Icaros
Sacred Heart of the Shaman's Knowledge Journey
Icaros
Sacred Heart of the Shaman's Knowledge Journey
Transmitting the healing energies of nature with song...
Healing songs called Icaros are the Shipibo shaman’s most important instrument for healing. Finding or “receiving” Icaros is the core focus of the shaman’s path to becoming a master healer.
The Shipibo shaman seeks to discover nature’s sacred healing songs through the shamanic practice of Master Plant Dieta (Dieta or Sama). With many years of disciplined practice, the Master Plants gift wisdom insights, music and healing energy as the shaman undergoes a profound process of transformation.
When the shamans’ vision opens during Ayahuasca Ceremony, they sing their Icaros for protection, to clean energies, and to call the healing power of the Master Plants.
The songs of master Shipibo shamans (Onányas) are sacred knowledge gifts from the Master Plants.
The songs of master Shipibo shamans (Onányas) are sacred knowledge gifts from the Master Plants.
Transmitting the healing energies of nature...
Healing songs called Icaros are the Shipibo shaman’s most important instrument for healing. Finding or “receiving” Icaros is the core focus of the shaman’s path to becoming a master healer.
The Shipibo shaman seeks to discover nature’s sacred healing songs through the shamanic practice of Master Plant Dieta (Dieta or Sama). With many years of disciplined practice, the Master Plants gift wisdom insights, music and healing energy as the shaman undergoes a profound process of transformation.
When the shamans’ vision opens during Ayahuasca Ceremony, they sing their Icaros for protection, to clean energies, and to call the healing power of the Master Plants.
Find out how the shamans' Icaros can help you heal
Precision of healing with Shipibo Icaros
Energetic "surgery" to the roots of your being
In most indigenous traditions, ancestral healing songs and melodies are passed down from generation to generation. These songs may be applied in broadly similar healing cases – such as to soothe a saddened heart or to welcome a young person to adulthood. Or, they may be sung for general purposes – to honor the spirits of nature or invite a mood of celebration.
In Shipibo shamanism, however, the master Shipibo shaman’s (Onánya’s) healing songs are very precise, detailed expressions of information revealed in their shamanic vision during Ayahuasca ceremony. Every Icaro is a unique, highly focused healing treatment suited exactly to one individual, in a singular moment in time.
Over many years of disciplined Dieta practice with Master Plants, the master Onánya shaman’s level of shamanic vision can advance to incredible heights of rich detail. Their Shipibo Icaros can then become like a kind of energetic surgery, which reaches more deeply into the roots of your being than is perhaps possible with other shamanic traditions.
Precision of healing with Shipibo Icaros
Energetic "surgery" to the roots of your being
In most indigenous traditions, ancestral healing songs and melodies are passed down from generation to generation. These songs may be applied in broadly similar healing cases – such as to soothe a saddened heart or to welcome a young person to adulthood. Or, they may be sung for general purposes – to honor the spirits of nature or invite a mood of celebration.
In Shipibo shamanism, however, the master Shipibo shaman’s (Onánya’s) healing songs are very precise, detailed expressions of information revealed in their shamanic vision during Ayahuasca ceremony. Every Icaro is a unique, highly focused healing treatment suited exactly to one individual, in a singular moment in time.
Over many years of disciplined Dieta practice with Master Plants, the master Onánya shaman’s level of shamanic vision can advance to incredible heights of rich detail. Their Shipibo Icaros can then become like a kind of energetic surgery, which reaches more deeply into the roots of your being than is perhaps possible with other shamanic traditions.
Icaros are gifts for disciplined Dieta practice
A long road to discover nature's sacred wisdoms
Shipibo shamanism is considered one of, if not the most, demanding shamanic traditions to learn. For the Shipibo apprentice to genuinely acquire healing song Icaros, he or she must undergo a long and arduous learning journey, typically spanning decades.
First, it is necessary to develop shamanic vision so as to accurately “see” and interpret the energies arising during Ayahuasca Ceremony. This may be accomplished through many years of disciplined Dieta practice with comprehensive guidance from a knowledgeable master Onanya shaman.
The apprentice must then closely study the master Onánya’s Icaros to understand the “divine science” of how to address and shift energies with the help of Ayahuasca and the Master Plants. There are a great many concepts and technical details to learn. For Westerners this is made all the more challenging by a vast language and cultural divide.
Finally, the student must “discover” his or her own Icaros. With continued Dieta practice, a process of personal transformation gradually unfolds. Little by little, as the shamans describe, the plants may gift insights, vision and melodies as rewards for good discipline, good thoughts, and a good heart.
Icaros are gifts for disciplined Dieta practice
A long road to discover nature's sacred wisdoms
Shipibo shamanism is considered one of, if not the most, demanding shamanic traditions to learn. For the Shipibo apprentice to genuinely acquire healing song Icaros, he or she must undergo a long and arduous learning journey, typically spanning decades.
First, it is necessary to develop shamanic vision so as to accurately “see” and interpret the energies arising during Ayahuasca Ceremony. This may be accomplished through many years of disciplined Dieta practice with comprehensive guidance from a knowledgeable master Onanya shaman.
The apprentice must then closely study the master Onánya’s Icaros to understand the “divine science” of how to address and shift energies with the help of Ayahuasca and the Master Plants. There are a great many concepts and technical details to learn. For Westerners this is made all the more challenging by a vast language and cultural divide.
Finally, the student must “discover” his or her own Icaros. With continued Dieta practice, a process of personal transformation gradually unfolds. Little by little, as the shamans describe, the plants may gift insights, vision and melodies as rewards for good discipline, good thoughts, and a good heart.
Learn about Ayahuasca Retreats with Master Plant Dieta
Our experienced facilitators are available to answer your questions
The knowledge treasure of master Onánya shamans
Testament to the shaman's courageous personal exploration
Maestra Dominga sings an Icaro to a guest
The remarkable beauty and poetry of an advanced Onánya shaman’s Icaros reflect their unique “knowledge treasure” of wisdom, acquired through many challenging years of transformational shamanic practice.
Learning with the Master Plants in the way of the Shipibo shamans is no mean feat. A great deal of discipline is demanded in terms of physical and mental purification, sexual abstinence, social isolation and meditative awareness. Achieving even a basic capacity to clean energies and heal with songs requires many years and even decades of practice.
At Caya Shobo our master Shipibo shamans all hold a minimum of 25 years of experience working with Master Plant Dieta and Ayahuasca. The beauty and power of their healing songs is an unmistakable testament to their long and difficult journey to discover the knowledge for healing within themselves and in nature. Their Icaros express their deep gratitude to the plants for showing them the way.
The knowledge treasure of master Onánya shamans
Testament to the shaman's courageous personal exploration
Maestra Dominga sings an Icaro to a guest
The remarkable beauty and poetry of an advanced Onánya shaman’s Icaros reflect their unique “knowledge treasure” of wisdom, acquired through many challenging years of transformational shamanic practice.
Learning with the Master Plants in the way of the Shipibo shamans is no mean feat. A great deal of discipline is demanded in terms of physical and mental purification, sexual abstinence, social isolation and meditative awareness. Achieving even a basic capacity to clean energies and heal with songs requires many years and even decades of practice.
At Caya Shobo our master Shipibo shamans all hold a minimum of 25 years of experience working with Master Plant Dieta and Ayahuasca. The beauty and power of their healing songs is an unmistakable testament to their long and difficult journey to discover the knowledge for healing within themselves and in nature. Their Icaros express their deep gratitude to the plants for showing them the way.
“The Maestro's were exceptionally well gifted in the Icaros and I felt immediate changes when they sang to me or the group.”
LisA E
Healing songs in Ayahuasca Ceremony
Clearing the way for new life
Mural at Caya Shobo with art work by Luis Tamani
In the beginning of the Ayahuasca Ceremony, all is quiet, and a sacred tranquility fills the Maloka ceremony space. As the effect of Ayahuasca begins, the shamanic vision of the Onánya shamans opens. They start to sing their Icaros to welcome the presence of the spirit of Ayahuasca and to prepare themselves for the healing work to be done.
Typically the first healing song treatment the shamans make is for themselves. They sing to clean their energy and align the healing power of their Dieta energies within their bodies, minds and hearts.
The shamans may also sing to shield themselves using the energy of strong protection plants such as Mapacho (tobacco) or Achiote. Such plants can help guard them from negative energies being cleaned from people’s bodies and minds under the effect of Ayahuasca and the Dieta process.
When the shaman feels their energy is solid and well protected, they begin treating guests, one-by-one they sing a personalized Icaro treatment to each person. These healing songs are devised in the moment according to what is revealed in the shaman’s vision regarding the energetic state of your body, mind, heart and spirit.
They may sing to clear your deeply buried traumas, disentangle confused thoughts, cleanse your blood, or a myriad of other possible healing themes. At Caya Shobo the shamans also sing to foster a direct connection between you and the plants that have been prescribed to help you with your unique healing needs. The Icaro calls the Master Plant spirits to meet you in your dreams and awaken your consciousness to a path of personal transformation.
Healing songs in Ayahuasca Ceremony
Clearing the way for new life
In the beginning of the Ayahuasca Ceremony, all is quiet, and a sacred tranquility fills the Maloka ceremony space. As the effect of Ayahuasca begins, the shamanic vision of the Onánya shamans opens. They start to sing their Icaros to welcome the presence of the spirit of Ayahuasca and to prepare themselves for the healing work to be done.
Typically the first healing song treatment the shamans make is for themselves. They sing to clean their energy and align the healing power of their Dieta energies within their bodies, minds and hearts.
The shamans may also sing to shield themselves using the energy of strong protection plants such as Mapacho (tobacco) or Achiote. Such plants can help guard them from negative energies being cleaned from people’s bodies and minds under the effect of Ayahuasca and the Dieta process.
When the shaman feels their energy is solid and well protected, they begin treating guests, one-by-one they sing a personalized Icaro treatment to each person. These healing songs are devised in the moment according to what is revealed in the shaman’s vision regarding the energetic state of your body, mind, heart and spirit.
They may sing to clear your deeply buried traumas, disentangle confused thoughts, cleanse your blood, or a myriad of other possible healing themes. At Caya Shobo the shamans also sing to foster a direct connection between you and the plants that have been prescribed to help you with your unique healing needs. The Icaro calls the Master Plant spirits to meet you in your dreams and awaken your consciousness to a path of personal transformation.
The true master shaman is following a life-long path to discover their most sacred Icaro.
It is an integral quest for personal healing, offered back to others as a song to awaken the spirit.
What do the shaman's Icaros mean?
Poetry that heals, in the flow of the shaman's vision
Shipibo fabric weavings depict the energetic forms of the Onánya shamans healing songs
Healing song Icaros of Onanya shamans are sung in their native language – Shipibo. At Caya Shobo most of our experienced facilitators have studied with Onanya shamans for many years and we understand a lot of the concepts used in Shipibo Icaros.
The Shipibo language has a rich abundance of words and phrases related to healing and spiritual energies (more than is commonly found in Western languages). Shipibo Icaros are not generally of fixed form as they are created “in the flow” of the shaman’s vision.
However, a combination of phrases, crafted in a manner that expresses the unique heart and creativity of the shaman, is generally focused around:
- opening your energetic field to see more deeply within you
- cleaning and ordering your emotional, physical or mental energy
- elevating and strengthening your or the shaman’s prayer
- calling Master Plants (especially when you’re in Dieta) to clean, strengthen and perfume your body, mind and spirit
- bringing love into your heart, opening your consciousness and returning your spirit to a state of joy
- placing protective energies around you
- sowing the energy of the Icaros deeply into your being, so it will continue to heal and support you over time.
The efficacy of a healing song Icaro depends largely on the level of experience, discipline and ancestral learning of the shaman. At Caya Shobo, we hold extremely high standards for these qualities. We work only with master Onánya shamans of an exceptional level of experience and committed practice.
What do the shaman's Icaros mean?
Poetry that heals, in the flow of the shaman's vision
Shipibo fabric weavings depict the energetic forms of the Onánya shamans healing songs
- opening your energetic field to see more deeply within you
- cleaning and ordering your emotional, physical or mental energy
- elevating and strengthening your or the shaman’s prayer
- calling Master Plants (especially when you’re in Dieta) to clean, strengthen and perfume your body, mind and spirit
- bringing love into your heart, opening your consciousness and returning your spirit to a state of joy
- placing protective energies around you
- sowing the energy of the Icaros deeply into your being, so it will continue to heal and support you over time.
Icaros are the songs of nature's spirit
The true Shipibo masters know that all the healing wisdom and power resides in the plants. The Onanya’s Icaro is an embodiment of their long journey to know themselves, through the dedicated shamanic practice of Dieta.
Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca opens an energetic doorway for the Shipibo shamans to enter the spiritual world of the plants and perceive the forms present.
Shipibo Master Plants
Connecting with the wisdom in Master Plants can gradually help us understand our nature, our forms, our relationships and the spiritual essence of life.
Dedicated Master Plant Dieta
The Shipibo way to access the wisdom and power of the Master Plants and receive their healing songs is through disciplined Dieta practice.