The hallucinogenic San Pedro cactus features been used since ancient times, in addition to in Peru typically the tradition have been unbroken for over three or more, 000 years. The first depiction of typically the cactus is a carving showing the mythological being having a San Pedro, and dates by about 1300 bc. It comes from your Chav�n culture (c. 1400-400 bce) plus was found within a temple with Chav�n de Huantar, inside the northern highlands of Peru. Afterwards, the Mochica culture, (c. 500 ce) used cactus within their iconography. Also in present working day mythology, it is usually told that Our god hid the keys to heaven within a secret spot and San Pedro used the mysterious powers of some sort of cactus to find this kind of place; later the cactus was named after him.
Are generally Mesa Norte�a
Juan Navarro was created within the highland community of Somate, department of Piura. They are a descendent of a very long lineage of healers and shamans working together with the magical capabilities of the holy lakes known because Las Huaringas which often stand at 4, 000 metres and even have been revered since earliest Peruvian civilization. At the age of 8-10, Juan made the first pilgrimage in order to Las Huaringas, in addition to took San Pedro for the first time. Every calendar month or two that is necessary to return here in order to accumulate energy and protection to treat his people. Mainly because well as locals and Lime�os (people from Lima), pilgrims also come through many elements of Southwest America.
During typically the sessions Juan performs untiringly, assisted by simply his two kids – as is definitely common in this customs – within an elaborate sequence of techniques, including invocation, diagnosis, divination, and healing with natural items, or artes. The artes are in the beginning placed on typically the maestro’s altar or perhaps mesa, and found when required in the ceremony. These artes are an amazing and beautiful range of shells, swords, magnets, quartzes, things resembling sexual internal organs, rocks which spark when struck collectively, and stones coming from animals’ stomachs which often they have ingested to aid digestive function! The artes are usually collected from pre-Colombian tombs, and almost holy energetic places, particularly Las Huaringas. They will bring magical features towards the ceremony where, within the visionary influence of San Pedro, their invisible capabilities may be experienced. Typically the maestro’s mesa instructions a weaving put on the land upon which all typically the artes are positioned, (mesa also means ‘table’ in Spanish) — is a rendering of the causes of nature and the cosmos. Via the mesa the particular shaman is ready to work together with plus influence these pushes to diagnose in addition to heal disease.
Typically the traditional mesa norte�a has three regions: on the still left is the campi?a ganadero or ‘field of the dark’; on the right is the campo justiciero or the ‘field of the light’ (justiciero means justice); and in the middle is the campo centro or ‘neutral field’, which is the place of balance between the forces of sunshine and dark. It is important for us not necessarily to take a look at these forces as beneficial or negative — it is what we human beings carry out with these forces which often is important. Though the contents plus form of typically the artes varies from tradition to traditions, the mesa motions serve to advise us that the use and energy of symbols extends throughout all nationalities.
SAN PEDRO
San Pedro (trichocereus pachanoi) grows for the dried out eastern slopes of the Andes, among 2, 000 instructions 3, 000 metres above sea stage, and commonly gets to six metres or maybe more in height. That is also developed by local shamans in their natural herb gardens. As could be imagined, earlier European missionaries organised the native techniques in considerable contempt, and indeed were very negative when reporting the make use of of the San Pedro. Yet the Spanish missionary, mentioned by Christian R�tsch, grudgingly admitted typically the cactus’ medicinal price in the center of an outburst reviling it: “It is a vegetable with whose support satan is able to be able to strengthen the Indians in their idolatry; those who consume its juice reduce their senses and even are like useless; they are practically carried away by the drink plus dream 1000 unconventional things and feel that they will be true. The fruit juice great against burning of the kidneys plus, in small sums, is also good against high temperature, hepatitis, and using in the bladder. ” A shaman’s account of the cactus is significant contrast:
“It first of all… produces… drowsiness or a dreamy express and an experience of lethargy… the slight dizziness… then the great ‘vision’, a clearing of most the faculties… that produces a lighting numbness in the body and after that a tranquillity. And even then comes detachment, a type of visual force… inclusive of all typically the senses… including the sixth sense, typically the telepathic sense regarding transmitting oneself across time and make a difference… like a sort of removal of one’s thought to a distant dimension. inch
San Pedro, considered as the ‘maestro of the maestros’, enables the shaman to help make a bridge between the visible and the invisible world with regard to his people. The particular Quechua name regarding it is punku, which means ‘doorway’. The doorway attaches the patient’s entire body to his heart; to heal your body we must cure the spirit. San Pedro can display us the psychic causes of sickness intuitively or inside of mythical dream terminology. The effects involving San Pedro work through various portions, beginning with a great expanded physical recognition in the body. Soon this kind of is then content feelings and then, after several hours, clairvoyant and visionary outcomes become more obvious.
talking with Juan Navarro
What is usually the relationship of the maestro with San Pedro?
In the particular north of Peru the strength of San Pedro works in combo with tobacco. Also the sacred waters Las Huaringas are very important. This will be where we proceed to find the particular strongest healing herbal products which we work with to energize the people. For example all of us use dominio [linking one’s intention with the spirit power of typically the plants] to give strength and even protection from great forces such since sorcery and negative thoughts. Additionally it is place into the seguros – amulet baby bottles filled with perfume, plants and seed gathered from Todas las Huaringas. You keep them in your home with regard to protection and to help make it your life go nicely. These plants perform not have virtually any secondary effects on the nervous system, neither do these cards provoke hallucinations. Pachanoi UK San Pedro offers strength and is definitely mildly hallucinatory, but you cannot become addicted. It doesn’t go harm to your body, instead it helps the maestro to notice what the problem is with his patient. Obviously some folks have this gift idea born in them – as each of our ancestors used to be able to say, it really is in the blood of your shaman.
Is San Pedro a ‘teacher plant’?
Of study course, but it really has some sort of certain mystery. A person have to be compatible with it because it does not work for just anybody. The shaman contains an exclusive relationship by it. That circulates in the body regarding the patient and even where it finds abnormality it permits the shaman to detect it. It lets him know the dimensions of the pain they as well as whereabouts it is. It is therefore the hyperlink between patient and maestro. Additionally, it purifies the blood of the person who refreshments it. It balances the nervous system so people lose their fears, frights and traumas, and even it charges people with positive energy. Every person must drink so the maestro can connect with them. Only typically the dose may vary from person to be able to person because not everyone is while strong.