“Canto de la Maestra” painting by Reshin Bima.
“I practice a spiritual life of traditional medicine passed on to me by my grandparents. The ayahuasca is one of our medicinal plants, very sacred, that we use to cure. Our health, within the Shipibo-Konibo is maintained by the healers.” – Maestro Juan Agustin Fernandez
The ayahuasca ceremony is conducted by a Master Healer (Maestra Curandera) for the healing of the body, the mind and the spirit. The Maestro or Maestra connects with the spirit of the plant medicine through the singing of songs and receives visions which offer them insight. These songs, called icaros, are sung in order to access the kingdom of the plant spirits, to navigate visionary realms and to conduct healing.