The shaman (at least my teachers) seem to consider themselves keepers of balance and harmony, both for people and the earth. (In the jungle, a word that I often heard was tranquilo, tranquil). In observing them, I see that they value keeping the frequency of both space and person high (mental and physical), keeping the heart open, keeping new/clean energy coming in & clearing out old/stagnant energy, keeping energy flowing and moving -- essentially assisting life's unfolding and harmonious manifestation. With a visit to the jungle, singing becomes an obvious mode for such facilitation. The jungle is constantly resounding with the songs of birds, insects, animals, reptiles, the river, and the rain and wind interacting with the plants.
The Shipibo understanding is that we are all made of patterns of light that is also cosmic sound. Interestingly, the Shipibo don't have a word that differentiates sound from sight, when they are healing someone they are able to both see their pattern as well as hear its song. They see distortions in the pattern (illness or negativity) and sing the pattern as it should be, reinforcing its whole/healthy state. They listen for and sing the melody, which is considered the primary healing agent, regardless of words. Secondarily, words are added to the melody, like adding herbs to influence the healing effects of a medicinal brew, the words add specific medicinal qualities to the melody. If a shaman sees that you have a lot of sadness, for instance, they'll sing happiness into your body/pattern (in their own language they may sing something like, "I am putting happiness into you"). Or, they may sing the song of a specific ally, like pica flor (humming bird), directing the ally to pierce your heart with love. Of course, even more important than the melody & words, the shaman sing with strong and penetrating intention.
Songs to help receive the wisdom of the plants and open the path to Shamanism.Other Shipibo song techniques involve embroidering the song patterns onto cloths which can be worn to influence your energy or pattern; and drawing song patterns onto the skin using a plant dye called wito, which temporarily tattoos the skin much like henna, however, wito is applied with healing intent.
Song to heal the digestive system with intent to prepare the body for pregnancy (it's fading on the lower abdomen because I also had a significant amount of massage work, another Shipibo technique, after the wito was applied, and this photo was taken about 3 weeks after application.) The Shipibo recognize the plants of the jungle as intelligent beings. They live closely with nature and work with the plants by taking them ceremonially, dieting with them, talking with them, and perhaps most importantly, listening to them. They ask the plants to gift them with knowledge and wisdom, strength, health and power. As a result of their acknowledgment and trust, the plants have gifted the Shipibo with the ability to see/hear and work with the song patterns that underlie physical form. Although difficult, if not impossible, for a Westerner (if not anyone) to see these patterns without the initial experience of Shipibo medicinal plant ceremony, there is still much we can glean from the ways of the Shipibo to help us (re)connect with local nature and the medicinal power of song.
Practice suggestions:
The first step is to acknowledge that nature is imbued with intelligence. This is perhaps one of the most difficult steps for us as Westerners, we may have to shift our beliefs and overcome cultural imprinting to do so, but once this recognition is embraced connection is possible.
Second, spend some time alone in nature, observe, be present with nature, and listen. (After a while you may notice that nature is constantly singing, and later you'll find it enjoys being sung to as well, that nature is actually quite responsive to song.)
Third, choose an aspect of nature to be the focus of your attention, it may be a plant, flower, stone, crystal, mountain, river, the sun, an insect, etc. and begin talking with it, either out loud or mentally. Tip: the shaman understand that nature, like people, responds to recognition and admiration. Begin talking to your chosen focus by describing it and all of the things you appreciate about it. A conversation with a rose, for example, may go like this: "Hello Rose, you are so beautiful, just one look at you brings me joy, thank you so much. You are so fragrant, your perfume is rich and lovely. I appreciate your vibrant colors, the deep green of your leaves and the pink of your petals. I also appreciate your thorns, which protect you..." Next, begin to ask for what you want, in this example I might continue with, "Rose, please gift me with your wisdom, teach me your ways and how to use your medicine. Rose, will you gift me with a song?"
The next step is also potentially difficult for us Westerners. It involves becoming receptive, requiring patience, a quiet mind, subtlety, and a willingness to listen/receive without attachment or expectation for how the communication will show up. You might need to wait a while before you get anything. Furthermore, the communication may show up as a feeling or sensation, audible sounds, words or instruction, a visual insight, a knowingness, or a combination of these. For instance, you may or may not hear a song, you may feel a song.
Finally, begin to sing, in this case, sing the song of the rose to the rose. It can, and probably should be just a melody at first. Later you may receive words from the rose, or you may wish to gift the rose (or object of your attention) with words of your own.
This practice strengthens your connection with nature and has a few other positive side-effects, including: deepening intuition, quieting the mind, opening the heart and raising your frequency/vibration (which supports health). Additionally, a cross-cultural shamanic universal truth is, "Where attention goes, energy flows." So, doing this practice also benefits the natural object of your attention.
Blessings,Tammy
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