Tobacco

Tobacco is one of the sacred plants of the Shuar. According to their mythology, humans were a beautiful and relatively young species upon the planet. Beings from elsewhere then came upon the planet and introduced the first acts of violence. They taught us to eat red meat, and the destructive phase of fear and violence began. After some time, wise and gentle helpers for the earths consciousness felt the suffering of the Shuar, and gave to them tobacco. With tobacco the Shuar began to have visions. Thier necessary and mortal requirements became easier to bear: they could survive deep in the jungle on very little food, their bodies became cleansed, and they were given guidance for action and for life. Tobacco was not on the earth originally, it was a gift for our development and evolution. 


 Tobacco is sacred to all who travel the red road. It is smoked in peace pipes, carried in medicine bundles, offered to the four winds, and burned in the fire. It dispells negative energies, and demons flee in it's presence. Ceremonially, it is a necessary tool, and shamans from across the Americas will use it at key moments within the ceremonies specific to their traditions. 
The Shuar grow and cultivate the sacred tobacco around their homes. Preeceding an evenings ceremonies, fresh leaves will be picked. The shaman dries the leaves over the open ceremonial fire and then places them in a small bowl or a large pitcher. The number of leaves required is proportional to the use if tobacco for the evening. 
Once the leaves are cured they are folded and crushed into the appropriate vessel. Fresh river water is poured over them resulting in a cold infusion. The liquid is then either snorted or drank.  In Natem ceremonies it is said that the preparation and use of tobacco before the use of Natem itself is the most crucial element of the evening. It cleanses the nose and eyes for clear visions, and seals the stomach. It is strong. In my experience, the strength of the tobacco is proportional to the strength of the evening. It is part of the proverbial bitter pill, as spoken of in Tai Chi and Chi Kung, it strengthens us up for our journey. 

tobacoo flowers

 As I understood the story, the use of tobacco allowed the Shuar to hide out deep in the jungle during the invasion of the conquistadors, and in so doing to keep their mythologies and traditions alive untainted. After some time one of the Shuar, named Etza, began to gather the people. They revolted against those who had brought killing, hatred, and fear among them. There was a spiritual battle, and Etza was victorious. The outside beings either left or ceased to have influence among them. Their culture has been able to flourish, and they have for centuries been fiercely protective of it. 


 The Shuar, like many indigenous peoples the world over, recognise that now is the time of the great mixing. A return to indigenous mythology, sacred use of the plant medicines, and the formation of one human community - tolerant conscientious powerful and sexy - is the story of our era. Who will our Etzas' be? What symbologies and new thought forms will be the tobacco for our current global situation? What universal landscapes will open from this mixing? 


 As I became, throughout my stay in Ecuador, increasingly frustrated with the shape and contour of Euro-Indigenous mixing, it is the use of tobacco which grounded me. The depth of lies we have been sold by our cultural conditioners is immense. Like the vilification of the serpent or the wolf, the sacredness of tobacco has been contaminated with chemicals and tars. I will be planting tobacco in my garden in the coming weeks....may the deva of the baccy be my companion now, as it was in Ecuador. *In Love*