A
Admin
Guest
09/28/12
To the global ayahuasca community:
We are a diverse group of people from
around the world, woven together by a deep connection with the plant medicine
ayahuasca, and we offer our most heartfelt condolences for the Nolan family on the
tragic loss of their son, Kyle. http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/14/u-s-teen-diesafter-
taking-hallucinogenic-drug-ayahuasca-in-peru/
We, the undersigned, people who had direct experience with Shimbre, or have
concern over what has transpired, believe Kyle was not given this medicine in a safe
or supportive traditional environment. Ayahuasca powerfully impacts both the body
and spirit, and while a purgative, is non-toxic. It must be facilitated in a ceremony by
a person with extensive experience in all aspects of plant medicine, one who has
studied for many years to understand the cultural traditions associated with
ayahuasca as well as the myriad physical and psychological effects this plant teacher
will have on the seeker. The facilitator, whether shaman, ayahuasquero or
curandero, gringo or indigenous, should closely monitor and tends to the seekers’
spiritual, physical and emotional needs throughout the ceremony. The responsibility
does not end there. The experience can be powerful, and at times disturbing,
requiring support from the practitioner to help the seeker integrate the experience
post-ceremony.
During the Shimbre ‘incident’ we believe this sacred medicine was administered by
an irresponsible practitioner who did not follow the ancient traditional practice of
staying with the seeker or student to insure physical and spiritual safety. Instead, in
an affront to traditional practice, he sent his charges off alone into the jungle to fend
for themselves following a superficial “ceremony”.
After the very first Shimbre (then called Chimbre) retreat in April, 2010, Rob Velez,
the founder and funder of Shimbre was counseled both verbally and in writing by a
number of concerned individuals that “Maestro Mancoluto’s” practices were not in
keeping with the sacred traditions–and were in fact, very dangerous. In addition,
Velez was warned the ayahuasca and huachuma (San Pedro) served by Mancoluto
contained potentially dangerous admixtures of other plants. This counsel was not
received in the spirit of deep concern and caring from which it was offered. Instead, it
was regarded as an unfounded personal attack on Mancoluto and Velez’s business.
Friendships and business relationships were destroyed as a result of these warnings.
Ayahuasca is legal in Peru as are retreat centers. A 'bad scene', operated ineptly by
unqualified people, is not a crime. Still, many people who were concerned about the
lack of duty of care and quality of ceremonies at Shimbre made their concerns known
in the only medium left open to them at that time–the ayahuasca community. This
same global community is now striving to learn from this tragedy, and facilitate a
‘Code of Ethics’ to self-regulate the business of shamanism as it spreads in the West,
and as ayahuasca is administered in Peru.
We believe that this is an issue that goes beyond any one lodge or practitioner, and
represents a turning point in the western shamanic re-integration. It is not something
easily legislated against or decided for others. The questions it raises for the
ayahuasca community in Peru and in the West, the tug of war between spirit and
consumerism, remains. What do we do, if anything? We move forward. We build
some type of foundation that can be used by our global community to have more
dialogue, more informed awareness, and more solidarity and cohesion. Thus we
encourage all interested parties to engage in discussion on the best ways to move
forward, for the greatest good of all.
Sincerely and with deep sadness,
Signed:
Dennis McKenna PhD
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, USA
Richard Meech
Toronto, Canada
Eion Bailey, USA
Rafael Monserrate
Los Angeles, California
Michael Maki,
Olympia, Washington
Howard Lawler
Iquitos, Peru
Rak Razam
Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia
Susan Blumenthal
Placitas, New Mexico, USA
Becca Dakini
Byron Bay, Australia
To the global ayahuasca community:
We are a diverse group of people from
around the world, woven together by a deep connection with the plant medicine
ayahuasca, and we offer our most heartfelt condolences for the Nolan family on the
tragic loss of their son, Kyle. http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/14/u-s-teen-diesafter-
taking-hallucinogenic-drug-ayahuasca-in-peru/
We, the undersigned, people who had direct experience with Shimbre, or have
concern over what has transpired, believe Kyle was not given this medicine in a safe
or supportive traditional environment. Ayahuasca powerfully impacts both the body
and spirit, and while a purgative, is non-toxic. It must be facilitated in a ceremony by
a person with extensive experience in all aspects of plant medicine, one who has
studied for many years to understand the cultural traditions associated with
ayahuasca as well as the myriad physical and psychological effects this plant teacher
will have on the seeker. The facilitator, whether shaman, ayahuasquero or
curandero, gringo or indigenous, should closely monitor and tends to the seekers’
spiritual, physical and emotional needs throughout the ceremony. The responsibility
does not end there. The experience can be powerful, and at times disturbing,
requiring support from the practitioner to help the seeker integrate the experience
post-ceremony.
During the Shimbre ‘incident’ we believe this sacred medicine was administered by
an irresponsible practitioner who did not follow the ancient traditional practice of
staying with the seeker or student to insure physical and spiritual safety. Instead, in
an affront to traditional practice, he sent his charges off alone into the jungle to fend
for themselves following a superficial “ceremony”.
After the very first Shimbre (then called Chimbre) retreat in April, 2010, Rob Velez,
the founder and funder of Shimbre was counseled both verbally and in writing by a
number of concerned individuals that “Maestro Mancoluto’s” practices were not in
keeping with the sacred traditions–and were in fact, very dangerous. In addition,
Velez was warned the ayahuasca and huachuma (San Pedro) served by Mancoluto
contained potentially dangerous admixtures of other plants. This counsel was not
received in the spirit of deep concern and caring from which it was offered. Instead, it
was regarded as an unfounded personal attack on Mancoluto and Velez’s business.
Friendships and business relationships were destroyed as a result of these warnings.
Ayahuasca is legal in Peru as are retreat centers. A 'bad scene', operated ineptly by
unqualified people, is not a crime. Still, many people who were concerned about the
lack of duty of care and quality of ceremonies at Shimbre made their concerns known
in the only medium left open to them at that time–the ayahuasca community. This
same global community is now striving to learn from this tragedy, and facilitate a
‘Code of Ethics’ to self-regulate the business of shamanism as it spreads in the West,
and as ayahuasca is administered in Peru.
We believe that this is an issue that goes beyond any one lodge or practitioner, and
represents a turning point in the western shamanic re-integration. It is not something
easily legislated against or decided for others. The questions it raises for the
ayahuasca community in Peru and in the West, the tug of war between spirit and
consumerism, remains. What do we do, if anything? We move forward. We build
some type of foundation that can be used by our global community to have more
dialogue, more informed awareness, and more solidarity and cohesion. Thus we
encourage all interested parties to engage in discussion on the best ways to move
forward, for the greatest good of all.
Sincerely and with deep sadness,
Signed:
Dennis McKenna PhD
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, USA
Richard Meech
Toronto, Canada
Eion Bailey, USA
Rafael Monserrate
Los Angeles, California
Michael Maki,
Olympia, Washington
Howard Lawler
Iquitos, Peru
Rak Razam
Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia
Susan Blumenthal
Placitas, New Mexico, USA
Becca Dakini
Byron Bay, Australia
