Description
Colombian Guarumo rapé | Strength from the elements | #35
This Colombian Guarumo Rapé is made with ash from the Guarumo tree bark and leaves and Nicotiana rustica leaves. It is exclusively made for us by a Colombian shaman. He works with plants and healers from many indigenous cultures around South America.
The name “Strength from the elements” refers to the rapé’s ability to connect us with ancestral wisdom. It also induces a mood for meditation, cleans the mind, and unlocks emotional blockages. In the Spiritual realm, strength is correlated to the planet’s elements: fire, air, earth, and water.
The main ingredient for this rapé comes from the forest pioneer tree Yarumo (cecropia membranacea). In order to make snuff, plant leaves are shade or sun-dried, burned over a fire, or placed on an upside-down pot on hot coals. The dried leaves are then crushed, pulverized, and often sifted. Nutshells and pots can serve as mortars.
What is Rapé?
Rapé, pronounced ‘ha-pey’ in Portuguese, is a traditional snuff used by various indigenous tribes of South America. Predominantly tribal people from Brazil and Peru. Rapé blends contain a ground mixture of plants, tree bark, seeds, and ash. The fine powder is blown into each nostril through a bone or bamboo pipe called a ‘Tepi’ or ‘Kuripe’. The Tepi applicator is a long blow pipe that connects the nostril of the receiver to the mouth of the person that administers the snuff. The Kuripe is for self-application. The V-shaped applicator connects the nostril to the mouth allowing the snuff to be self-blown into the nose.
Each tribe has its own rapé formula and usually, it is women who gather the ingredients. The selection, mixture, and grinding process are regarded as a ritual only to be performed by a reputable healer. The snuff is typically made in small batches according to the specific needs of the person being treated or the ceremony’s occasion.
The use of Rapé aims to restore our connection to nature and a sense of grounding. It clears mental fog and confusion eliminating negative thought patterns. These powerful snuffs bring about physical and spiritual wellness.
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