Introducing
The Shipibo Conibo
An indigenous ancestry
Who are the Shipibo - Conibo?
Shipibo - apemen. Conibo - fishmen.
Shipibo - Conibo are indigenous people living primarily along the Ucayali River, Peru, a major tributary of the Amazon. They emerged from the unification of two distinct groups: the Shipibo (apemen ) and the Conibo (fishmen).
Before European contact, the Shipibo-Conibo lived a lifestyle deeply intertwined with the Amazon rainforest, they were self- sufficient and in harmony with their environment. Proven to be resilient people and resisting conquest by the Inca Empire, unlike many other Indigenous people. They remained largely isolated untill the 'rubber boom' of the 19th Century.
Ucayali River
Maestra Rosenda sharing one of her shamanic songs (Icaro)
Medicine Songs of the Icaro
What are Icaros?
Icaros are considered sacred songs to the Shipibo - Conibo people. Each icaro is unique, with its melody and rhythm tailored to address specific intentions, such as healing physical ailments, resolving emotional traumas, or seeking spiritual insights. They are believed to be received directly from the plant spirits during shamanic visions and dreams.
The sound of the icaro is sung in a distinctive melody and tone, believed as songs that communicate to the spirit realm. The melodies and rhythms of icaros are visually represented in Shipibo-conibo art, through the intricate arrangement of lines, dots, and symbols known as kené designs. These patterns often mirror the flow and movement perceived by shamans during their spiritual journeys, who have reported to see Ke
The practice of Shamanism
What is a Shaman?
Within the Shipibo - Conibo are shamans, people who could be considered as taking the role of the doctor from a western perspective. However this doctor is of the spiritual kind, in which the Shamans aim is to facilitate healing through the restoration of physical and mental balance. A Shaman, known as "Maestro", "Onanya" or "Ayahuasquero," is said to play a central role of the intermediary between the physical and spiritual realms.
The role of plants as healers
From the Shipibo - Conibo perspective, plants are not only biological entities. Plants are believed to embody spirits and contain profound wisdom, which can be harnessed for healing purposes.
The Shipibo - Conibo learn about the plants through a combination of ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, and direct communication with plant spirits during shamanic rituals. They believe that each plant has a specific purpose and unique healing properties. The correct use of these plants can address physical health issues, such as wounds and illnesses, and psychological health concerns, including emotional traumas and mental imbalances.
Caapi vine
Our friend Maestro Cecilio singing one of his sacred medicine icaros
Cecilio has been working with the Caapi vine and dieting many master plants for over 40 years
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