Chakapa

Chakapa
A well used Chakapa from a Peruvian Curandero

Chakapas are percussion instruments used by Shamans in the Peruvian Amazon Basin in healing ceremonies with Ayahuasca.[1] The chakapa (Shakapa) is used in tandem with icaros by the Shaman or Curandero in healing ceremonies to control the spiritual experience of his patient. The sound of the chakapa is said to comfort patients in an ayahuasca ceremony and "cleans" the energy surrounding the client. Shaman have a large variety of shakapa movements that create different sounds and energy waves, these movements match the coinciding icaro and healing that is being done at the time.
In an Ayahuasca ceremony the shakapa becomes an extension of the shaman and the icaro, becoming an important tool for directing the energy of the medicine work. In ceremony people talk about seeing green, blue and gold ribbons of light forming around the shakapa and these tendrils moving around the room.[2] The shakapa is also an important cleansing tool used during venteadas and arcanas. A shakapa is made by tying together the leaves from the bush in a fashion that forms a fan shaped instrument. (See picture)

See also

  1. ^ Luna, Luis Eduardo (1986). Vegetalismo (Stockholm Studies in Comparative Religion). Almqvist & Wiksell Internat. ISBN 9122008195. 
  2. ^ http://www.perunews.com/pasados/enero_03/Pages/Update/Pag9.html

External links


Stub icon This spirituality-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.