Description

Katukina Spicey Clarity Rapé | Mulateiro Ash (Calycophyllum spruceanum) & Sananga Root Bark (Tabernaemontana undulata) #79

Shaman made Katukina Spicey Clarity Rapé from the Brazilian Amazon. This Rapé is strong, energizing, and cleansing. The presence of Sananga (Tabernaemontana undulata) in this complex blend makes it very effective for healing physical and spiritual ailments.

Katukina Spicey Clarity Rapé has been made with Mulateiro ash from the sacred Capirona tree (Calycophyllum spruceanum). All material for this powder is gathered by the Katukina Shaman and his family and is later carefully roasted and ground in the traditional way.

Usually in the community, this Katukina Spicey Clarity Rapé is prepared in small quantities and shared from the same vessel. The use of this Katukina Sananga Rapé by Katukinas aims to connect them with the spirits of nature and find a physical and spiritual cleansing.

Sananga

For our Katukina Spicey Clarity Rapé Shamans use the root bark of the Sananga – Tabernaemontana undulata – shrub, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family. The tree can grow to heights of 10 meters tall and is used for both food and remedies. Apart from the Amazon, the plant can also be found in Central America and the Caribbean.

Traditional users of Sananga hold that it is beneficial for treating various physical conditions, as well as spiritual ailments. Especially clearing the mind and eliminating emotional or spiritual blockages.  It is believed to have the capacity to balance and increase the vitality of the body while uncovering hidden deep roots of illnesses. Sananga facilitates a sense of well-being and peace of mind.

Calycophyllum spruceanum

The Capirona tree can grow up to a height of 30 meters. During the summer months, it produces an abundance of white, aromatic flowers, which are followed by elongated seed pods with 3-5 seeds inside. Its bark is shed entirely once or twice a year avoiding lichens, fungi, epiphytes, and lianas.  After this event, the trunk underneath can look bare and shiny with a copper-like hue, somewhat like sunburnt human skin.

The Katukina people

The Katukina or Catuquinha are an indigenous group that inhabits the southwestern Brazilian state of Acre. They seem to be closely related to the Marúbo and the Kawanawas. They also belong to the same Pano linguistic family. By 1977 there were less than 200 Katukina people but the population is steadily recovering. Internally, the Katukinas are called according to their clans – kamãnaua (people of the dog), Varinaua (people of the sun), Satanaua (people of the otter), and Neianaua (people of heaven).

Chanting rituals and profound forest survival skills keep this group united and in harmony with the rich amazonian environment they come from. They are the traditional carriers of rapé knowledge in the Amazonas region. When Katukinas share their rapé it is a key moment of transcendent connection with the spiritual realm.

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. 

Read more:

Step by step guide to using Rapé.

What is Rapé – Waking Herbs blog