I recall one night time Ayahuasca ceremony, held in a small clearing in the Amazon rainforest. It was a beautiful clear night, there was no moon, and the sky was filled with hundreds of thousands of glistening stars; just looking up at the sky made my head swim. We were surrounded by trees and bushes, but could only discern their shapes and silhouettes. It felt as if I was in nature’s primordial theatre. When I had drank the Ayahuasca, the shaman started to chant his Icaros, and within a few minutes, there was the song of birds, fireflies flitting everywhere, the jungle around us was responding to the chants of the shaman. It was an exquisite experience, and the following day, when I discussed the opening experience, with the birds and insects appearing when he sang the first Icaro, he replied, "the first chant was to summon and ask the birds, and the insects for their protection".

There are several different kinds of icaros, at the beginning of the session. Their purpose is to provoke the mareacion or effects, and, in the words of Javier, ‘to render the mind susceptible for visions to penetrate, then the curtains can open for the start of the theatre’. Other Icaros call the spirit of Ayahuasca to open visions ‘as though exposing the optic nerve to light’. Alternatively, if the visions are too strong, the same spirit can be made to fly away in order to bring the person back to normality.

There are icaros for calling the ‘doctors’, or plant spirits, for healing, while other icaros call animal spirits, which protect and rid patients of spells. Healing icaros may be for specific conditions like ‘manchare’ which a child may suffer when it gets a fright. The spirit of a child is not so fixed in its body as that of an adult, therefore a small fall can easily cause it to fly. Manchare is a common reason for taking children to Ayahuasca sessions.

The arts of the Shipibo, especially textile designs, are closely related to Ayahuasca icaros. The words of the chants are symbolic stories telling of the ability of nature to heal itself. For example the crystalline waters from a stream wash, cleanse, and purify a person who is unwell, while coloured flowers attract the hummingbirds whose delicate wings fan healing energies etc. You might see such things in your visions but the essence or core which cures you is perhaps more likely to be the understanding of what is happening in your life. These deep insights allow your inner feelings to unblock so that bitterness and anger can change to ecstasy and love. To awaken from the ‘illusion of being alive’ is to experience life itself.

The Icaros demonstrate the emotional bond between the shamans to the world of nature, and the spiritual powers of the rainforest. The Following Icaro ‘ Icaro Madre Naturaleza’, shows this relationship between man and nature.

English Translation by Peter Cloudsley.

Don't leave me, don't leave me

My mother nature

Don't leave me, don't leave me

My mother nature

For if you will leave me

I would die or of the pain

My tears of desperation

My mother nature

Yes you have the gift of life

Sacred purification in you hands

Blessed mother nature

Don't leave me don't leave me

My mother nature

Don't leave me, don't leave me

My mother nature

For if you will leave me

I would die or of the pain

Tears of desperation

The white veil that your you have

As it covers this child

Clean my body and spirit

With the breath or of your lips

Dearest miraculous Mother.

Don't leave me, don't leave me

My mother nature

Don't leave me, don't leave me

My mother nature

For if you will leave me

I will die of the sorrow

My tears of desperation

In the mountains or upper jungle

Where you give me peace and prosperity

Without regrets neither bitterness

Dearest pure Mother

Don't leave me , don't leave me

My mother nature

Don't leave me , don't leave me

My mother nature

For if you will leave me

I would die or of the pain

My tears of desperation

Where you Take a bath with the plants

Blessed Child put onto me

Your crown of health

Eternally in my heart

In Spanish.

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

Por que vas i ti me dejares

Moriria o de las penas

Llantos y desesperaciones

Madre mia naturaleza

Si tu tienes el don de la

Santa purificacion en ti manos

Benditas madre naturaleza

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

Por que vas i ti me dejares

Moriria o de las penas

Llantos y desesperaciones

El velo blanco que tu tienes

Como cubre a esta criatura

Limpia mi cuerpo y espirutu

Con el soplo o de tus labios

Madre cita milagrosa

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

Por que vas i ti me dejares

Moriria o de las penas

Llantos y desesperaciones

En las altas o montanas

Donde pone paz y prosperaciones

Sin remordimentos ni rencores

Madre cita la pura

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

No me dejes no me dejes

Madre mia naturaleza

Por que vas i ti me dejares

Moriria o de las penas

Llantos y desesperaciones

Donde Banas con las plantas

Obendita criatura ponme ya

La corona de la sanidad

Muy eternal en mi Corazon