Rapé

What is rapé?

In the simplest terms, rapé is an ancient snuff, that is, a type of nasal tobacco. But it has nothing in common with modern snuff, and even less with cigarettes.

Firstly, rapé contains not the usual Nicotiana tabacum familiar to smokers, but Nicotiana rustica, also known as Mapacho or “Aztec tobacco.” For the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, this plant is sacred. It is used to treat wound infections, neutralize snake venom, drive away evil spirits, and some shamans even add it to ayahuasca. The Quechua believe that Mapacho embodies the element of earth, thereby strengthening the connection with Mother Earth and opening energy channels.

Secondly, Nicotiana rustica is only one of the three essential ingredients of rapé. The other two are the ashes of the Arikury palm (Syagrus schizophyllum) and Buriti palm (Mauritia flexuosa), symbolizing the Sun and the Moon. Each shaman has their own unique rapé recipe, which can include up to 30 plant components: flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, as well as wood ash. Some of these ingredients the shaman collects personally, performing a special ritual during which they ask the spirits of the forest for help and strength. Others are entrusted to hunters and children to gather.

Thirdly, rapé is not ready until the shaman (also called the pajé) performs a ritual over it and charges the magical powder with Power and Intention, invoking the spirits of the plants, primarily Dume Pai. Such rapé not only cleanses the body of toxins and the mental field of informational noise, but also helps establish a connection with the Clan and the Higher Self. After preparing the rapé, the shaman must first try it themselves before passing the magical powder on to their fellow tribe members.

Be careful! Many tobacco companies, for example in Brazil, the USA, and Germany, sell regular snuff under the name “rapé.” This is most likely due to a historical inaccuracy: until the 19th century, Brazilian nobility preferred to call any snuff by this name.

Rapé is blown into the nose using a tepi or kuripe — V-shaped tubes made from bone, bamboo, or various types of wood. A kuripe can be used independently: fill it with powder, take a deep breath, insert the long end into the nostril and the short end into the mouth, and then, with a sharp exhale, blow the rapé into the nasal cavity. A tepi is much longer and is used during ceremonies, when the pajé personally administers the magical powder into the participant’s nose.

It is important to follow the sequence. First, blow the powder into the left nostril, symbolizing death. Then into the right nostril, to metaphorically be reborn, to rise again. The rapé will begin to absorb through the mucous membranes — you will feel as if your nasal cavity is on fire. Your eyes will water, your head will pleasantly spin, and you will feel the urge to sneeze. In some cases (especially if a beginner takes too large a dose), nausea may occur. Once the effects subside, you should blow your nose to clear the airways.

During the ritual, it is necessary to listen to yourself and meditate. Since the composition of rapé varies significantly between shamans, the sensations can also differ: they may be gentle or intense, accompanied only by a sense of physical and mental cleansing, or also by mystical experiences.

What effects does rapé have?

For the Quechua and other indigenous peoples of the Amazon, the rapé ritual is not only an ancient tradition but also an integral part of spiritual culture and medicine. This powder is used to treat and prevent respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, detoxify the body and soul, and stimulate brain activity. A person who uses rapé thinks clearly, solves difficult tasks with ease, tires less, builds relationships with others more smoothly, and genuinely appreciates the beauty of the world. Colors seem brighter, sounds louder. A person begins to live life to the fullest.

There are also specific types of rapé. For example, some include ground seeds of the poisonous Amazonian spurge. This powder, called “jaguar warrior rapé,” temporarily eliminates fear entirely. There are blends designed for work, significantly increasing physical strength and endurance, as well as special rapé for healers (curanderos), which allows them to magically enter a patient’s soul and remove illness. But above all, the indigenous people value rapé that opens the third eye, helps communicate with spirits, and enables journeys to other worlds.

Not only do the recipes and methods of preparing rapé vary, but the ceremonies themselves also differ. The three most common ones are:

• Rapé Yapu. Named after a rare Amazonian bird, this ritual involves inhaling the powder with a sharp “deer’s breath.” It can be taken individually using a kuripé (often made from a forest chestnut and two bamboo tubes). The rapé does not penetrate too deeply, so it rarely induces mystical experiences. However, it brings calm, relieves stress, and fills one with the energy of the World by cleansing the nasal passages. The indigenous people believe that the secret to strength and health lies in deep nasal breathing.
• Rapé Pinu (Hummingbird). During this ceremony, the pajé blows the rapé through a tepi with a powerful and sustained “yiboya breath” (from the Brazilian tree boa). This way, the powder cleanses the frontal sinuses (which serve as reservoirs of magic) and opens the third, fiery eye, allowing the spirit of Dume Pai to pass through. Rapé Pinu is used to treat severe illnesses when other remedies are powerless, and also to prepare for encountering the Unknown. It is a stage on the path to the third type of ritual.
• Rapé Ara. Not everyone is capable of undergoing the ceremony named after the giant parrot — only those who have already achieved complete physical and spiritual resilience, and are therefore ready to interact directly with the spirit of Dume Pai. Such ceremonies are conducted very rarely, and the rapé is blown through a thick straight tube — the kanuda, or kashpu.

Those who manage to open the third eye and master Dume Pai gain the wisdom of nature, acquire the ability to undertake astral journeys, and interact with their Ancestral Lineage.

In Conclusion

This magical powder is astonishingly versatile. Depending on its composition, dosage, method of consumption, and the order of the ceremony, rapé can serve either as a powerful physical and mental detoxifier or as a source of mystical visions, granting access to the ancient wisdom of the Quechua and other indigenous peoples of the Amazon. The potential of rapé is immense. Be patient and persistent — only then will you be able to unlock its full power.