Different kinds of shamanism

Different ways of learning and teaching traditions make the diversity of the "medicine paths" that exist unto this day. The conditions for the reception of knowledge are many years of learning in the jungle, under conditions that seem incredibly tough from a western point of view. This knowledge does not exist in a written form, and it is difficult for westerners to understand the nature of its essence. This also seems to be the reason for many misunderstandings. There are no spontaneous initiations, although both miracles and miraculous paths do exist. A year of ascetic isolation in the jungle is the minimum requirement for the usual healing practice as a curandero. The plant spirits are seen as the true teachers of this tradition that is so rooted in natural life.

Don Pedro undertook this type of "diet-seclusion" for one year and eight months, without interruption. After that he repeatedly retreated for months of spiritual dieting, so that in total he spent three and a half years of extreme isolation in the jungle.

Before obligational school attendance was introduced, the period of learning for a traditional master of healing was still up to fifteen years - without a single day of interruption of the diet seclusion. Having absolved such an intensive "education" the healer was hereafter known as a great magician. The title was "sumi". It is told that these sumis could live for unlimited periods of time in the under water world of the "sirenas" (water spirits). They were believed to be immortal. The jungle with all its beings was both temple and university of these mysterious magicians and healers. A great variety of plants served as mystical teachers during the diet-seclusion. This paradise though also had its dark sides. Next to the healers, there also exist many "brujos", who misuse their capacities to make money. For this reason it is important to recognize whom one can trust.

The Palero



As curandero, Don Pedro belongs to the group of "paleros" - he is known as "tree shaman". Tree shamans have received their spiritual knowledge from the huge tree-giants of the jungle. Tree shamans are known as carriers of the knowledge of the old world, with the capacity of giving expression to the spirit of the medicine people of the Amazon in its most powerful form. In the hierarchy of the Amazon healing traditions, the tree shaman has the highest position: He is said to have the most power. An ancient tradition without any books, the education of healers had a very clear orientation - years of extremely hard diet. Seclusions led to such a sharpening of the senses that a direct dialogue with the forces of nature became possible resulting in the obtainment of supernatural powers.