Other Offerings During Your Session
Hapé (Rapé) - A Sacred Snuff
Hapé, also known as rapé, rapéh, or rume (by the Yawanawá), is a revered sacred snuff with a rich history that spans hundreds, if not thousands, of years among the Amazonian tribes, where it plays a crucial role in their tribal culture and heritage. Esteemed as a "Master Teacher Plant" in numerous indigenous cultures, this shamanic tool originates from indigenous tribes in Brazil and is traditionally administered through a specialized blowpipe directly into both nostrils, either using a "Kuripé" for self-administration or a "Tepi" when administered by another person. This method, which can be startling to newcomers, involves a fine powder blend of tobacco, ash from sacred trees, and various herbs, each contributing to its significant physical, emotional, and spiritual effects.
Hapé is celebrated for its myriad benefits, including the balancing of brain hemispheres, clearing mental fog, quieting mind chatter, and, depending on the specific blend, targeting imbalances related to skin, digestion, creativity, and focus. Additionally, its nicotine content stimulates the release of substances like epinephrine, acetylcholine, and dopamine, enhancing mental focus, presence, and intuition. Within many tribal traditions, rapé is regarded as a powerful tool for releasing afflictions and ushering in clarity and grounding, making it an integral aspect of Amazon basin tribal culture and history.
Sananga - The Potent Eye Drops
Sananga, also known as "The Fire Healer" or "Becchete" in the Matis and Matsés dialects, is a powerful extract obtained from the roots and bark of the Tabernaemontana undulata shrub, indigenous to the Amazon Basin. Administered as eye drops, Sananga is renowned for its capacity to dissolve mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual blockages, promoting a movement of stagnant energy, enhancing intuition, and fostering a state of peace and focus. The application of these drops, which can induce a significant burning sensation attributed to their tannic acid content, is traditionally used by tribes like the Matsés for its ability to improve perception and concentration, particularly useful in hunting by enabling the detection of subtle movements in the dense jungle.
Sananga's benefits are multifaceted, extending to the treatment of ocular diseases, increasing environmental awareness by granting greater texture and dimension to surroundings and enhancing night vision. Its effects, which include improved vision, heightened energy levels, and potential pain relief, can last for days or even weeks. Beyond its physical benefits, Sananga is valued for its psychological impact; following the initial intense sensation, users often experience a profound sense of serenity, entering deep, meditative states, and sometimes drifting into sleep, illustrating its significance not just in traditional tribal practices but also for its therapeutic and spiritual applications.
Making hapé in the jungle
Hapé and its Healing Properties
Hapé aims to reestablish a healthy relationship with the tobacco plant, a sacred shamanic tool that has been used by Amazon basin tribes for millennia and is an integral part of their tribal culture and history. The spirit of tobacco offers potential benefits for energetic clearing, realignment, and protection, provided it is approached with respect and positive intentions. Shamans and elders in rainforest tribes often undergo a tobacco "dieta" or cleansing, consuming tobacco over an extended period to forge a deep connection with the plant's spirit.
In contrast, the Western perception of tobacco is largely negative, primarily associated with cigarettes and their toxic additives, which lead to addiction. This use of tobacco as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety has led to a cultural distortion that obscures tobacco's sacred nature and true spirit.
During the preparation of hapé, participants engage with the spirit of tobacco through offering prayers and stating intentions. Hapé can also be used individually or as part of sacred plant ceremonies to remove blocked energies and, if necessary, induce a purgative effect.
The benefits of hapé include enhancing focus and mental clarity, clearing an overactive mind of anxiety and stress, balancing the brain hemispheres, eliminating distracting energies from a person or space, and detoxifying both body and mind. It clears the sinuses, grounds the receiver, and provides a lasting calming and grounding effect on emotions. Moreover, hapé can assist in re-harmonizing imbalances in the skin and digestive tract, depending on the composition of plants, herbs, and flowers in the blend.
If you would like to purchase Yawanawá hapé that I import direct from the tribe, click here.