Authoritative treatise on the use, history, culture, and art of the sacred plant medicine Ayahuasca.

Sales HookIf there could ever be a ‘definitive book’ on Ayahuasca, this would be it!Authoritative treatise on the use, history, culture, and art of the sacred plant medicine Ayahuasca.Key ContentAyahuasca is the strongest shamanic plant medicine. Brewed from the combination of the Amazonian vine, Banisteriopsis caapi, and leaves from the plant, Psychotria viridis, Ayahuasca creates sweeping visual and mentally startling effects. For many of the indigenous cultures of the Amazonian basin, Ayahuasca is central to their culture, revealing to mankind its role in the universe and the true nature of reality. Used properly, Ayahuasca provides healing and integration with nature and community and stimulates the creative process. The authors are recognized experts in the field of ethnology, anthropology and pharmacology and demonstrate the use of Ayahuasca in shamanic rituals. They dive deep into shamanic visionary worlds, explore the plants and their souls, and share their authentic encounters with Amazonian cultures and their artistic works.

INTRODUCTION 4Ayahuasca – the magic potion of the Amazon 4The ayahuasca river 5The seven pillars of jungle medicine 6The World Tree 8CHRISTIAN RÄTSCH: ETHNOBOTANICA AYAHUASCA 9Amazonia: ‘el mundo de la Ayahuasca’ – the realm of ayahuasca 11What is ayahuasca? 12Entheogens 12Origins and discovery 14Other names for ayahuasca 15The ayahuasca plant: ethnobotany 17Banisteriopsis caapi: the ayahuasca liana 18The ayahuasca potion: snake and jaguar 19The ayahuasca potion: ethnopharmacy 20Recipes for receptors 22A Natema recipe of the Shuar (Jívaro) 22An Ecuadorian recipe 23Tama yagé – a recipe of the Cofán 23Preparation by the União do Vegetal (UDV, Brazil) 23A recipe of Don Agustín (Peru) 23Western medicine, pharmacy and pharmacology 24DMT: the enlightenment molecule 25The ayahuasca effect: experiences 26On sense and the senses: some personal ayahuasca reflections 26Dietary rules: ayahuasca diets 27Sacred meat 27La pinta: the vision plants 28Shades of the night 28Maikua and chamico: angel’s trumpets 29Borrachero, the ‘inebriant’ 32The cactus of the four winds 33Yopo: snuff powder and ayahuasca 34A yopo recipe of the Sikuani (Colombia) 36Coca: the ‘leaf of life’ 38Other stimulants from the Amazon 40Tobacco: food of the jaguar shamans 42Mapacho: jungle tobacco 45Tobacco licking: ambíl, chimó and mambeo 46Copal: incense and fragrance 47Incenses amplify experience 48Copal 49Sahumerios 50Siete plantas zahumerio: ‘seven incense plants’ 51Incense in modern ayahuasca rituals 51Florida: the jungle perfume 52Remedios: the remedies 53South American medicinal plants 55Green gold? 56CLAUDIA MÜLLER-EBELING: AYAHUASCA VISIONS AND ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS 56What are visions? 57The historical background 59The image worlds of ayahuasca 60Mushroom and DMT visions 64On the meaning of patterns, signs and signatures 67Constants of form and phosphene 68Zigzag patterns 70Spirals and circles 72Crosses 73The phases of inebriation 73Amazonian ayahuasca art 74Shipibo-Conibo 74The primary Shipibo patterns 78Animal symbolism 81Birds 82Face and body painting 83The scene of the action 85Archaeological ayahuasca artifacts 85The maloca cosmos 87Thinking stools 89Musical instruments 90Ayahuasca music 92The natural sounds of the jungle symphony 93Songs as a ‘cartography of the true reality’ 94A personal experience 97In the beginning was the rhythm 97Dionysian music 98Yuruparí: the sound of the Pleiades 99Snail sounds 100Religious music: himnos 101Ayahuasca as a source of inspiration 102Rocking ayahuasca 104Sting’s Message in a Bottle 104Trance-Amazonia 106Ayahuasca visions in contemporary art 107Jungle cinema 107La pinta in South American painting 110Pablo Amaringo 110Yando Rios 111Carlos Jacanamijoy 112La pinta in Western painting 113Mati Klarwein 113Nana Nauwald 115Alex Grey 116