Howard G Charing

Icaros, the Magical Chants of the Ayahuasca Shamans.



Posted: Friday, July 06, 2007

by
Eagle's Wing

The Shamans of the Amazon, exhibit a close union with the Natural World. This powerful emotional and spiritual bond, enables them to commune with the powers of the Rainforest. Singing the chants or Icaros, is a way that this bond is expressed, and the Rainforest responds.

I recall one night time Ayahuasca ceremony, held in a small clearing in the Amazon rainforest. It was a beautiful clear night, there was no moon, and the sky was filled with hundreds of thousands of glistening stars; just looking up at the sky made my head swim. We were surrounded by trees and bushes, but could only discern their shapes and silhouettes. It felt as if I was in nature’s primordial theatre. When I had drank the Ayahuasca, the shaman started to chant his Icaros, and within a few minutes, there was the song of birds, fireflies flitting everywhere, the jungle around us was responding to the chants of the shaman. It was an exquisite experience, and the following day, when I discussed the opening experience, with the birds and insects appearing when he sang the first Icaro, he replied, “the first chant was to summon and ask the birds, and  the insects for their protection". 

There are several different kinds of icaros, at the beginning of the session. Their purpose is to provoke the mareacion or effects, and, in the words of Javier, ‘to render the mind susceptible for visions to penetrate, then the curtains can open for the start of the theatre’. Other Icaros call the spirit of Ayahuasca to open visions ‘as though exposing the optic nerve to light’. Alternatively, if the visions are too strong, the same spirit can be made to fly away in order to bring the person back to normality.

There are icaros for calling the ‘doctors’, or plant spirits, for healing, while other icaros call animal spirits, which protect and rid patients of spells. Healing icaros may be for specific conditions like ‘manchare’ which a child may suffer when it gets a fright. The spirit of a child is not so fixed in its body as that of an adult, therefore a small fall can easily cause it to fly. Manchare is a common reason for taking children to Ayahuasca sessions.

The arts of the Shipibo, especially textile designs, are closely related to Ayahuasca icaros. The words of the chants are symbolic stories telling of the ability of nature to heal itself. For example the crystalline waters from a stream wash, cleanse, and purify a person who is unwell, while coloured flowers attract the hummingbirds whose delicate wings fan healing energies etc. You might see such things in your visions but the essence or core which cures you is perhaps more likely to be the understanding of what is happening in your life. These deep insights allow your inner feelings to unblock so that bitterness and anger can change to ecstasy and love. To awaken from the ‘illusion of being alive’ is to experience life itself.

The Icaros demonstrate the emotional bond between the shamans to the world of nature, and the spiritual powers of the rainforest. The Following Icaro ‘ Icaro Madre Naturaleza’, shows this relationship between man and nature.

English Translation by Peter Cloudsley.

Don't leave me, don't leave me 
My mother nature 
Don't leave me, don't leave me 
My mother nature 
For if you will leave me 
I would die or of the pain
My tears of desperation 
My mother nature 
Yes you have the gift of life 
Sacred purification in you hands 
Blessed mother nature

Don't leave me don't leave me 
My mother nature 
Don't leave me, don't leave me 
My mother nature 
For if you will leave me 
I would die or of the pain
Tears of desperation 
The white veil that your you have 
As it covers this child
Clean my body and spirit  
With the breath or of your lips 
Dearest miraculous Mother.

Don't leave me, don't leave me 
My mother nature 
Don't leave me, don't leave me 
My mother nature 
For if you will leave me 
I will die of the sorrow
My tears of desperation
 In the mountains or upper jungle
Where you give me peace and prosperity 
Without regrets neither bitterness 
Dearest pure Mother

Don't leave me , don't leave me 
My mother nature 
Don't leave me , don't leave me 
My mother nature 
For if you will leave me 
I would die or of the pain
My tears of  desperation 
Where you Take a bath with the plants 
Blessed Child put onto me
Your crown of health
Eternally in my heart
Howard g Charing has Since the 1990's organised Retreats and journeys to the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes to work with the shamans and the curanderos 'jungle doctors' (healing and visionary plants) of this area. He has written numerous articles, many with original source interviews about the Amazonian plant medicines, and has worked with some of the most respected shamans in the region.

Howard is the co-author of 'Plant Spirit Shamanism', published by Destiny Books (USA) 2006.

Howard's new book with Peter Cloudsley and Pablo Amaringo, titled 'The Ayahuasca Visions of Pablo Amaringo' is published by Inner Traditions.

To view and purchase Fine art giclee prints and reproductions of Pablo's beautiful work featured in the new book 'The Ayahuasca Visions of Pablo Amaringo'. Visit the website of the book;

http://www.ayahuascavisons.com

For photo galleries, interviews, articles, and see the paintings featured in the book.

Blog: http://www.shamanism.wordpress.com

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