: sample of the Maestras singing ikaros during ceremony at the Temple.
Integral to any ayahausca ceremony are sacred chants sung by the curanderas to call the protective jungle spirits, summon the essence of nature, and to provoke the mareacion or effects of the ayahuasca by making a plea to the spirit of the vine. Icaros “render the mind susceptible for visions; then the curtains can open for the start of the theatre”.
Icaros may be magical chants or a melody that is whistled, sung, or whispered into the ayahuasca brew. They may also be sung directly into the energy field of a person who is to be healed during a ceremony.
An icaro can be regarded as an energetic force charged with positive or healing intent that the curandera stores inside her body and is able to transmit to another person or to the brew itself so that this positive energy is ingested when the mixture is drunk.
These songs are taught to the curnadera by the spirit of the plant allies she has an affinity with, and the longer her relationship with the plants, the more icaros she may learn and the more potent they will be.
Icaros can also be transmitted from a master shaman/a to his/her disciple but, once again, it is nature that is regarded as the greatest teacher and the most powerful songs are those learnt directly from the plants themselves. To learn these songs the curandera must follow a special diet for many months / years as she stays in isolation deep in the rainforest to find the appropriate plants and remain in solitude in places of power where the magical music of nature can be heard.
