Some more information about Rapé
Many people ask what is Rapé? Rapé or Hapé is a shamanic snuff, usually made with tobacco and found throughout the Brazilian Amazon. Traditional Amazonian medicine and shamanism uses it as a medicinal herb, and as a tool for shamanic journeying. Many people ask what is Rapé?
The word Rapé comes French and means finely grated. This comes from the time when snuff was the main form of using tobacco in Europe. The Pano tribes have their own names for their shamanic snuffs: The Yawanawa call it Rumã, The Shawãdawa have Dawê Rupusuti, the Huni Kuin call it Dume deske, the Katukina have Romo poto, the Kuntanawa and the Nukini also Rumã e por ai vai
If you want to hear more about its use and history in indigenous tradition listen to Chief Biraci Yawanawa.
What is Rapé?
Indigenous snuff usually contains finely powdered tobacco and special ashes. It can contain a number of different herbs and plants. These are for flavour and sometimes for their alleged medicinal properties. In addition, the strength of the tobacco used can change depending on the blend!
How to take Rapé
Rapé is usually administered by a shaman, through a pipe called a tepi. Small quantities of rapé are blown up the nostrils, one after the other. The effect can be powerful and immediate!
There are many distinct ways to apply Rapé, from the short Beija Flor blow to the longer Jiboia.
You can also take rapé yourself, using a special V shaped pipe called a kuripe. You will lose out on the experience and knowledge of the shaman, who can impart energetic healing and guidance too.
- Choose a place that is sacred to you, filled with spirituality and energetic movements. Look for places that help you keep focus, too.
- Measure the necessary amount of snuff. Usually, the equivalent to the size of a pea should be enough. This may also be a good moment to complement the process with chanting and prayer.
- Scoop the blend into the nose-end of your kuripe applicator, then carefully tap the curved V-peak on a hard surface to eliminate any air pockets or bits of stuck rapé.
- Place the mouth-end into your mouth and carefully position the other end into one nostril. Lean forward and remember to close your eyes.
- Give the pipe a hard blow and take a moment to experience the moment and feel the strength and power of sacred Rapé.
- Keep in mind that both sides/nostrils should receive this medicine to achieve balance!
- Try and “hold in” the rapé for a few instants before blowing it out again.
- Remember that this ritual is one of cleansing; expel any fluids that may start dripping from your body, as they can be physical manifestations of spiritual issues you need to let go of in order to heal.
Rapé use in the tribes
The answer what is Rapé can be answered in many ways. Distinct cultural group use Rapé in different ways. They consecrate it on its own for its transformative power or to enhance the power of other plant medicines. Sometimes they use it recreationally as a stimulant to give energy for physical labor. It has a number of purported medicinal properties – its capacity to provoke purging means it has a reputation as a cleanser of toxins from the body, and a booster of natural immunity.
Rapé heats the body and as such the natives use it when going out in the rain or when feeling an upcoming flu. In indigenous communities there are a variety of reasons to take this medicine. This can range from a confraternization with friends in the afternoon to the deliberating of a serious issue of the community, to calling the force of the forest and the ancestors in a spiritual ceremony.
Use with respect and care; it is a tobacco product and can be habit forming!
