Ayahuasca, the Visionary Paintings, and Inspirational Words of Pablo Amaringo.

>The consciousness of plants is a constant source of
Pablo Amaringo is one of the world’s greatestinformation for medicine, alimentation, and art, and an
visionary artists, and is renowned for his highlyexample of the intelligence and creative imagination
complex, colourful and intricate paintings of his visionsof nature. Much of my education I owe to the
from drinking the Ayahuasca brew. Pablo isintelligence of these great teachers. Thus I consider
interviewed at his gallery in Pucallpa, Peru, by Howardmyself to be the “representative” of plants, and
G Charing and Peter Cloudsley. Pablo Amaringo is onefor this reason I assert that if they cut down the
of the world’s greatest visionary artists, and istrees and burn what’s left of the rainforests,
renowned for his highly complex, colourful andit is the same as burning a whole library of books
intricate paintings of his visions from drinking thewithout ever having read them.
Ayahuasca brew. Pablo wrote the foreword, aPeople who are not so dedicated to the study and
spiritual and ecological message as the foreword forexperience of plants may not think this knowledge is
my book 'Plant Spirit Shamanism', published byso important to their lives—but even they should be
Destiny Books (USA).conscious of the nutritional, medicinal, and scientific
Pablo Amaringo trained as a curandero in thevalue of the plants they rely on for life.
Amazon, healing himself and others from the age ofMy most sublime desire, though, is that every human
ten, but gave this up in 1977 to become a full-timebeing should begin to put as much attention as he or
painter and art teacher at his Usko-Ayar school. Hisshe can into the knowledge of plants, because they
book, Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconographyare the greatest healers of all. And all human beings
of a Peruvian Shaman, co-authored with Luis Eduardoshould also put effort into the preservation and
Luna, brought his work and the rich mythology of theconservation of the rainforest, and care for it and
Amazon to a wide audience in the West.the ecosystem, because damage to these not only
Pablo Amaringo was born Puerto Libertad, in theprejudices the flora and fauna but humanity itself.
Peruvian Amazon. He was ten years old when heEven in the Amazon these days, many see plants as
first took Ayahuasca—a visionary brew used inonly a resource for building houses and to finance
shamanism, to help him overcome a severe heartlarge families. People who have farms and raise
disease. The magical cure of this ailment via theanimals also clear the forest to produce foodstuffs.
healing plants led Pablo toward the life of aMestizos and native Indians log the largest trees to
vegetalismo in which he worked for many years.sell to industrial sawmills for subsistence. They have
My visions helped me understand the value of humannever heard of the word ecology!
beings, animals, the plants themselves, and manyI, Pablo, say to everybody who lives in the Amazon
other things. The plants taught me the function theyand the other forests of the world, that they must
play in life, and the holistic meaning of all life. We alllove the plants of their land, and everything that is
should give special attention and deference to Motherthere!
Nature. She deserves our love. And we should alsoThis expression of love must be a sincere and
show a healthy respect for her power!altruistic interest in the lasting well-being of others.
Plants are essential in many ways: they give life to allWe are not here simply to exist, but to enjoy life
beings on Earth by producing oxygen, which we needtogether with plants, animals, and loved ones, and to
to be active; they create the enormous greenhousedelight in contemplation of the beauty of nature. A
that gives board and lodging to diverse butshaman has in his mind and heart the attitude of
interrelated guests; they are teachers who show usconserving nature because he knows that life is for
the holistic importance of conserving life in its dueenjoying the company of this world’s
form and necessary conditions.countless delights.
For me personally, though, they mean even moreAny painting, or book, or piece of art that spreads
than this. Plants—in the great living book ofthis message is to be respected, and every reader
nature—have shown me how to study life as anwho picks up a book on this subject is to be
artist and shaman. They can help all of us to knowhonored.
the art of healing and to discover our own creativity,I invite you to read on, and to learn from the
because the beauty of nature moves people togreatest teachers of all—the plants, our sacred
show reverence, fascination, and respect for thebrothers and sisters.
extent to which the forests give shelter to our souls.