An interview titled 'Love, Magic, and the Vine of the Soul'. Amazonian shaman Javier Arevalo interviewed by Howard g Charing, and Peter Cloudsley. This article first appeared in Sacred Hoop Magazine issue 36 in 2002

1. LOVE AAAGIC
Ayahuasca can be c o n s i d e r e d a
gateway to another reality, a reality
w h i c h co-exists w i t h o u r physical
w o r l d . F r o m this other reality an
VINE <*the SOUL
experience o f the totality of inter-
connectedness can be personally
experienced.
Ayahuasca is also k n o w n as La
Purga {the Purge) due to it's
p o w e r f u l physical clearing effect,
but its effects are more than just a
physical clearing of the toxins i n the
body, it also facilitates an energetic
clearing of personal history as well.
There is much discrepancy between
shamans concerning the question of
vomiting while under the effect o f
Ayahuasca. Some say it is necessary
for the body to r i d itself of whatever
is necessary and that i f they are not
sick they might get ill. Others say if
y o u v o m i t y o u w i l l n o t have such
good vision and o n no account
should a shaman vomit.
It is never to be taken lightly and
o n l y u n d e r the s u p e r v i s i o n o f a
shaman w h o is w e l l versed i n the
ways of the plant.
The m e d i c i n e is made f r o m a
m i x t u r e o f t h e ayahuasca v i n e
(Banisteriopsis Caapi) and the leaf
of the Chacruna plant (Psychotria
Viridis). The vine contains harmala
and harmaline among other
rs with an alkaloids, and the leaf contains
vision inducing alkaloids.
As with all natural medicines, it is a
Amazonian Shaman mixture of many alkaloids that makes
their unique properties. For
example, Peyote, the cactus used by
Howard G. Charing the North Native Americans, is said to
contain 32 active alkaloids, so when
S> Peter Cloudsley one o f those alkaloids, mescaline
(LSD) is synthesised i n a laboratory,
c o n t r a r y t o p o p u l a r o p i n i o n , the
talk to Javier Arevalo result is not at all the same.
about Peruvian Ayahuasca is a name derived from
Shamanism t w o Q u e c h u a w o r d s : ay a means
spirit, ancestor, deceased person,
and huasca means v i n e o r r o p e ,
hence it is k n o w n as vine of the dead
or vine of the soul. It plays a central
After being virtually ignored by the West for role i n the spiritual, religious and
cultural traditions of the Indigenous
centuries, there has, recently been a huge surge and Mestizo (mixed blood) peoples
of interest in Ayahuasca. There is a belief that it is of the u p p e r Amazon, O r i n o c o
p l a i n s a n d t h e Pacific coast o f
a kind of medicine for our times, giving hope to Colombia and Ecuador.
people with incurable diseases like cancer and The plants are collected f r o m the
rainforest i n a sacred way and it is
HIV, as well as inspiring answers to the big said that a shaman can find plentiful
ecological problems of modern civilisation. sources of the vine by listening for
PAGE 12 SACRED HOOP ISSUE 36 2002

2. the drumbeat that emanates ten hours concoction and
f r o m them. The m i x t u r e is the shaman should fast or be
prepared by cutting the vines o n a special diet during this
to cookable lengths, scraping time. It is said that the spirit
and cleaning them, of Ayahuasca is very jealous
p o u n d i n g them into a p u l p , and that i f the rules o f its
and then adding the preparation are not
chacruna leaves. The mixture respected it is resentful.
is t h e n b o i l e d f o r a b o u t
t w e l v e h o u r s u n t i l i t is a A fundamental principle of
thick b r o w n liquid. healing w i t h Ayahuasca is the
visions it facilitates. It is the
THE SPIRIT OF AYAHUASCA visions of the doctoring spirit
The spirit of Ayahuasca can of Ayahuasca w h i c h tells the
be contacted when a person shaman what is w r o n g w i t h
d r i n k s the b r e w u n d e r the their patient, what medicine
guidance of a skilled t h e y n e e d , o r w h o has
shaman. There is a chance to caused the illness or malaise.
learn and trust the p l a n t .
There is also the question as TALKING W I T H
to whether the plant trusts JAVIER AREVALO
us, because it can be abused We watched the shaman Javier
and used for g e t t i n g the Arevalo preparing the brew.
w r o n g k i n d of personal His wife washed and shredded
power. Without intention, the Ayahuasca, and after it had
vision, preparation, and a boiled for a while, Javier lit a
shaman, i t is a d r u g n o t a large mapacho (hand rolled
healing medicine. jungle tobacco cigar) and blew
In the Amazonian world W h e n i t is b e i n g p r e p a r e d , the smoke over the top of the concoction.
Ayahuasca, like all plants, is seen as shaman has to watch over it at all The two of us were invited to do this
having a spirit which is angelic but the time to prevent harmful spirits as well. When we d i d this we felt a
also has h u m a n e m o t i o n s l i k e b e i n g i n t r o d u c e d . The fire needs blast of hot steam and vapour f r o m
jealousy, vengefulness, w r o t h etc. t e n d i n g regularly t h r o u g h o u t the the boiling Ayahuasca i n our faces.

3. During our visits in order to attract them. That means they
w i t h h i m w e had should not eat salt, sugar or alcohol, and
many discussions on they should abstain from sex".
the r o l e o f the He c o n t i n u e d : "Every p l a n t has a
Amazonian shaman spirit, the shaman goes into the forest as
and the use o f part of his apprenticeship and spends
Ayahuasca. Javier two years taking plants and roots. He
comes from Nuevo takes Ayahuasca too and the spirit tells
Progreso, a him what it cures. Then the shaman tries
c o m m u n i t y o f 50 another plant, each time remembering
families o n the Rio which ailment is cured by what.
Napo river i n Peru.
Several generations If you can't dominate the spirits of the
of his family before jungle you are nobody, instead of curing
him have been they r u n away or take no notice of you.
shamans and Spirits are like angels. God withstood 40
already at the age of days of hunger and temptation by the
17, he k n e w this devil and was resurrected. That's what
would be his future. we have to do too.
However it was You learn all this i n the wilderness.
not until he was 20 The spirits there are the angels of each
w h e n his f a t h e r plant to which you add your will to heal
died f r o m a virote the client. This is the will of Christ".
(a poisoned dart i n
the spiritual world) We had h e a r d stories about h o w
sent by a jealous Ayahuasca can sometimes cure HIV,
brujo, (sorcerer) that he felt compelled and w e asked Javier about his o w n
to f o l l o w the a r d u o u s five-year experiences of treating people.
apprenticeship to be a shaman.
" I h a d a p a t i e n t w h o was H I V
We asked Javier what the role of a positive and had been i n h o s p i t a l a
shaman was? He told us that a shaman fortnight. His mother said to me that
learns everything about the rainforest he was really bad, his stomach h u r t
and uses that knowledge to heal his and he was shitting constantly.
people since they do not have money So I said w h y d o n ' t y o u take
for Western style doctors. Shamans Ayahuasca. Tf i t ' l l cure me I ' l l try i t ' he
also use Ayahuasca t o d i s c o v e r i n said. That night we drank and after he
visions, which plants w i l l be effective felt a bit better, his fever had lowered.
for which illnesses. He n e e d e d t o go less o f t e n t o the
"As the spirits, or plant doctors who toilet. He wanted to take it again and
tell us are pure, they are made happy after three times he was better and
"A fundamental when we are too, so a shaman must diet when tested, proved HIV negative.
principle of healins
with Ayahuasca is
the visions it facilitates.
It is the visions of
the doctoring spirit IHi
of Ayahuasca which
tells the shaman
what is wrong with
their patient, what
medicine they need,
or who has caused
the illness or malaise,"
PAGE 14 SACRED HOOP ISSUE 36 2002

4. We asked J a v i e r a b o u t h o w he desire to put the w o r l d to right, resolve
"During a session a started off his shamanic training w i t h a planetary issues, and speak to the flowers.
Senorita came to desire for revenge and asked h i m h o w It was as t h o u g h it were not alright to
he put that d o w n and became a healer? wish for love.
me in my vision "My grandfather saw that my heart was
bitter and he told me that it w o u l d not We m u s e d , maybe i f p e o p l e i n o u r
and said, 'you must get me anywhere. My heart was still hard culture had more love we wouldn't be so
and wanted to k i l l . Bit by b i t t h r o u g h worried about the cosmos, maybe it was
also learn what taking the very plants that I had intended because people don't have enough of it that
to use for revenge, the spirits told me it they saw problems everywhere around.
love is/ What is was wrong to kill and my heart softened." We speculated i t w o u l d be better i f
people got w h a t they w a n t e d because
love?' I asked her. MIXING A LITTLE LOVE MAGIC that way we w o u l d n ' t be so destructive:
You love me and We asked h i m about h o w he sees the d r i v i n g fast cars, t r y i n g t o s o r t o u t
ethical questions concerning Pusanga, psychological issues and having fancy
both of us feel a magic used t o attract a l o v e r . The p r o f e s s i o n s . We w o u l d n e e d less
magic takes away the person's w i l l and material goods. Javier agreed: "These
attraction/ she we explained to h i m that i n the West t h o u g h t s t a n g l e u p t h e i r l i v e s . Love
this was seen as a bad thing. solves problems."
replied. Who was Javier l a u g h e d a n d s a i d : " I f i t
h a p p e n e d t o m e , a n d l e t ' s say I Javier had some Pusanga to prepare for a
the Senorita? She originally found her unpleasant and she client. Normally a shaman prepares it away
d i d it to marry me I ' d be outraged! It f r o m o t h e r p e o p l e , so w e f e l t very
was a mermaid, w o u l d be awful if I only discovered after privileged to be invited to participate i n the
having children and making a home w i t h preparation.
that's how I can her! But w o u l d I ever know? I w o u l d be
tell you that hopelessly i n love w i t h her." "And," he "First o f a l l , " he t o l d us. " y o u must
added, "everyone wants women!" purify y o u r hands w i t h lime, l e m o n or
mermaids exist. Javier d i d not seem to see a problem, grapefruit juice, to get r i d o f the salt,
i t was a massive c u l t u r a l d i v i d e w e condiments and sweat which interferes."
She told me how could not cross. It seems his people feel T h e n each o f us p o u r e d t w o l i t t l e
free the way they are and can have sex bottles of Tabu, into a larger bottle. One
to prepare Pusanga, using magical means of attraction. of these bottles w o u l d be for m e n the
O n an earlier occasion w h e n Javier o t h e r f o r w o m e n . Tabu is a p e r f u m e
and she chanted asked the group we were travelling w i t h used specifically for this p u r p o s e .
what they really wanted i n their lives, Powdered plants l i n e d the bottoms o f
to me and taught many people gave cosmic and spiritual each of the larger bottles. After this we
me the chant I sounding answers and were quite mute b r o k e u p some p l a n t roots before
w h e n he spoke about Pusanga. adding them to the mixture.
know today." After a w h i l e many admitted they Javier t o l d us they were Motelillo,
w a n t e d love, apparently b e h i n d t h e i r Macoquinha, axidMashoshillo which looks a
bit like a string of sausages.
He e x p l a i n e d t h a t
Mashoshillo made money
grow and transform itself
into new resources,
projects and contacts.
Then we added
Mocura leaves w h i c h
have a nice fragrance for
w h e n y o u apply the
resulting Pusanga i t t o
yourself.
Polvo de la buseta, a
p o w d e r o b t a i n e d by
grinding up a plant
whose leaves resemble a
female g e n i t a l was
added next, then
Congonita, a plant w i t h
l i t t l e r o u n d leaves and
long stalks which
becomes t a n g l e d w i t h
itself. "This is h o w the
PAGE 16 SACRED HOOP ISSUE 36 2002

5. couples becomes i n v o l v e d w i t h Then I went back to dance w i t h "My grandfather saw
each other," explained Javier. "Your her and she said 'what's the matter
partner w i l l never leave y o u . " w i t h y o u d a m n it? Y o u k n o w y o u that my heart was
can't touch me!' She got nasty and
We asked Javier if he could tell us wanted to hit me at that moment so bitter and he told me
what the Pusanga actually did? I left the fiesta to avoid problems
and went home. that it would not get
"When you pour it onto your skin
it begins to penetrate y o u r spirit, The n e x t day I w e n t i n t o t h e
me anywhere. My
and the spirit is what gives you the forest and h i d f o r three days. O n heart was still hard
force to p u l l the people. The spirit the forth day I came out and people
is what pulls. told me 'Senorita Suzana is looking and wanted to kill
for you'.
W h e n I was apprenticed t o m y 'Why is she looking for me if she Bit by bit through
grandfather, he told me to practice hates me and threw me out of the
with the Pusanga to gain fiesta?' They r e p l i e d ' N o , she has
taking the very plants
experience. I began by p r e p a r i n g b e e n r o u n d e v e r y h a l f an h o u r that I had intended
the medicine without any particular asking after you.'
i n t e n t i o n , b u t d u r i n g a session a When she caught u p w i t h me she to use for revenge,
Senorita came to me i n my vision said 'Javier, forgive me for insulting
and said, ' y ° must also learn what
u you i n the fiesta.' I said 'No, you are the spirits told me
love is.' 'What is love?' I asked her. very arrogant and I d o n ' t want to
'You love me and b o t h o f us feel talk to y o u . ' I went home and it was wrong to
attraction,' she replied. w o u l d n ' t open the door. She waited
Who was the Senorita? She was a o u t s i d e m y h o u s e c r y i n g a l l the
kill and my heart
mermaid, that's h o w I can tell you w h i l e I s l e p t . I k n e w i t was t h e softened /'
that mermaids exist. She t o l d me Pusanga that was working.
h o w to prepare Pusanga, and she
c h a n t e d t o me a n d The n e x t n i g h t I
H o w a r d G. C h a r i n g is a p a r t n e r i n Eagle's
taught me the said to W i n g Centre for Contemporary Shamanism.
chant I k n o w h e r , His i n i t i a t i o n i n t o the w o r l d o f Shamanism
was sudden, w h i c h was caused by a serious
today. She sang ' y o u accident (a lift crash) w h i c h resulted i n severe
v e r y sadly, a n d want injuries and a near-death experience. After
said t h a t ' s h o w I t o be many months of physical pain and disability,
he had a transformational experience w h i c h
your partner w i t h started h i m o n the path to healing.
w i l l come to me?' 'Yes, P e t e r C l o u d s l e y has b e e n r e s e a r c h i n g
you, very sad, JM f r o m the P e r u v i a n fiesta m u s i c since 1980. H e has
b u i l t u p a documented archive o f traditional
she said. depth of music and interviews, and has collected for
m y the British Museum. Throughout this time he
has travelled extensively i n L a t i n America,
T h e r e was heart.' I especially Peru, studying the wealth o f music
a fiesta one replied and diversity of popular religions. Peter has
'but you taught courses at the City Lit and elsewhere
night in the (on music and p o p u l a r culture i n Latin
pueblo because it are pretty and A m e r i c a ) a n d speaks f l u e n t Spanish &
was someone's I am ugly!' 'No, Portuguese .
birthday and I was I w a n t t o be Eagle's W i n g f o u n d e d by Leo Rutherford i n
w i t h you.' 1983 is to help people connect their i n n e r
invited and I put and outer w o r l d s , to b r i n g dreams f r o m the
o n m y clothes and That night we w o r l d o f Spirit i n t o Matter, and thus enjoy a
made love and creative a n d f r u i t f u l l i f e - t o dance t h e i r
took a little bottle dreams awake.
o f Pusanga i n m y she d i d n ' t w a n t
Details of Eagle's W i n g p r o g r a m m e s ,
pocket. I was to go back to her workshops, journeys to meet indigenous
dancing w i t h all * home any-more. I s h a m a n s . For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n see
www.shamanism.co.uk
the girls and I saw a g i r l w h o was went again i n t o the forest and she or call or write
very arrogant and w o u l d n o t let f o l l o w e d me. I w e n t t o bathe i n BCM Box 7475,
the river and she j u m p e d i n too to L o n d o n WC1 3XX
me get near. Tel: (01435) 810233
She had long finger nails. She said play w i t h me. I laughed because I
PHOTOS:
she wouldn't dance with me because knew it was the love spell. Page 13 - t o p : H o w a r d and Javier Arevalo.
I was unattractive. 'Go and f i n d a B o t t o m : prepearing and b e r e w i n g the
ayahuasca. page 14 t o p : B l o w i n g tobacco
cholaV (lower class Indian) she said She became my girlfriend for six smoke on the brew. Drawing of
virtually insulting me, and it hurt my months. Later w h e n the love passed Banisteriopsis Caapi. B o t t o m : The brew
Page 15 - t o p : .Some of the plants used to
heart. 'If you don't dance w i t h me, a n d the Pusanga w e a k e n e d , she m a k e a Pusanga. D r a w i n g o f p s y c h o t r i a
t o m o r r o w y o u ' l l sleep w i t h me,' I w e n t b a c k as t h o u g h t h e w h o l e p s y c h o t r i a e f o l i a . B o t t o m J a v i e r a n d his
t h i n g had been a d r e a m . I asked assistant. Page 16 : H o w a r d , Javier and his
said, and I went to the toilet to have a eldest son. Page 17 : T r a d i t i o n a l p a i n t e d
pee and rubbed myself with Pusanga, myself 'how d i d I actually live w i t h ayahuasca b r e w i n g p o t f r o m a tribe o n the
down my front, my arms and hands. this girl?" upper. Orinoco River.
SACRED HOOP ISSUE 36 2002 PAGE 17