The knowledge of the Master Plants
Updated: May 17, 2021
This is the third part of our extensive interview with the ayahuasquero Javier Zavala, who is in charge of the Ayahuasca sessions in our Deep Journey retreat in the Peruvian rainforest. In this section, he talks about the process of becoming an ayahuasquero and the work with the Master Plants.
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Would you say there is a secret knowledge about the Ayahuasca among the ayahuasqueros?
Yes, there are certain teachings that are not revealed to the public, specially the ones regarding the Master Plants. When you are fasting in the mountain, the Ayahuasca teaches you special ways to cook it and find out the right dosage for each person, according to their needs. It is fasting in the mountain when you learn how to recycle, clean your own energy, and keep learning as a shaman. This is not like college, where you only need 5 years to graduate. As an ayahuasquero, you need to clean your physical and astral body every year. You never stop learning as a shaman.
As an apprentice, how do you know that you are ready to be an ayahuasquero on your own?
Your ayahuasqueros masters are pretty much involved in that decision. It is a lineage. The masters are the ones who guide you and give you the strength to take that important step. They are the ones to let you know when you are ready to work on your own. At the beginning, you will need their presence during the first ceremonies as a leading shaman. Furthermore, the Ayahuasca will let you know once you are ready.
Do you think there are a lot of people claiming to be ayahuasqueros when they are not?
Unfortunately, yes. Nowadays there are a lot of charlatans that just learn how to sign the Icaros and cook a very plain, although dangerous form of Ayahuasca. Dangerous because they mix some other plants to induce some kind of visions. They do not have the profound knowledge about Master Plants. Fake ayahuasqueros can do more harm than good.