Shamans of the Amazon

Take a look at this 8 minute clip from a longer documentary by Dean Jefferys entitled Shamans of the Amazon. The clip contains footage of an ayahuasca ceremony, some wise words spoken by the shamans, and commentary by Terence McKenna.

The documentary is based on a personal account of Jefferys' experience in the jungle of Ecuador. The video describes DMT's traditional use amongst some Amazonian tribes. You won't find this documentary on Netflix, unfortunately.

Jefferys' films are an outgrowth and an expression of his political and environmental activism. By his own count, he has been arrested over 20 times for following his beliefs. In 1985, Jefferys dropped a 'paint bomb' from his ultra light aircraft onto the deck of the nuclear warship USS Buchanan as it made its way up Sydney Harbour. In 1991, he served as a human shield in the Gulf peace camp in Iraq during the Gulf War.

Kaua'i

Mai ka lae o ke kumukahi Ha'ule iho mai nei, ka Wai Ola

(From the brow of the supreme source, droops/ falls/ descends, here to the core of all, the spiritual energy of life)

This was my first glimpse of Kamokila village. I was standing on the road across from 'Opaeka'a Falls on a Sunday afternoon, snapping pictures, on this, our last day on Kaua'i. My wife and I were taking a red-eye flight out of Lihue at 11:30 pm.

We had been exploring a string of heiaus, or temples, leading from the mouth of the Wailua to the river's source at the top of Wai'ale'ale'. We had taken the road as far as it would go to the site of a Hindu temple. On our way down, we decided to stop at the traditional Hawaiian village nestled in the valley below.

We had circumnavigated the entire island by that time. We had toured the Na Pali coastline, watched humpbacks rise from the sea, gone horseback riding up mountain trails in the rain, strolled windswept beaches strewn with driftwood. There was no lack of things to do or places to see. Take a look at Kauai: Mile by Mile, an excellent online guidebook, for a more detailed description of the island.

Now I was standing in this paradisal village, talking to Palani and his friend about the sacredness of this spot. Both of these young men are deep into Huna, an ancient shamanic practice, so our connection was immediate. Palani is a gifted storyteller intent on preserving his heritage and continuing the traditional practices of his people. His family has lived here for generations. He was explaining to me how some of the more powerful shamans are able to trap time by constructing rock structures in alignment with elemental forces. This spot, he said, was a portal. He refered to it as "the stronghold."

When I returned home, I discovered that an Ayahuasca Shamanism Conference, Retreat & Visionary Gathering is being held in the Amazonian rainforest this July. I was excited to find out that Dennis McKenna and Jeremy Narby are two of the facilitators attending this nine day gathering. I feel certain that this is the next step I must take, so after registering online, I'll need to procure a passport and book a flight to Lima, Peru. Expect a full account of the experience when I return.

Another shamanic connection is the work being done by Bill Donohue at the Hidden Meanings Conference Center in Forked River, NJ. He and I have discussed at some length the relation of DMT to the visionary experiences found in the Bible. Visit the Hidden Meanings web site for a wealth of mind-expanding information, including several videos of Bill's lectures.

Mai ka lae o ke kumukahi Ha'ule iho mai nei, ka Wai Ola.