11/24/2016 Rap,sananga,kambo,psychedelics:Whyspiritualseekersseekpain|PsychedelicCultures

PsychedelicCultures
Exploringtheinteractionsbetweenpsychedelicsandculture
TAGS
ayahuasca,kambo,pain,rape,sananga

Rap,sananga,kambo,psychedelics:Whyspiritual
seekersseekpain

August6,2015
Recentencounterswithanumberofshamanicmedicineswhosemostimmediateeectispainandphysical
discomfortledmetoconsidertheroleofpaininthepsychedelichealingprocess.

(hps://psychedeliccultures.les.wordpress.com/2015/08/rape3.jpg)
Shamanicsnumedicine.Rap.

AshamanicceremonyinwhichIrecentlyparticipatedincluded4typesofmedicines:ayahuasca,
tobacco,rap(hp://shamanicsnu.com/whatissnurape/)andsananga
(hp://www.xamanismoancestral.com.br/artigos/sananga.html).Whilethersttwoareprobably
knowntomostreaders(thoughsomemightbeunfamiliarwithconsecrateduseoftobacco),rapand
sanangaseemtonecessitateanintroduction.Rap,thebeerknownofthetwo,isashamanicsnu
medicine.Itisblownintothenostrilbyapractitionerwhousesapipe,causingasuddenburning
sensationinthenoseandthesinuses,aswellasarunningnose.Suchuncomfortablesensationsare
followedbyanumberofsupposedbenets.Onthemostimmediatelevel,theuseofthesubstanceis
followedbyafeelingofclarityintheheadandthenasalcavities.Otherallegedbenetsascribedtorap
aresignicantlymoredramatic.AccordingtothesiteShamanicSnu,forexample,rapusehelpsto
realignandopenallyourchakras,improvesyourgrounding,releasesanysicknessonphysical,
emotional,mentalandspirituallevels.

Ihadknownrapbefore.Thesananga,ontheotherhand,wasentirelynewtome.Thesesacredeye
drops(colirio)areinstilledintheeyebyapractitioner,andaresaidtocauseintenseburningsensation,
anexperiencewhichpersistsforanumberofminutes,duringwhichthepatientisdirectedtobreathe
deeplyandintothepain.Sanangaisreportedtosharpenvisualperceptionandevenallowusersto
experienceasortofinfrarednightvision.Again,onthelessimmediatelevelthereistalkoffarmore
dramaticbenets.Sanangaissaidtosolveahostofeyediseaseandalsoburntheinnerangerresidingin

the
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the

(hps://psychedeliccultures.les.wordpress.com/2015/08/sananga1.jpg)
Sharpensvisualperceptionandfacilitatesnightvision.Sananga.

individual,leadingtoanintensestateofrelaxationfollowingtheperiodofpain.Theshamanwho
introducedsanangatomeexplainedthatthepaincausedbysanangacausesthereleaseofendorphins,
producedbythebodytoeasethepain.Theseendorphinsstayinthebodyafterthesanangaisgone,
leadingtoafeelingofutmostrelaxation.

Personally,Ihaveastrongaversiontosuddenintensepain,plusIhaveultrasensitiveeyes,soIgaveup
onsanangawithoutasecondthough.However,Ididhaverapblownintomynose,andIcouldsee
someoftheappealoftheexperience.

(hps://psychedeliccultures.les.wordpress.com/2015/08/kambo1.jpg)
Makesyouswelllikeafrog.Kambofrog.

Havingwitnessedthesetwopainrelatedexperienceswhicharesoughtafterbymoderndayspiritual
seekersfromwithintheayahuascasubculturemademereconsiderathirdexperiencewhichispopular
inthissubcultureandwhichinvolvesintensepain.Someofthereadersmighthaveheardofthekambo
frogextract(hp://www.ayahuasca.com/spirit/kambothespiritoftheshaman/),amedicinebasedon
thevenomextractedfromthebodyofthegianttreefrogorgiantmonkeyfrogandwhichisinsertedinto
thebodyofthepersonbeingtreated,causingextremebodilydiscomfortwhichincludesnausea,
feebleness,andadramaticswellingaroundtheheadwhichcausesthepersontotemporarilyresemblea
frog.Inthedaysfollowingtheexperience,peoplereportfeelinggreatlycleansedandinvigorated,with
somereportingdramaticreductionintheneedforsleepandfood.Andagainthereisahostofalleged
benetsfromthisprofoundlydiscomfortingprocess,includingareinvigorationoftheimmunesystem,
detoxicationoftheliverandtheentiredigestivesystem,aswellasthecuringofamanyofdiseases
fromParkinsontodepression.

Theprotestantworkethicandthepsychedelicworkethic

Consideringthesethreephenomenaoftherap,thesanangaandthekambo,allofwhichcanbe
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Consideringthesethreephenomenaoftherap,thesanangaandthekambo,allofwhichcanbe
encounteredmostlyinrelationtothemilieuofayahuascacommunities,itseemsasifapaernis
emerging:agrowingpopularityofsubstanceswhichareusedtoinducepainorphysicaldiscomfortof
sorts.Thisphenomenamightnotbeallthatnew.AsoftennotedbyMcKenna,alternativetechniquesfor
theachievementofaltered,visionarystatesofconsciousnesstraditionallyincludedvarioustypesofpain
anddiscomfortsuchasselfagellation,selfmutilation,sleepdeprivation,andprolongedfasting.Yetthe
questionremains,why?Whydospiritualseekersseemsokeenonexperiencesinvolvingintensepainor
discomfort?

(hps://psychedeliccultures.les.wordpress.com/2015/08/rape4.jpg)

Beforewetryandanswerthisquestion,itshouldbenotedthattheexperienceofpainanddiscomfort
canbeseenasaninherentpartofthepsychedelicexperienceingeneral,andnotjustinrap,sananga
andkambo.Somekindanddegreeofdiscomfortisinvariablyrelatedtomosttypesofpurging
psychedelicexperiences.Thedegreetowhichtheingestionaplanthallucinogenisfollowedbythe
feelingofpurgingisgenerallydependentuponthedegreeofdiscomfortthatisinvolvedinitsuse.
Ayahuasca,Peyoteandevenmagicmushrooms,arenotoriouslyknownfortheirfoultaste,andforthe
intensebodily(andmental)discomforttheycause,whichcommonlyincludesnausea,vomitingand
diarrhea,amongotherphenomena.Yettheseplantpsychedelicsleavetheirusersfeelingpurgedand
cleansed.EvensyntheticpsychedelicssuchasLSDoftenincludeadegreeofbodilydiscomfort,andcan
feelpurgingtosomedegree.MDMA,ontheotherhand,isalljoyandlovewithverylilepainor
discomfort,whichisperhapsthereasonwhyithasnopurgingeect.Infact,anintenseMDMA
experienceisalltoooftenaccompaniedbyadevastatingbummerordown.

(hps://psychedeliccultures.les.wordpress.com/2015/08/kambo2.jpg)
Apersonreceivingkambovenom.

Experiencingdicultyandillnesstotheirfullnessisanessentialelementofthepsychedelicvoyage.
Suchdicultyandillnesscantakebothbodilyaswellasmentalform,anditsexpressionreachesits
peakindeath/rebirthexperiences,inwhichtheindividualmustdieinordertoberebornagain.Deathas
theultimateformofillnessleadingtorebirthastheultimateformofcleanse.
Italmostseemsasifthepsychedelicexperienceandperhapsthevisionaryexperienceingeneralhave
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Italmostseemsasifthepsychedelicexperienceandperhapsthevisionaryexperienceingeneralhave
somekindofprotestantethicwhichissupportedbythebodyandthenervoussystem.Drugswhich
onlymakeyoufeelgood,butdontchallengeyou,likecocaine,heroinandspeed,alsoprecipitatea
downwhichoccursoncethedrugisoutofthenervoussystem,andarealsotheonesthatmakeyou
addicted.Bycontrast,drugswhoseuseinvolvesagreatdegreeofphysicaldiscomfort,suchasthe
naturalpsychedelics,arenontoxic,nonaddictiveandleaveyoufeelingpurged.Nopain,nogain.Its
alsoalmostasifpsychedelicusesupportsakindofspiritualprotestantworkethicinwhichonehasto
suerinordertoriseandsoar.

(hps://psychedeliccultures.les.wordpress.com/2015/08/ski
lift1.jpg)
Areskiliftsanillegitimateshortcutorjustanotherwaytogettothetopofthemountain?

Thisisparticularlyironicandinterestingsincetheprotestantworkethicwasoneofthemajorreasons
whypeopleinthewestcametodistrustpsychedelicsintherstplace.Duringthe1960spsychedelic
controversy,psychedelicswereoftenportrayedascheapthrills,thrillsthatgettheiruserstoastateof
instantnirvanatooeasily,withouthavingearnedithonestly.Participatorsinthepsychedelicdebate
suchasTimothyLearyandSidneyCohenusedtoargueaboutwhetherrelishingtheviewfromthetop
ofthemountainisthesamewhetheryougotthereusingaskiliftorafteralongaandarduoushike;The
topofthemountainbeing,ofcourse,themysticalexperience,arrivedatthroughsustainedspiritual
work,orthroughtheuseofdrugs.Cohenmaintainedthatthemountainclimberhassweatedand
strivenagainstthedangers.Hisviewmustbedierentfromtheskiliftridersbecauseitincorporates
thestruggleandthetriumph.[1]Theshortcutmaygetyoutothesamesummit.Theviewmaybethe
same,butwhatadierencebetweentheonewhosweatedandstruggledtogetthere,andtheonewho
rodetothetoponthebackofachemicalcarrier.[2]TimothyLeary,onhisend,insistedthatItsnota
caseofeither/or,itsboth/and.Ifyouwant,youcansweatandsuerhikingtoday,andyoucanchooseto
zoomuptomorrowusingtechnologyallthesecretsoflifeareshortcuts.Ithinkpeopledeserveevery
revelationtheycanget.[3]Doesachemicallytriggeredspiritualexperiencehavethesamevalueasone
arrivedusthroughhard,laboriouswork,andisitevenlegitimate?Suchquestionswerehighon
everybodysmindinthe1960smoraldiscussionaboutpsychedelics.[4]

Theprotestantworkethicalsoplayedacentralpartinthesocialdiscussionaboutpsychedelicsusers.
Hippieswereaccusedofbeinglazy,unproductive,anddisruptiveoftheworkethic.Thehippieethic
whichreplacedworkwithplaywasamainobjectofcriticisminpaperswrienbypsychiatristswho

wereconcernedthatpsychedelicusecouldleadtoagenerationofpsychedelicdropouts[5],and
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wereconcernedthatpsychedelicusecouldleadtoagenerationofpsychedelicdropouts[5],and
worriedthatpsychedelicuserswouldneverbeabletogainthelostgroundleadinglessproductive
lives.[6]

InmyPhDresearchThePsychoSocialConstructionofLSD:HowSetandSeingShapedtheAmerican
Experience19501970,theissueoftheprotestantworkethicprovedtobetheethicalcruxofmanyofthe
objectionstopsychedelicuseinthe1960s.Inmanyways,itremainssotothisday.Yet,ifthereisa
psychedelicworkethicwhichcanbefoundinpsychedelicuseandinpsychedeliccommunities
particularly,perhapsprotestantethicistsneednotbesoalarmed.IntheSantoDaimechurch,ayahuasca
ceremoniesarehabituallyreferredtoasworks,atermwhichemphasizesthattheceremonydemands
concentratedeortanddedicationonthepartofthepractitioner.Membersofthechurchworkwith
theayahuascabrewwiththepurposeofchannelingitsenergyintopurposeful,constructiveactivity.The
degreetowhichthepractitionerisabletoworkwiththeenergylucidlyanddedicatedlydetermines,
toagreatextent,thebenetstobereaped.

Thebodily(andsometimesalsomental)discomfortandpainwhichisinvolvedinmanypurgingand
visioninducingpracticesseemstobeanalmostinherentpartoftheexperience.Itisnotthatdierent
fromlife,really.Jerkingourbodiesoutoftheircomfortablestateofrestandequilibriumisoften
necessaryfortranscendingourlimitsandachievingagreaterdegreeofwholenessandwellbeing.
Examplescanincludeeverydayactivitiessuchasphysicalexercise,physicalwork,orevenstressful
events(speakinginfrontofacrowdisonemyfavorites).Itisthroughthededication,devotionand
intentionwhichoneputsintotheprocessofconfrontingonesdicultiesandchallenges,thatoneis
eventuallyabletotranscendthem.Protestantworkethicistscanrest.Psychedelicistsdohaveawork
ethic,itsjustanothertypeofworktheydo.

[1]SidneyM.D.Cohen,TheBeyondWithin:TheLSDStory(NewYork:Atheneum,1970),98.

[2]RichardAlpertandSidneyCohen,LSD,ed.LawrenceSchiller,PDFVersion.Availableonline.,n.d.,
44,hp://www.scribd.com/doc/9639651/LSDRichardAlpertSidneyCohen
(hp://www.scribd.com/doc/9639651/LSDRichardAlpertSidneyCohen).

[3]TimothyLeary,Flashbacks,1sted.(LosAngeles,CA:Tarcher,1983),52.

[4]Finally,whatCohenandLearybothseemedtooverlook,tomymind,wasthatthiswasnota
questionofboth/and,neitheraquestionofeither/orinthesensemeantbyCohen.Ifpsychedelicsdo
indeedtakeyoutothatnalstageofthespiritualroad,asCohenseemstosuggest,thenoneneedstobe
honestandnotethatthequestionisnotwhethertogetthereeasilyontheskilift,ormorearduouslyon
thehikingtrail.Consideringthelengthanddicultyofthespiritualpathandtheveryfewwhoreachits
conclusionandachievethemysticalstatesinducedbypsychedelicsontheirown,itshouldbenotedthat
thevastmajorityofthepopulationwouldneverreachthatsummitattheendofthespiritualpath
withoutpsychedelics.Thechoice,inmostcases,isnotbetweengeingtothetopontheskiliftor
geingtherehiking.Rather,itisgeingthereandobservingtheviewafterridingthepsychedelicskilift
ornevergeingthereatall.

[5]DonaldB.Louria,LysergicAcidDiethylamide,NewEnglandJournalofMedicine278,no.8(February
22,1968):43538,doi:10.1056/NEJM196802222780806.

[6]E.Robbinsetal.,ImplicationsofUntowardReactionstoHallucinogens,BulletinoftheNewYork
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[6]E.Robbinsetal.,ImplicationsofUntowardReactionstoHallucinogens,BulletinoftheNewYork
AcademyofMedicine43,no.11(November1967):994.

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4Comments
1.KamboSpiritpermalink
Greatarticleandread.Iwouldhoweverreconsidersanangaandkambo.Relativelytheydonot
accountformuchpain,onlymilddiscomfortandboththeshortandlongtermbenetstoyourhealth
andwellbeingfaroutweighthis.IfyouevergetthechanceagainIwouldthoroughlyrecommend
yougivethemachance.

Reply
Lucaapermalink
IwouldntcallthefeelingIgetfromusingSanangamilddiscomfort.Itisdenitelypainful.
Kambooontheotherhanddoesleadtomilddiscomfort.

Reply
2.marilina9permalink
nice!hey,wherecanonereadyourPhD(!!)

Reply
IdoHartogsohnpermalink
Iamnowintheprocessofturningitintoabook.Sohopefullysoonitwillbeavailablethank
youforyouinterest.Ido

Reply

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