Since the topic of Ayahuasca and shamanic ceremonies in Peru has become very popular in recent years (something I’m not particularly happy about), I feel it’s time to write a few articles on this subject for a wider audience.
In this article, I want to address the topic of choosing a shaman. Since, in my opinion, and in the opinion of those who understand this subject, taking Ayahuasca without real shamans is foolish and even dangerous, finding and choosing the right shaman, if you decide to participate, is extremely important.
Why do I feel qualified to give advice on this subject? Because, as it happens, I know more about it than most. To be fair, I’ve been very fortunate with my guides into the world of Latin American shamanism.
I started getting involved in this when nobody in the Russian-speaking world knew about it. In other countries outside the Amazon, very few knew either, and even fewer truly understood. Additionally, I have been immersed in this topic for so many years as intensely as, I believe, no one else in the world, except for authentic shamans. I’ve been conducting around ten open expeditions to shamans annually since 2003, plus closed expeditions and my personal trips. I participate in Ayahuasca ceremonies each time, going through more than a hundred ceremonies a year.
To understand what I’m talking about (if you haven’t experienced authentic shamanic ceremonies), one ceremony can turn your entire worldview upside down and lead to a profound transformation of your being. The same can happen in Peyote ceremonies and with other sacred plants, if conducted by masters. But this article is specifically about Ayahuasca shamans. The Amazon has developed a unique situation, and I’ve decided to write about it.
First of all, choosing an authentic shaman is not as simple as many might think. The vast majority of people who come to Ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru do not end up with real shamans. There are many people from different countries who have recently established themselves as experts in this field (often even claiming to be shamans after going through a few dozen ceremonies) who have never encountered true masters. I know only a handful of people who can accurately determine a shaman’s level in the Amazon. But even they sometimes need time to do so. I went through all of this myself during expeditions in search of shamans deep in the Amazon. It is by no means an easy task.
You need to understand how crucial the responsibility is when choosing a shaman. With the right choice, you can gain the greatest experience of your life that will change you and your destiny for the better. With the wrong choice, at best, you’ll have a mediocre experience; at worst, you’ll have a highly negative one that could darken your life. And we’re talking about powerful influences, both positive and negative, with consequences that last a lifetime. Knowing this, I’m always amazed at how carefree people are about these matters.
Signs to Identify a Genuine Ayahuasca Shaman in Peru
So, identifying a high-level shaman can only be done by a few professionals. But most people can recognize a fake shaman if they know a few simple signs, which I’ve decided to share.
- A real Ayahuasca shaman cannot live in a big city. He might pass through, visit friends, or handle business there. But if he lives there, you can be sure he’s a fake shaman. All talk of «urban shamans» belongs to the realm of neo-shamanism or, more simply, playing at shamanism.
- Authentic shamans in the Amazon are all elderly. This is because learning shamanism takes a long time, requiring many years of shamanic trials. The learning process stretches over decades. But there’s also a more unfortunate reason. About forty years ago, the proper transmission of the tradition was interrupted. That’s why the authentic masters I work with are usually over 70 years old. In rare cases, you might find younger talents around 60 years old. If you encounter a 30- or 40-year-old shaman, you can be sure he hasn’t completed the real training. Yet, it’s the younger ones who are more active in modern society, using all the latest means of communication and self-promotion.
- Real shamans do not travel to distant countries for ceremonies. They are too busy with work in their own land. They know that the plant’s power diminishes when ceremonies are held far from the Amazon. However, many pseudo-shamans are eager to travel and promote themselves. People in cities are used to miracle workers coming from all over the world. They don’t understand that for an authentic master from any tradition, this behavior is inappropriate. But in the case of shamanism, it’s completely absurd. Shamanism is always tied to specific locations. So, if you hear that a shaman is performing in some esoteric center in Moscow, Kyiv, Minsk, or holding ceremonies in Rublyovka, you can be sure it’s a fraud.
- Real Ayahuasca shamans are almost never foreigners, people from outside South America. I know one exception. But he lived here for many years and trained seriously and deeply for decades. The chances that you’ll meet another like him are practically zero. So, if a European, American, Russian, Belarusian, or Ukrainian claims to be an Ayahuasca shaman, there’s no doubt about their «mastery».
- Real shamans will never offer you a mix of different sacred plants. A true Ayahuasca shaman may expand his experience by participating in other shamanic ceremonies—using mushrooms, Peyote, San Pedro, Pastora, and others. But he will never suggest that participants in his ceremony take several plants at once or in succession. And there are some plants that true masters (unless they are involved in brujería) would never give to participants. Some plants are extremely toxic, some of which are often given to tourists because of their powerful effects and vivid visions they produce in the mind. Therefore, it’s always important to know exactly what you’re drinking and which plants were used to brew it. If you can’t figure this out, you need a reliable guide who understands it.
- Real shamans rarely wear ritual shamanic clothing or carry all sorts of amulets and other symbols of magical power. True power doesn’t lie in objects or clothing. If you see someone dressed head-to-toe in «shamanic» gear, you can be sure they’re a fraud.
- If locals in an Amazonian town—like taxi drivers, hotel staff, or local tour agencies—recommend a shaman, you can be sure he’s, at best, an amateur and a fraud, but most likely a local brujo, which is even more dangerous.
One more thing worth adding: the vast majority of the most famous Amazonian shamans (and shamanic centers) are amateurs, frauds, and swindlers. I know stories involving clear criminal activity behind the creation of several centers and the promotion of certain well-known «masters».
It seems that sacred plants are a subject where it’s hard for a person to remain neutral. Sooner or later, they must choose whether they work to heal and purify people or work to deceive, leading them into darkness and off the better path. Some, while doing the latter, almost sincerely believe they’re doing the former. Why «almost»? Because deep down, we all know the truth.
