The Shaman and Ayahuasca: Journeys to Sacred Realms

This is a jewel of a book and will readily appeal to those individuals interested in the healing traditions of indigenous peoples, the role of the Shaman, the role of psychoactive drugs in spiritual healing, and/or, the critical role of ritual and ceremony in celebrating the experience of the Spirit in one's life. The book welcomes the reader into its pages and message of love for Pachamama the way one's best friend might welcome you into a day of close companionship. From the first pages, the paradoxical mix of simplicity and singleness of the book's message is mysteriously mixed with an equally serious and bottomless expression of ageless truths of Psyche in an alchemy that prompts only awe and respect. To be sure, a large share of the book's attraction is the sharp contrast it draws between the harried and manic-like energy of much of 21st century America and another time not touched by our greed for power or phantasy of controlling a Spirit that continues to refuse such belligerence. That is, into a world in which one lives in close communion with the earth, her riches, and her teachings- a message seemingly so simple and inviting but not without its own psychic price.In fact, the Shaman Don Jose makes clear that many a Westerner who initiates a pilgrimage to the Amazon is not able to manage the reality of the jungle with its ancient sounds, fierce animals, and lack of our usual and customary chronicity. This is not a world of "add water, stir, microwave for five minutes and your meal is served." That is, while the Amazon the Westerner is most familiar with is a publically traded web site jungle accessed by a quick click of a key board stroke where one can satisfy nearly any appetite that Psyche stirs with only a moment's notice, this book welcomes the reader into another jungle library 10s of thousands of years old. Don Jose wishes to place the date at 70,000 years young. Within this ancient Amazonian jungle library one is relegated to such a miniscule role as to magically reveal a life still so clearly informed by a Divine patterning- the very experience the Westerner craves as the only antidote to their overly scheduled and self-predictable life. In this manner, the book beautifully illustrates and gives voice to the indigenous archetype laying dormant in many a Westerner although at an increasing pace, this archetype is motivating more and more to initiate a trek to the jungle. Following Heraclitus, Jung posited a dynamic energy within the Psyche that seeks to maintain a psychological homeostasis. Perhaps one may imagine such a movement toward the timeless truths of the jungle and the wisdom of its plant world as a necessary and critical enantiodromia- a blessed rebalancing of the Western world's arrogant attitude toward Pachamama. If this notion has any validity, one can then only be eternally grateful that such plant wisdom continues to exist and with it, the promise that a more equilateral relationship between the Spirit world and Matter continues to be at hand. Second, such gratefulness must necessarily also extend to Michael Wiese and his wonderful efforts at opening the curtain of the jungle and the work of the Shaman to the Westerner in these offerings.Beyond the curtain and now inside the corridors of this cavernous jungle library, one finds the Vegetalis - one who cures by way of healing medicine plants, the Ph.D. of the plant world, practicing a craft as ancient as the first mother/child pairing- that of a loving mother tending to the physical, spiritual, and psychological needs of each infant entrusted to her care. In particular, this book highlights the use of Ayahuasca, what Don Jose terms the Divine Healing Vine, an organic teacher of ageless wisdoms instructing each who ingest her on how to live in accord with both the microscopic as well as the macroscopic worlds. This is a very curious fact: while the stories of those who ingest the Ayahuasca vary and certainly contain individual themes, each individual also leaves such an experience with the message of the immediate need to care for the earth and the deep reciprocal love the earth continues to show to us. Next, that the Ayahuasca plant cannot survive on its own; instead it requires a sturdy tree which it wraps itself around in a never ending spiral of life. That is, a dynamic coupling between plant and tree is required in order for the Ayahuasca plant to grow at all. This fact of botany is understood by the Shaman as a self-evident truth so quickly forgotten by Westerners- that there is a fundamental reciprocal relatedness between the deep dark moist riches of the soil world, the heliotropic yearning of the plant for its complimentary source of sun life; and the need of a sturdy soul of infinite patience allowing such wisdom to blanket one in the same manner a spiritual elder finds no more need of the questions previously clung to as life preservers on her path toward wisdom.The context for the book is such that Michael Wiese, the documentary filmmaker is invited to take a pilgrimage to the Amazon Rain Forest and meet Shaman Don Jose Campos, in part to address Michael's Parkinson's disease. Quickly a small group is assembled to include Michael, Alberto Roman who serves as muse and translator between Don Jose and the group, and Michael's wife, the book's editor Geraldine Overton and their journey is initiated. While the book highlights the group's beautiful conversations with Don Jose, the story of his acquisition of Shamanic healing energies, the role of his teachers, and his history of practicing his craft, the companion DVD (which has the same title and is published by Michael's publishing company, Divine Arts Media) shows the viewer the panoramic vistas of the experiences Michael and his group encounter. In his healing rituals, the Shaman uses various earthen made musical instruments and a haunting song- the Icaro which is akin to the hypnotizing sounds of chanting monks of a medieval monastery or the monosyllabic prayers of Tibet's Buddhist monks. The simple nature of the Icaro sung by the Shaman serves as a creative camouflage for the more profound truths revealed only to those with the patience of a tree to remain still and make room for its teachings. Thankfully, for the interested listener, the Icaros used throughout this material have also been made available and published by Michael as a companion to the DVD and book. The book, DVD, and CD together serve as a triad that is as strong and necessary in its beautiful message as the triangle is for architecture. The listener should also know that Don Jose also has a CD recently published that contains additional healing Icaros entitled, Versos Maestros: Ayahuasca Ikaros.The Shaman and Ayahuasca is a wonderful book and will immediately appeal to all those interested in traditional healing practices, the role of ritual and ceremony in one's spiritual practice, the role of the Shaman and the history of indigenous peoples, and/or the role of psychoactive drugs in spiritual healing and psychological growth. Again, the book, the DVD, and CD can all be purchased at Divine Arts Media.com. Michael Wiese has offered us a beautiful and soul-filled look into the world view of Don Jose Campos, a Shaman and Vegitalis, one who lives in harmony with the earth and her treasures, and thus has learned to sing the songs of gratitude for all he has received from Pachamama.

Truly an incredible book from the eyes of the shaman. Bought this book 2 or 3 times because I keep lending it out to people. Beautiful from start to finish and gave me so much confidence before I went into the jungle.

One reviewer praised this book as the first first-hand account by an indigenous ayahuasquero, or ayahuasca shaman, and as such a much welcome addition to the now burgeoning literature on the subject by Westerners who have tried the entheogenic brew either on their own or presided over by a shaman, indigenous or not. That is an assessment with which I can fully agree. Not least because the author, Don Jose Campos, shows a lot of wisdom and genuineness and all in all seems to embody many spiritual qualities, such as I am familiar with from other spiritual traditions. The book is short and simple, both in terms of teachings, format, and language. The editors have not sought to produce something of sublime literary perfection. The sentences are at times a bit laboured and awkward and could have done with a bit more editing. Slightly more damning is the editor's inclusion of their own personal narratives. They are, well, too personal and interfere somewhat with the general flow of the book, the purport of which is, or should be, to present the teachings of Don Jose. Better if they had included some information about Don Jose in particular or about the general subject of ayahuasca shamanism etc.That said, it is overall a wonderful book, and I have no qualms about recommending it to others interested in the subject. The simple format, the oral nature of the teachings, and Don Jose's unpretentious, practical wisdom remind me of similar books recording the teachings of Asian sages. One of the editors is referred to as being a practitioner of Buddhism, so that is probably no coincidence. It is a well-tried formula for presenting Asian spiritual traditions to the West, and it often works very well. Such is certainly the case with this book, which has, to the best of my knowledge, the distinction of being the first one to present an indigenous "psychedelic" shaman in this way.

Having recently experienced ayahuasca for the first time, I found myself wanting to know more about this powerful medicine. This book, in the voice of a authentic Shaman, conveys a deeper understanding of the plant. He explains without explaining and brings you into a world that is full of miraculous healing potential. I have been a very dedicated meditator for close to a decade, and found, in one night, a spiritual healing that I have sought through countless hours. Though I also see how my meditation hours prepared me to receive the healing. By the third night of the ceremony I participated in, the medicine was tackling my physical disease, leaving me feeling better and healthier than I have ever felt. The author explains how this happens and I enjoyed his narrative.This is an excellent read for those who have experienced ayahuasca and also for those who are just curious. It is deceptively simple but the concepts are profound.

This is one of the most moving stories I have read about this awesome vine, this book is magical, the sweetest explanation of this miracle vine I have ever read, I have ordered the CD, plus I'm reading it again, it has some beautiful pictures from Pablo Amaringo, and it tells of his story, I would recommend this book to all people, to open your heart, your mind to a way of life that is ancient yet so needed in our world today. Thank you Jose Campos and all of you that have made this beautiful story come to life, thank you for sharing so honestly your visions and explaining to us the true healing that comes from doing this type of soul work... Gratitude and much love for this book and for Madre' Ayahuasca!!!!