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Jungle Remedies
Rapè
Rapé, pronounced hapeh – is a psychotropic shamanic snuff made from finely ground tobacco and a variety of other herbs. This sacred shamanic medicine has been used by many tribes of the Amazon for thousands of years for healing purpose.
The act of taking Rape´ (Hape´) is considered sacred and a form of prayer by the indigenous Amazonian tribes. It is a holly sacrament, not a substance and thus should be treated accordingly.
Benefits of Rapè
From a Western perspective, tobacco is considered a dangerous and addictive vice. However, tobacco is considered a master plant teacher in the Amazon — often used to heal physical and spiritual ailments.
Using rapé powder can have a number of benefits, for instance, it can:
- Help with mental illness and even aid in addiction treatment.
- Provide a sense of calm that when used on a regular basis can lead to an overall change in mood. It, therefore, helps relieve depression.
- Restore the sinuses and respiratory system by removing blockages from the breathing pathway.
- Clears your chakras (energy points) by detoxing you both physically and spiritually.
- Prepares you for intense experiences like ayahuasca and mushrooms ceremonies by removing bad vibes to help you find your true intention.
- Gives an overall sense of clarity to think and focus better.
Is Rapè safe?
When working with rapé, side effects should be expected. The tribes call these reactions “cleaning.” This includes symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea. Not everyone will experience these effects, but it’s best to be prepared. From a Western perspective, tobacco snuff, or “smokeless tobacco,” does contain carcinogens. Traditionally rapé is used ceremonially, and like many indigenous perspectives on plant medicine, there’s wisdom in this approach. Ceremonial use prevents people from being able to abuse the plant and establishes a level of respect for the plant and how it should be used.
What is a Rapè ceremony?
Tradition states that having someone blow you rapé means they are putting their life force into you, so choose someone you trust. Rapé is often given outside for spiritual and practical reasons — such as a connection to nature, grounding, clear negative energy or spirit entities. The person giving or “blowing” rapé will sit across from the receiver. The blower will choose the appropriate amount based on the person’s experience level, the strength of the rapé, and intentions.
What to expect
The rapé will be measured into the blower’s hand, and the rapé will say prayers, give blessings, or set intentions.
- If it’s your first time, don’t worry, everything will be explained to you clearly before the ceremony starts. The usual instructions are to stay relaxed with your mouth slightly open and only breathing through your mouth.
- The pipe (Tepi) is inserted into one nostril while the blower exhales into the rapé pipe with their chosen breath.
- The receiver will feel a short burning sensation, and then the pipe will be inserted into the other nostril and rapé blown again.
- The receiver thanks the blower and finds a quiet spot to sit with the experience, which can last from a few minutes to hours in some cases. Effects can vary significantly, ranging from physical body sensations to insights to, in some cases, visions.