Have you heard of Kambo 🐸?
Here's a thread about my experience with it in the jungle of #Brazil with the Huni Kuin #indigenous people.

Before going there, I had heard of kambo but never had the opportunity to try this #medicine. It consists of applying #frog secretions on burnt skin.

I'll post the different steps in the next few days 👇🧵

#kambo #kambó #medicine #HuniKuin

This is huge! The Huni Kuin people patterns (called Kene Kuin) have just received recognition as a cultural heritage of Brazil. This happens just one month after a similar recognition from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture (Feb 23).

These patterns are found everywhere - in their face and body paints, traditional clothes, ceramics...

Here' a short and interesting documentary on the topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EQW7cjSbws

#HuniKuin #Kashinawa #Cashinahua #indigenous #culturalHeritage #Brazil

I've got the habit of reading multiple books in parallel. I love to vary the pleasures and choose depending on my mood.

What I'm reading at the moment:

Braiding Sweetgrass
https://amzn.to/41MvOgO

The Art of Holding Space
https://amzn.to/41QTEIj

Tristes Tropiques - I read it in #French, but here's an English translation:
https://amzn.to/4iKLXdu

A book in #Spanish about the view of the #Spirit World according to the #HuniKuin (#Kashinawa) #indigenous peoples.

#holdSpace #holdingSpace #books

The ceremony is now underway. While the ayahuasca is working, everybody is playing music, singing, and dancing.

It's a real celebration of life. The music, the fire, the dance... everything takes on a surreal aspect. I ask myself if I am dreaming or if it is reality!

(excuse the quality of the photo)

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #Kashinawa #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #amazon #Brazil

The ayahuasca has cooled down and is ready. It's around 8pm, the ceremony will start soon, the medicine man has already set up the altar in the maloca. Sacred and meaningful objects are placed in its centre (tobacco, feather fans, containers, icons...).

I can feel nervousness and excitement in my belly.

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #Kashinawa #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #amazon #Brazil

It finally starts to look like ayahuasca! The brew is left to simmer and reduce. It gradually takes on its characteristic dark brown colour.

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #Kashinawa #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #amazon #Brazil

When all the liquid has been drained out, what's left is the fibres of the ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves.
There's no use for it, and it is discarded.

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #Kashinawa #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #native #Amazon #Brazil

Once it has boiled for a little while, the brew is left to cool down briefly. The ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves are separated, filtered out, from the liquid.

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #Kashinawa #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #amazon #Brazil

The next step consists of adding water to the ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves and bring it to a boil. Typically, a couple of hours are needed to extract the compounds from the plants.

This is done in the ceremonial maloca where the sacred events and community rituals take place.

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #Amazon #Brazil

When the vines are clean, they are beaten in order to separate the fibres. This will allow the active principles of ayahuasca to infuse the brew.

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #HuniKuins #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #native #amazon #Brazil

Next, the bark of the vine is rasped with a knife. This is a tedious step, but a very important one. You want to keep the vine intact while removing anything on the outside that may pollute the brew (lichen, moss...).

#ayahuasca #HuniKuin #Kashinawa #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #native #Amazon #Brazil

Then, collect some chacruna leaves (Psychotria viridis).
Excuse the plastic bag 😅

#chacruna #ayahuasca #HuniKuin #plantMedicine #entheogens #psychedelics #nativePeople #indigenous #Amazon #brazil