Kuntanawa Rapé – Sananga

Kuntanawa Rapé – Sananga

By the hands of the Kuntanawa, a new Rapé:

Across Amazonian native culture, one of the most famed and powerful spiritual tools comes in the form of a finely ground ritualistic powder known as Rapé, or Shamanic Snuff. Rapé blends unite the forces of the flora of the rainforest and the medicinal knowledge of Shamans and Pajés, offering a natural source of physical healing and spiritual elevation.

Sacred Connection has worked alongside Kuntanawa partners to create unique and exclusive medicinal and ritualistic snuffs for our customers, and now we proudly present our newest blend: the Kuntanawa Rapé – Sananga!

Made with Sabiá Tobacco, a very strong variation of Nicotiana rustica, and ashes of burnt roots of Tabernaemontana sananho, the same shrub that originates the ancient concoction that is known as Sananga, a form of eye drop medicine that is traditionally used to help with issues such as glaucoma, dry eyes, cataracts, and chronic headaches, in addition to soothing the spirit and boosting vital energy.

The Powers within this Rapé

Tabernaemontana sananho

Popularly known across Brazilian cultures as Sananga or “Forest Eye Drop” (Colírio da Floresta), this Amazon native shrub has been present in indigenous customs since immemorial times, and has now made its way to even urban rituals of natural medicine practitioners. The Sananga root is highly coveted, as it is from this plant part that the deccoction that is used to create medicinal extracts comes from, where aphsodisiac and stimulant properties reside, according to Shamanic principles.

The spirit of the Sananga is capable of “reading” a person’s energetic patterns that are unbalanced or disrupted by spiritual or pstycho-somatic ailments known as “panemas”. It works to bring this energy back to a soothing stability and harmony with Nature, expanding the reach of the third eye and promoting ocular improvements as well, such as a better perception of colors and increased sharpness of visions.

It is the custom for native Amazonian hunters to make use of medicines containing Tabernaemontana sananho before embarking on their journeys to sharpen their perception of the world around them. Records of practitioners who have been in contact with this plant state that it can even help someone better feel and understand others’ intentions, and to open their heart and mind for Destiny’s blessings.

Sabiá Tobacco

Rope tobacco is a very powerful ingredient. This Nicotiana rustica variation can be found in the form of ropes or thick vines that are used in the production of indigenous medicines that become equally potent. According to shamanic culture, this plant can offer great healing powers for both the spirit and the physical body, and are therefore often used in sacred ceremonies and indigenous rituals of healing.

Even though some people refer to it as Sabiá Tobacco (Thrust Tobacco), this wild species is most commonly known as Rope Tobacco: The twisting of these ropes doesn’t occur naturally, but is the final product of a process that involves the harvesting, drying, and fermentation of Sabiá tobacco leaves, before the cylinders of tobacco rope can be handmade during the production process.

The Kuntanawa

The Kuntanawa are the People of the Coconut, a great family known across the Alto Juruá as “the Caboclos of Milton” to honor their patriarch, Milton Gomes da Conceição and his leadership along with his wife, Dona Mariana (Mrs. Mariana). They are responsible for the creation and upkeep of the Reserva Extrativista do Alto Juruá (Extractive Reserve of High Juruá), the first Brazilian reserve of the descendants of enslaved indigenous peoples forced to become rubber extractors. Their goals include the creation of sustainability projects that seek to both aid the communities, preserve their land, and protect their traditional identity and customs, including the rituals revolving around the sacred consumption of Ayahuasca.

In 2008, the Kuntanawa were acknowledged by the Xicão Xukuru Edition of the Indigenous Culture Award due to their “Revitalizing and Reclaiming of the Kuntanawa People’s Culture” project, which was to be set into motion by the year of 2009. With the aid of the State of Acre’s Government and the State Law of Cultural Incentive (Lei Estadual de Incentivo à Cultura), they were also able to release a set of songs composed by Kuntanawa youth, led by Milton’s grandson, Haru, who also planned on making a documentary film.