Aya-what's-ka?... Ayahuasca

Moving on from the topic of soma which is rooted firmly in the literary tradition of the Hindu and Zoroastrian faith to a topic which lies very much more in the experience and usage of a particular drug...

A topic which lies towards the centre of the relationship between drugs and spirituality and religion is that of Shamanism. The term shamanism is used to cover a wide range of different experiences and beliefs belonging specifically to particular cultures.

Sifting through various cultures, experiences and manifestations of shamanic practise one drug seems to take centre stage... and that is Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is the name of one of a number of vines which originate from the Amazon rainforest and which are brewed together to create a 'drug'. Ayahuasca is called the 'mother plant' and is said to posses all the positive qualities of a mother - nurture, caring and protection.

Ayahuasca can be broken in to two words (visit this link for more information on the plant and it's place within different indigenous cultures)

Aya meaning Soul

Huasca meaning Vine

According to the youtube video above the Ayahuasca brew is said to heal and cleanse on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Physically inducing vomiting and diarrhea and mentally bringing about hallucinations and according the Shaman practitioners it gives a true insight into the ‘self’.

Bruce Parry’s (BBC journalist) experience with Ayahuasca is documented on the youtube video below. He summated his experience with Ayahuasca as 'humbling' and talked of the drug aiding a battle raging within his mind between his ego and the experience of the drug itself.

This drug has broken through international boundaries and no longer remains purely amongst the tribes of South America with various shamans and organisations offering Ayahuasca retreats such as the links below.

http://www.ayahuascaceremony.com
http://www.ayahuascaretreats.org/
http://ayahuascashaman.info/

It is interesting to see how this drug is being adopted by ‘New Age’ movements and how it’s qualities are said to help the taker of this drug to truly come to terms with inner grief and pent up emotions.

Is it a wonderful gift of nature? Or is it simply the easy way out of the many stresses and obstacles of life?