| I recall one night time Ayahuasca ceremony, held in a | | | | The Icaros demonstrate the emotional bond |
| small clearing in the Amazon rainforest. It was a | | | | between the shamans to the world of nature, and |
| beautiful clear night, there was no moon, and the sky | | | | the spiritual powers of the rainforest. The Following |
| was filled with hundreds of thousands of glistening | | | | Icaro ' Icaro Madre Naturaleza', shows this relationship |
| stars; just looking up at the sky made my head | | | | between man and nature. |
| swim. We were surrounded by trees and bushes, but | | | | English Translation by Peter Cloudsley. |
| could only discern their shapes and silhouettes. It felt | | | | Don't leave me, don't leave me |
| as if I was in nature's primordial theatre. When I had | | | | My mother nature |
| drank the Ayahuasca, the shaman started to chant | | | | Don't leave me, don't leave me |
| his Icaros, and within a few minutes, there was the | | | | My mother nature |
| song of birds, fireflies flitting everywhere, the jungle | | | | For if you will leave me |
| around us was responding to the chants of the | | | | I would die or of the pain |
| shaman. It was an exquisite experience, and the | | | | My tears of desperation |
| following day, when I discussed the opening | | | | My mother nature |
| experience, with the birds and insects appearing | | | | Yes you have the gift of life |
| when he sang the first Icaro, he replied, "the first | | | | Sacred purification in you hands |
| chant was to summon and ask the birds, and the | | | | Blessed mother nature |
| insects for their protection". | | | | Don't leave me don't leave me |
| There are several different kinds of icaros, at the | | | | My mother nature |
| beginning of the session. Their purpose is to provoke | | | | Don't leave me, don't leave me |
| the mareacion or effects, and, in the words of | | | | My mother nature |
| Javier, 'to render the mind susceptible for visions to | | | | For if you will leave me |
| penetrate, then the curtains can open for the start | | | | I would die or of the pain |
| of the theatre'. Other Icaros call the spirit of | | | | Tears of desperation |
| Ayahuasca to open visions 'as though exposing the | | | | The white veil that your you have |
| optic nerve to light'. Alternatively, if the visions are | | | | As it covers this child |
| too strong, the same spirit can be made to fly away | | | | Clean my body and spirit |
| in order to bring the person back to normality. | | | | With the breath or of your lips |
| There are icaros for calling the 'doctors', or plant | | | | Dearest miraculous Mother. |
| spirits, for healing, while other icaros call animal spirits, | | | | Don't leave me, don't leave me |
| which protect and rid patients of spells. Healing icaros | | | | My mother nature |
| may be for specific conditions like 'manchare' which a | | | | Don't leave me, don't leave me |
| child may suffer when it gets a fright. The spirit of a | | | | My mother nature |
| child is not so fixed in its body as that of an adult, | | | | For if you will leave me |
| therefore a small fall can easily cause it to fly. | | | | I will die of the sorrow |
| Manchare is a common reason for taking children to | | | | My tears of desperation |
| Ayahuasca sessions. | | | | In the mountains or upper jungle |
| The arts of the Shipibo, especially textile designs, are | | | | Where you give me peace and prosperity |
| closely related to Ayahuasca icaros. The words of | | | | Without regrets neither bitterness |
| the chants are symbolic stories telling of the ability of | | | | Dearest pure Mother |
| nature to heal itself. For example the crystalline | | | | Don't leave me , don't leave me |
| waters from a stream wash, cleanse, and purify a | | | | My mother nature |
| person who is unwell, while coloured flowers attract | | | | Don't leave me , don't leave me |
| the hummingbirds whose delicate wings fan healing | | | | My mother nature |
| energies etc. You might see such things in your | | | | For if you will leave me |
| visions but the essence or core which cures you is | | | | I would die or of the pain |
| perhaps more likely to be the understanding of what | | | | My tears of desperation |
| is happening in your life. These deep insights allow | | | | Where you Take a bath with the plants |
| your inner feelings to unblock so that bitterness and | | | | Blessed Child put onto me |
| anger can change to ecstasy and love. To awaken | | | | Your crown of health |
| from the 'illusion of being alive' is to experience life | | | | Eternally in my heart |
| itself. | | | | In Spanish. |