Ayahuasqueros

Ayahuasqueros are traditional healers and spiritual guides in the Amazon who prepare and oversee ayahuasca ceremonies. The term is used for practitioners in indigenous, riverine, and mestizo communities as well as in urban contexts influenced by Amazonian practices. In many settings the ayahuasquero acts as a healer, shaman, or teacher, guiding participants through visions, purgatives, and dream experiences, often with ritual songs called icaro.

Role and practice: Many ayahuasqueros learn through apprenticeship within a community; training is informal and passes from elder to apprentice. They are trained in plant knowledge, ritual purification, and spiritual guidance. The brew, typically made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, is prepared according to local tradition. Ceremonies are held at night in a small, dimly lit space; participants drink the brew and are guided by the ayahuasquero through the experience, with icaro singing, tobacco smoke, and other cleansing rites used to direct the ceremony.

Geographic and cultural context: Practitioners are most closely associated with the Amazon regions of Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia, though related practices exist elsewhere. In some communities, ayahuasca is used for healing, divination, and spiritual learning. In Brazil and parts of Peru, syncretic religious movements such as Santo Daime and União do Vegetal use ayahuasca in organized ceremonies led by trained facilitators who may be described as ayahuasqueros or maestros.

Contemporary issues and safety: The legal status of ayahuasca and its preparation varies by country; some jurisdictions allow ceremonial use under religious exemptions, while others regulate or prohibit DMT-containing brews. Critics highlight concerns about cultural appropriation and exploitation, while supporters emphasize traditional knowledge and potential therapeutic value. Users should consider health risks, possible drug interactions, and the need for reputable, experienced guides.