'The Shaman'
‘The Shaman’ was initiated two months prior to our March 2017 trip to Peru. We had decided to engage with the Plant Medicine ‘Ayahuasca on a 10 day fully immersive retreat.
The retreat site was based just outside a small village called Tarapoto, at the base of the Amazon jungle. The land was fairy open, dotted with majestic trees, leading down to a slow moving river.
At the base of the site a track led to a small waterfall, where we bathed, cleansed and blessed with flowers in preparation. It was hot and the raw jungle close. Everything was alive with rampant plants and nature. Butterflies sang in the warm air.
Let the Ceremony begin!
At the base of the site sat the Malloca, the high ceiling, ceremonial hut, launch pad for our sessions with Mother Ayahuasca.
For 8 nights the 16 of us met in sacred circle. We drank the brew and each time settled into our mats and waited in dark silence. Ayahuasca is taken at dusk and the journey lasts around 8hrs.
As the medicine began to flow, soft sounds rose from neighbours. The Shaman began his rounds of the group. Working one by one he came to sit before us.
Ayahuasca is a blend of two plants, somehow found themselves, working in perfect synergy together and with the consciousness of man. A mighty powerful hallucinogen, opening up pathways to agony and ecstasy.
Life has always been about balancing polarity, working towards Unity as the ground point zero. Ayahuasca is a renowned brutal teacher, showing you in no uncertain terms your darkest fears and ecstatic presence.
The Shaman acts as a conduit for the healing frequencies of plants. Ayahuasca shows us which areas need the work and how the qualities of plants may be applied for relief and understanding.
Plants are conscious sound waves, patterns that we may access. The Shaman sings the ‘Icaros’ of plants, specific songs, attuned with healing purpose. I found this healing process to be profound, the language of the plants that works with us in harmony.
Another key nugget I connected with was the interaction of the group. We were all integral to each others journey. Individual lessons learnt and the group body went though a collective transformation.
We spun out of there and for the last week of our trip headed to the Sacred valley and Machu Pichu.
I completed the oil painting ‘The Shaman’ after two months of integration back home.
With thanks to the consciousness of plants!
Pumarinri Amazon Lodge
‘Ceremony’
‘Ceremony’
Watercolour, March 17
£480 ENQUIRY
Limited Edition giclee print, Numbered, Signed with Certificate of Authenticity.
Printed on Hahnemühle Agave fine art ink jet paper.
Size: W 57 x H 43cm