Shaman Visit

Last Thursday night, we spent 6 hours with a Shaman (aka curare in the local culture). She had very different beliefs than me, but it was interesting to hear about medicine. To be a shaman, is to live a very selfless life. They are usually not compensated for their work, yet are expected to respond at any time of day or night. She explained the purpose of a special drink called ayahuasca. The patient and the shaman both take this drink in order to "see" the past, present, or future questions. She says that this drink is not given to get high off of. When people take it, they end up vomiting and having severe diarrhea for several days. They are also supposed to have a special diet one week before that excludes salt, sugar, or anything pleasurable. We experienced a special ceremony that night, which was strange, but I am glad to have further understanding of the culture and their beliefs.

During the ceremony

Another girl and I talked to this shaman awhile after everyone else went to bed. She knows much about western civilization and our medicine. Her husband is a medical doctor from Germany and now her daughter is studying to become a medical doctor as well, but she wants to blend natural Shaman remedies into her studies. I asked the shaman about her beliefs as well. She said that they believe that the soul and the spirit are separate. The soul is in the body, but the spirit can be freed. Thus when a person dies, the soul dies with them. The spirit lives on and joins other spirits. She explained that she believed all the plants and trees have spirits as well. She said she can sense their spirit and if we keep killing all the plants in the world, we will run into "serious problems." Once again, I do not believe any of this, but it was interesting to listen and ask questions.