,” Pinchbeck says. “Now everywhere I go, everyone is familiar with it.”