Adjustable Kuripe

Adjustable Kuripe and Tepi

An adjustable Kuripe that fits any nose perfectly and when opened more becomes a very functional little Tepi, a truly wonderful invention! It was first conceived by an ingenious artesian from Rio de Janeiro who frequents the Santo Daime path. It has since become an all time favorite for many, even quite a few indigenous Rapé masters swear by this model.

Because of its length compared to the traditional Kuripe, it gives great pressure to your blow making your self-application come in like a Tepi blow. It is simple yet effective, composed of two wooden tubes fit into a turned wooden base that enables the user to adjust the angle and distance of the tubes.

This Kuripe has already became a standard in Brazil made by a variety of crafters. This particular model was made by a very talented wood worker and furniture maker. He has perfected the concept by using high quality hardwood and making the base in a way that fits snug as bug. It has a nice tight fitting and a guaranteed long life when used correctly; a perfect tool.

Here we see a great crossover of cultures, a concept executed with modern urban tools and applied to tribal science and medicine. As mentioned before it has found its way back to the roots in the forest where it is very well received by most. As all of our products it is made by a true artisan with love and dedication, first perfected for personal use and then produced for other lovers who value precision tools for their passion.

There may be slight varieties from batch to batch since this is a hand crafted product.

The Kuripe and Tepi

Kuripe and Tepi are two different kinds of pipes for administering rapé, the sacred snuff of the Amazon.

Kuripe

A snuff auto applicator is an instrument with a V shape. In the native language they call it a Kuripe.

When blowing Rapé you use a Kuripe in the following way. You load it with the right amount of Shamanic Snuff for your personal need, then you put one end in the mouth and the other in the nose. Without inhaling one gently blows the rapé into the nose. Kuripes exist from a variety of materials. The most common materials are bamboo or bone but they also make them from metal, stone or wood.

Tepi

A two person applicator is a Tepi. The people in the forest use it for ceremonial rapé sharing. There are an endless variety of models and possibilities. In the old days the indigenous used a long bamboo or reed to blow, as became famous from anthropology movies. Nowadays they are usually a bit less dramatic but depending on the quantity of medicine and strength of the blow, the rapé experience can be very strong.

Application of Sacred Snuff

The secret of a good application is in the way you blow the rapé into the nose. Always before blowing clear and elevate your mind. Think positive and visualize positive things; your intentions will flow with your breath.

There are many different breath strengths and styles that can be used for blowing. The most common blows are the beija flor (the hummingbird), and the jiboiá (the boa constrictor).

The beija flor is a short and fast blow, the jiboia is long and slow. The beija flor is a more uplifting hit, waking you up. The Jiboia starts gentle and gains strength towards the end. With smaller amounts it is gentle and meditative; with bigger amounts it slowly creeps up on you and gains strength at the end.

You always finish the blow bringing the point of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. This gives an ending to the application, so to speak. It’s a good idea to train a bit without rapé – just take the tepi on its own and practice your technique.

Receiving the Medicine

When you receive rapé, never breath in through the nose – hold your breath and let the rapé enter.

After you have blown yourself, or received the rapé from someone else, it’s best to close your eyes and concentrate. Don’t breathe through your nose but through your mouth and let the rapé sweat a bit. When it starts to run down your throat, either spit it out or blow your nose, or both.

Working with rapé is a cleansing process, so spit out any residence you feel dripping down your throat. Keep some tissue to hand and let nature and the rapé do its work.