When I landed in Iquitos I had the first realization that what I was going to see and experience was going to be something completely new and far beyond my imagination. The simple view of an airport surrounded by trees and dense vegetation was something quite impressive for me, coming from London and having mainly only travelled through Europe and USA.
The journey from the airport to Onanyan Shobo, the village run by the Shipibo family who was hosting me, took about a hour or more and despite the skills of the boy who was riding the motor-bike taxi, the road and the mud gave me their special welcome.On the way I saw a lot of poverty, villages inhabited by people and kids who struggle to survive and suddenly the thought that I was there to seek a mystical experience made me feel uncomfortable.
This feeling changed when I reached Onanyan Shobo. This village in the heart of the Iquitos’ jungle was prosperous. Everything from the houses to the paths through the woods expressed a harmony, which is the result of a lot of hard work, love and westerners’ money!
I was again glad to be there, knowing that I was contributing to the growth of their economy and helping them to stand on their feet by proudly sharing their culture, their beliefs and the hidden treasure of the plant medicines and the sorcerers’ knowledge.
Even before the ayahuasca ceremonies took place, the jungle was introducing itself with its variegated sounds. I’m pleased that I decided to avoid the use of earplugs, because I would have missed the enchanting spells of the insects at night and the birds at sunrise and therefore the possibility to tune with the jungle’s rhythm. I think the second day I felt already at home!
In certain occasions I felt the profound and spiritual power of the jungle (especially when walking at night after the ceremonies) and perceived all its elements as forming one entity, which could be benevolent and welcoming, and at the same time threatening if not respected.
Such a setting has been naturally the perfect realm in which to encounter the medicine: the ayahuasca.
After the first few sessions, the first powerful experience had effects predominantly on the physical level. It was like a gradual crescendo until I realized a resistance of my body, and that is what produced a frightening sensation; the need to hold to something, to what is known and safe, to not let it go. At some point there was nothing more to hold on. The medicine showed me its power.
Generally there was a constant communication aimed to bring me back and listen to myself, my body, my breath rather than listening to my fearful mind.
It is at the fifth session that a curtain moved and I had this very strong and emotional realization to have found what I was seeking, to have met that invisible world or reality that I thought existed but that I never encountered. I saw the possibility to contact it, visit it and be part of it. A Pan spirit introduced me to this world, as a positive and friendly presence looking at me with a neutral, calm and trustful expression.
The pervading awareness that everything is energy, alive and vital energy everywhere, in any movement, even in the gesture of passing a hand through the hair to nourish them, was an overwhelming feeling.
Suddenly I had a comprehension of what was before only an intellectual knowledge of disciplines like tai chi or qi gong as ways to develop the contact of the physical body with the subtle energy flowing in the air; attracting, directing, letting it go; a dance with the invisible energy; a magic dance; a way to enter in communion with this world, which can reveal itself to you whenever you want.
The other powerful influence experienced during the ceremonies has been definitely manifested by the shaman Don Alberto Vasquez, known as Puma.
To be someone who has always been attracted by magic and esoteric knowledge, I’ve also always been very sceptical at the same time. Puma brushed away any scepticism and possible doubts I could reserve when in few occasions, transmitting his energy to me, I could perceive the air around me shaking; and that was real as much as my flesh is.
When the energy was descending I was conscious of its motion from my head down to my body and at the height of my chest I could feel an uncontainable joy; a contentment that was difficult to contain within the limits of my body.
I smiled. I laughed. I smiled for happiness. I laughed because suddenly I realized with a different clarity that all this, this reality, this potential, this possibility is there and it has always been there, but it has been hidden from us.
Perhaps because it would be inconvenient and difficult to manipulate and control the belief system and social behaviour of people if anyone could get directly in touch with an infinite creative source.
Get in touch to my own creativity has been an important insight that the medicine pointed up; creativity as a means to learn the language to communicate with this reality.
In certain occasions I felt like the medicine was challenging me, was pushing me towards my limits, through physical discomfort, and when in that state I found myself and calmed down (also thanks to the influence of some benevolent giant beings!) knowledge followed. There was a price to pay, in this case the physical discomfort.
For any teaching there is a price to pay, this can be physical, actual money, a test of your own will power, but in any case there is always an exchange…a sacrifice.
Ultimately the most pervading insight was related with the consciousness that this knowledge is fundamentally love. I felt the desire and urge to give back what has been received, to heal others, to alleviate their suffering, to comfort and eliminate fear.
I would like to thank Francesco Sammarco and Ignazia Posadinu of El Mundo Magico (www.ayahuasca-shamanism.co.uk) to have given me the possibility to live this life-changing experience in the best possible way. In many different ways I felt to be in a safe place and the people who work there showed care and in their simplicity love and natural knowledge.
I have a lot of affection and respect for you guys, not only because you’re Italians like me, but also because I think you did a great job in helping the Shipibo family to stand on their feet by creating an amazing and welcoming environment, while retaining a pure and unaltered encounter with this culture. Such encounter between two worlds so far geographically and culturally wouldn’t have been easy without you building a bridge with care, professionalism and great knowledge.
Grazie mille!
Gennaro Ambrosino
