Ayahuasca by The Smart Witch

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Ayahuasca, which commonly is called yagé, is a hallucinogenic brew of various plant infusions prepared with the Banisteriopsis caapi vine.

It is mixed with the leaves of dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-containing species of shrubs from the genus Psychotria or with the leaves of the Justicia pectoralis plant which does not contain DMT.

The brew was first described academically in the early 1950s by Harvard ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes, who found it employed for divinatory and healing purposes by the native peoples of Amazonian Peru.

Many indigenous Amazonian people say they received the instructions directly from plants and plant spirits.

Those who have consumed ayahuasca report having spiritual revelations regarding their purpose on earth, the true nature of the universe as well as deep insight into how to be the best person they possibly can. This is viewed by many as a spiritual awakening and what is often described as a rebirth.

It is often reported that individuals can gain access to higher spiritual dimensions and make contact with various spiritual or extra dimensional beings who can act as guides or healers.

It is nearly always said that people experience profound positive changes in their life subsequent to consuming ayahuasca and it is often viewed as one of the most effective tools of enlightenment.

Vomiting can follow ayahuasca ingestion. This purging is considered by many shamans and experienced users of ayahuasca to be an essential part of the experience, as it represents the release of negative energy and emotions built up over the course of one's life.

For various reasons some shamans and experienced users of ayahuasca advise against consuming ayahuasca when not in the presence of one or several well-trained shamans. It is believed that one of the core functions of a shaman is to provide a kind of spiritual protection that keeps negative entities away. This includes not only spirits but other shamans referred to as brujos who practice a form of shamanic witchcraft and can enter the space and attempt to harm people having consumed ayahuasca.

Additionally, these brujos often masquerade as real shamans enticing tourists to drink ayahuasca in their presence. Real shamans believe one of the purposes for this is to steal ones energy and or power, which they believe every person has a stockpile of. It is believed to be very important for individuals seeking an ayahuasca experience to find a reputable shaman before hastily drinking with anyone who claims to be a shaman or offers one ayahuasca.


Notes:
(1) Ayahuasca - Usually pronounced /aɪjəˈwæskə/ or /ˈaɪjəˈwɑːskə/
(2) Yagé - pronounced /jɑːheɪ/

Source: en.wikipedia.org

http://www.thesmartwitch.com/

[Image: Ayahuasca visions by Pablo Amaringo. Learn more and visit the artist's gallery at http://www.ayahuascavisions.com/pablo-amaringo-book.html.]