This magnificent book by W. Golden Mortimer, published in 1901 and long out of print, has been digitized by Microsoft for the University of California and now available in the Open Internet Archive. The book contains nearly 200 hundred illustrations.
Mama Coca presenting the 'Divine Plant' to the Old World
Medicinal and Shamanic Plants of Peru, a set on Flickr.
I’ve been adding more photos from the archives.
Frotacion de COCA Erythroxylum – The Peruvian ‘Tiger Balm’ reinforced with Wira Sacha aka Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis).
The frotacion is also good to relieve insect bites, and It’s a very pretty little tin as well.
A very well researched and informative study from the Transnational Institute about the Coca (erythroxylum) plant.
Coca leaf divination with Doris Rivera Lenz (Cuzco)
Mama Coca presenting the 'Divine Plant' to the Old World
Coca Leaves
The Huitoto people use coca as part of the social and ceremonial traditions. Here is Mariano the shaman with a coca bush.
Ofrenda Ceremony in the Andes, Curandera Doris Rivera Lenz with coca leaves.
Coca (Erythroxylon coca). Products made from coca leaf in Peru.
Machu Picchu - Inca Wonder of the World
The Incas regarded coca as ‘the divine plant’ mainly because of its property of imparting endurance, nevertheless its use was entwined with every aspect of life; the art, mythology, culture and economy of the Inca Empire.
Millions of Indians have chewed coca on a daily basis for many hundreds of years, yet never has a plant been so misrepresented and its use so controlled by prejudice and ignorance, including up to the present day. The Conquistadors considered it an idle and offensive habit to be prohibited, but it was soon seen that the Indians could not work without coca even when forced to do so.
Frotacion de COCA - The Peruvian 'Tiger Balm' reinforced with Wira Sacha aka Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis)
Coca Leaf products - Coca Candy
A packet of Coca Candy
As documented by the Transnational Institute:
The 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – recently endorsed by the United States in December 2010 – states that “indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.”
The decision to ban coca chewing fifty years ago was based on a 1950 report elaborated by the UN Commission of Inquiry on the
Coca Leaf with a mandate from ECOSOC, after a brief visit to Peru and Bolivia. The head of the Commission, Howard B. Fonda, gave an interview in Lima in September 1949, before beginning his work:
“We believe that the daily, inveterate use of coca leaves by chewing … not only is thoroughly noxious and therefore detrimental,
but also is the cause of racial degeneration in many centers of population, and of the decadence that visibly shows in numerous Indians – and even in some mestizos – in certain zones of Peru and Bolivia. Our studies will confirm the certainty of our assertions and we hope we can present a rational plan of action … to attain the absolute and sure abolition of this pernicious habit.”
To misquote Frank Zappa ..Imperialism is not dead it just smells funny.
Mama Coca presenting the 'Divine Plant' to the Old World
The Huitoto people use coca as part of the social and ceremonial traditions. Here is Mariano the shaman with a coca bush.
Ofrenda Ceremony in the Andes, Curandera Doris Rivera Lenz with coca leaves.
Shamans of Peru, a set on Flickr.
A Photo Gallery of some of the Peruvian Shamans that we have worked with over the years.
An in-depth look at the role of plant spirits in shamanic rituals from around the world
In Plant Spirit Shamanism, the authors explore the use of one of the major allies of shamans for healing, seeing, dreaming, and empowerment–plant spirits. After observing great similarities in the use of plants among shamans throughout the world, they discovered the reason behind these similarities: Rather than dealing with the “medical properties” of the plants or specific healing techniques, shamans commune with the spirits of the plants themselves.
From their years of in-depth shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti, and Europe, including extensive field interviews with master shamans, the authors present the core methods of plant shamanism used in healing rituals the world over: soul retrieval, spirit extraction, sin eating, and the Amazonian tradition of pusanga (love medicine). They explain the techniques shamans use to establish connections to plant spirits and provide practical exercises as well as a directory of traditional Amazonian and Caribbean healing plants and their common North American equivalents so readers can explore the world of plant spirits and make allies of their own.
Reviews
“Plant Spirit Shamanism takes readers into realms that defy rational logic and scientific theory, showing graphically that we humans are not the only intelligent life on this planet. From their extensive travels to indigenous cultures that understand life very differently from those in the ‘developed’ world, the authors reveal a wealth of plant knowledge that has been lost to Western civilization. This book is both a fascinating read and a considerable challenge to the orthodox mind.”
(Leo Rutherford, author of The Way of Shamanism and Your Shamanic Path )
Pablo Amaringo wrote an inspirational foreword for the book.
“This is an incredible book, a book with depth that speaks to the soul. . . . The knowledge in this book could very easily be put to good use in everyday life, which makes it a ‘keeper; for any healer’s library.”
(Bonnie Cehovet, Angelfire, Sept 2006 )
“Plant Spirit Shamanism explores not the usual medicinal qualities of plants, but shamanic communications with the spirits of the plants themselves. . . . Healers will find this essential to understanding plant processes.”
(Diane C. Donovon, California Bookwatch, Nov 2006 )
“A practical and useful guide for healing on a deeper level, using Mother Nature’s power.”
(Vicky Thompson, New Connexion, Nov-Dec 2006 )
“Healers will find this essential to understanding plant processes.”
(California Bookwatch, Nov 2006 )
“The book is not simply a dry academic discussion of these topics, although that alone would be intrinsically interesting. Instead, it provides cross-cultural perspectives on all aspects of plant-spirit based healing. . . . Whether you want to learn to practice plant-spirit medicine–or simply want to gain a better understanding of it–this book will be a useful addition to your botanical library.” (
Dennis J. McKenna, Ph.D., HerbalGram, Journal of American Botanical Council, No. 78, May/July 2008 )
Shamans of Peru CD, Ceremonial Chants, Icaros, and Music
THE SHAMANS OF PERU CD
A photo gallery from our March 2008 Andean Shamanism Retreat in Peru.
Shamanism Retreat with San Pedro Shamans and Coca Leaf Diviner and Curandera
Shamanism & Visionary Art 