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SECOND PART: THE DIET IN SHAMANISM, SPECIALLY FOCUSED ON NATEM CEREMONY

I continue with some clarifications about the original article published in my previous post:

I’ve received quite a few questions about which vegetables are best to consume. A raw green leafy salad is a good choice. All kinds of water vegetables, especially zucchini of all kinds, eggplant, leeks, varieties of pumpkins (eaten in moderation), Swiss chard, spinach, peppers, etc. Eat your fill, no matter the amount.

Another issue to keep in mind is what types of carbohydrates to consume. Among the seeds, quinoa and buckwheat are the best options. You have to avoid cereals completely. Among the vegetables, we can choose roots with a high carbohydrate content: carrots, turnips, and beets are very acceptable, but remember to consume them in moderation. We must be very cautious about the consumption of radish because it is a spicy food. Potatoes and sweet potatoes can be consumed, but in moderate amounts due to their high carbohydrate content. 500g per day, in total, should be enough for a combined lunch of roots (each person’s need is different and that should be determined in advance). We must also clearly decide in advance if we prefer seeds or roots at lunch because you should never eat them together. In the jungle, you only have roots: yucca, pelma, papachinia, sweet potato, etc. These are the carbohydrates that are usually consumed along with green plantain.

With regard to fruits, they should not be eaten too late. The ideal time is when we drink water, right after the ceremony. I usually take my second ration in the early afternoon. In my usual life, I try to consume around two kilos of fruit a day, but not as much on ceremonial days. It’s very important to differentiate fruits into two types: those with the highest and lowest sugar content. We recommend — for daily consumption and also for the ceremony: melon and watermelon (better eaten alone); grapes, apples, and pears (slightly chilled, for Natem); blueberries, peach, apricot, medlar, plum, and papaya are always great. Cherimoyas, cherry, fig, and persimmons are not so advisable for the afternoons of ceremony because they are too sweet. Bananas and dates are not recommended: they’re too sweet. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, pineapple, and a few drops of lemon and tangerines (very few) should be consumed in moderate amounts and outside of ceremony hours because they are quite acidic. Oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits are not used in the way of shamanism due to their high acidity.

Salt is a necessary option. The pink kind or mine salt is the best and traditionally used in the rainforest. Certainly, you have to be insipid as the sky, water, and breeze, but kidneys need stimulation and strength to support us during long nights followed by deep concentration. Few but fundamental, especially for those not well trained. The sacred touch weakens in its bodily spring: the kidneys, which is a common problem among people in cities. They fail a lot in shamanism and in themselves because of this. Let’s not risk loosening too much: the prolonged abandonment of Spirit, its weak touch; the abuse of over-stimulation, anxiety, and sex, all come clearly to light through the lack of salt and nourishment (forced fasting). A ceremony is the worst moment to test these kinds of self-limits; the result may be a serious mess.

Another issue is fasting: Should we or should we not eat? The answer is clear: you have to eat. You need energy to maintain strength or to work towards balance in Arutam. City people are very weak; they are not a pure breed raised in nature, full of sacred touch, and they do not practice sexual abstinence with care. With the fire of life weak between the kidneys, they cannot resist or function well, especially with Natem, although this applies to any entheogen. Fasting is dangerous and useless in shamanism, except for experts. The energy from food helps us when the sacred touch is insufficient. It is also essential to resist, to avoid falling apart, especially in ceremonies with strong power plants and in the company of powerful masters. In any case, what we need is to eat small quantities, and very early, before noon on the days of the ceremony.

THE DIET FOR NATEM CEREMONY

HOW TO KEEP OUR VITAL ENERGY

Diet is a key element to ensure that the medicine stays active in the body for a long time, so that it can be well absorbed and allow for a trance of many hours.

Firstly, it’s very important not to lose our body’s vital energy pressure. We shouldn’t allow the sacred touch to weaken inside us. This means we must take special care to ensure that no energy is lost in orgasm and ejaculation. That moment of pleasure, when our body’s vital energy is released, brings all the pressures down and weakens the whole path of the sacred touch.

Drinking Natem, in the practice of Shamanism, means being filled with Arutam and its sacred touch. If we are going to waste it, then why should we increase it? Some people foolishly believe that the practice of Shamanism can be subordinated to a more extensive and pleasurable sexual life. In other words, that we can’t dedicate ourselves to it just to increase the sacred touch with no other basic aim than to waste it in larger quantity and strength. This, of course, turns Shamanism into a truly dangerous thing.

Anyone who is not willing to keep their sex life under control should not practice Shamanism. Any discipline requires us to have a well-awakened, well-kept, well-maintained sacred touch. It’s necessary even in sports because the only way to recover from training, fiber breaks, muscle exhaustion, and stress is to be filled with a renewing sacred touch. It flows from our kidneys to the rest of our bodies and throbs next to our hearts.

Arutam is well-kept in the center of our bodies, starting from our kidneys. There’s our true self, warming us. The legs are our strong roots. Then it comes up the stalks, our backbones. Arutam ascends through the marrow and matures in our heads with its five colors, flavors, etc.: our five senses.

Whoever is not full of sacred touch weakens the path of Arutam. That brings us problems when we’re already weak, every time we consume our vital energy through sex. This worsens markedly with alcohol, which numbs and destroys us. If there’s an excess of substances with relaxing properties in our bodies, like opiates, cannabis, etc., the sacred touch becomes slower and eventually withdraws.

Both anguish and illness will come from the lack of harmony. Visions will not appear because there’ll be neither strength nor speed. The animal within us is asleep. No matter what they say in the cities, those who are considered professionals in these matters will probably say that sex is good and that it’s healthy to ejaculate every day.

Sex is good, of course, when we’re in love. But true love between two people doesn’t involve the destruction of one another. Love is passion, composure, and also happiness through sex. But there’s fulfillment—more than we’ve been taught about, more than we’ve experienced on a daily basis.

This is, therefore, the first point to take into account if we want to live a long life and succeed in the practice of Shamanism. Breathing should be slow and deep at all times. We must be able to take greater advantage of the act of breathing with fewer inhalations and exhalations. But we must also be strong and never hesitate, if necessary, to accelerate our breathing and still remain calm.

The goal is to maintain the correct tension, the perfect one, as expected from the Great Spirit. Such tension tends to tighten more than usual, but sometimes it loosens. We must know what the perfect balance point is. Only those who find the perfect tension will be fully functional. Animals are a very good example: they are tireless and perfect just as they are.

A GOOD NUTRITION

Last but not least: food. We’re always under the influence of what we eat and drink. Many times I am asked to point out the most accurate diet for taking Natem. It’s been written about—though the Shuar people did not have a writing system. It is something simple and natural. The Natem grows in the jungle, so we should eat plants that grow in the jungle. If we start from this principle, there is natural and intrinsic simplicity.

My grandparents had the fortune, even at a particular time of the year, to settle in some places of the jungle and stay there for a little more time. Hence, a diet based on gathering fruits predominated: guavas, chontas, and other fruits. The farming that was practiced was very basic. It was normally used to sow and pick many different types of jungle squash: cassava, sweet potato, papachinia, plantain… Small leaves were also consumed as vegetables or salad. Yucca was their only fermented drink. It was made of chewed yucca that women spat back into the jars.

During the ceremonies with Natem, nobody took too much ferment. It was not good to drink too much at that moment. Once more established—more sedentary—they completed their diet by fishing in the rivers. They did not eat fish or meat during the ceremonies: it was intended to attain the highest purity, physical and spiritual, by not creating suffering for other beings. But the jungle is the native way of living: they take everything they need from nature and do not rely too much on agriculture. Consequently, they need to obtain protein and fat from fish when they live a sedentary life and from hunting birds—using the blowgun—during the nomadic stage.

FOODS: BEST AND WORST CHOICES

The meat of larger animals, firmly rooted on the land—such as wild boar or deer—was never used. They were considered impure meats as they contaminated the body and brought disease. Such foods also clouded the mind and overexcited the nerves. Deer, they believed, were the reincarnation of the grandparents, probably due to their purity and nobility. So mostly, they hunted the pure meats of birds, which were available during their long walks through the jungle.

It was also a frequent habit to eat wild mushrooms (not close to ceremonies), tubers, sorts of zucchini-pumpkins of all kinds and sizes, and many other wild vegetables. It was very difficult to find salt. Sometimes they got it from mines, pink salt. The Shuar wrapped them in leaves and looked after them as if they were gold.

When they submerged themselves into a profound practice of their ceremonies—that is to say, when taking Natem—they tried not to consume any products of animal origin.

It is fundamental in Shamanism to maintain lightness and purity: to be tasteless, like water. I am fortunate to have access to sources of fat and vegetable protein—as I can get from legumes—in the places I spend more time. I can also count on avocado, olive oil, and walnuts. But that is not available in the jungle. In that sense, I am very satisfied to have such foods because they allow me to maintain strength and also purity, all in the same great trend. These elements are essential to nourish the roots, marrow, and depths of our body.

In these times of peace we live in—these times of exchange—it is wonderful and healthy for our planet that we can get fats and proteins from plants growing on the land. If our species has evolved into peace, that is consumption of vegetables. Nowadays we can get vegetables and vegetable fats almost everywhere in the world.

Legumes and vegetable fats can be found in almost all countries. Higher up, in the high mountains, you can find beans and even avocados. One of the reasons I chose to live on the edge of the jungle—between the hot and cold jungles—is to have the privilege of planting, preserving, and collecting these foods. To be able to sow, conserve, and collect the Natem, the Wanto, or Floripondio, the Tsaank. And to follow, at the same time, a pure diet, which gives me strength and health.

Many people believe that strength is obtained by stealing it from animals, by killing them for food. But strength comes from Arutam. Those who do not care for that vital flow are the ones who need to rush to take energy away from others. But they will not regain the energy flow they lost by eating a dead body—simple animal flesh, without Arutam. They will only have a huge body: a lean mass, empty of life and without sacred touch.

At what point did we forget that all strength comes from our Creator? When did we stop taking care of it? We cannot recover what we’ve lost. We can only try to survive by killing and eating other creatures, despite that disadvantage.

A well-made vegan diet, on the other hand, most of the time does not even need the destruction of the plant. Lettuces, leaves, are collected and consumed without major damage, blossoming and continuing the next generation. Not all the seeds we eat were destined to germinate. So the roots, the yuccas, will continue to be planted and will grow. The same plant will continue to multiply its leaves and its fruits.

We can pick up some leaves and let others bloom, so that new plants continue to appear and grow from their seeds. The same thing happens with the trees: each year they will grow to greater height and give us their fruits. If we do so, there will be no interruption of the life cycle of plant organisms, and there will be greater wealth in the whole.

But for this diet to be effective, I insist: we must take care of the sacred touch. You have to pay attention to how we handle sexual energy. We have to keep our body warm. Legumes and seeds must germinate. The body must get used to it. It’s a bit difficult, but this happens only at the beginning.

We can make strong concentrates, with protein content, using all these legumes. Our body should consume a lot of fat, good fat: raw, vegetable fat. This is beneficial for Natem, nourishing all the substances of our body, from our vital fluids to the bones and marrow. We should consume the necessary amount of carbohydrates for our daily nutrition. We must provide our body with the proteins it needs, and focus on eating mostly vegetables and raw fruits, reducing or completely eliminating cereals from our diet.

Anyway, I often insist, I don’t know of almost anyone capable of adhering to all the required care to follow a diet strictly based on vegetables, according to proper nutritional facts and vital energy conservation. For that reason, and to be responsible, I recommend eating fish in general, as my elders in the rainforest do. This doesn’t interfere with the ceremonies if you leave sufficient time between the events. However, seafood, octopus, “water snakes,” slugs, and similar creatures are harmful.

Another important consideration regarding the daily diet is the near-total elimination of sweets and sugars. We should obtain sweeteners exclusively from fruits. We must trust the place where we live, that is, the typical food of the area. This helps us to better remember and relate to Arutam. You should also restrict the use of salt and not over-modify the flavor of the meals. You can use spices from the area, but we must ensure they are not always the same. Do not fall into a state of attachment or extremes: neither sweet nor salty. We must use less salt and avoid trying to alter the taste of the meals. It is possible to use local herbs as spices, but not always the same ones. Avoid attachment, whether to sweet or salty flavors, without leaning toward either extreme. If you want to reduce your calorie intake, you can use stevia leaves. Also, it’s essential to drink plenty of fresh and pure water, though sometimes you can have vegetable syrups like agave or maple.

In the practice of shamanism, we must completely eliminate the use of garlic. Its use is a significant mistake, perhaps the most harmful of all. Those who consume garlic, cumin, and fresh onion cannot take Natem. Even if we stop consuming them ten days before the ceremony, we would still be under the harmful influence of these substances because purging these types of spices requires months. Instead, leek can be used without issues. If we don’t eliminate this habit, Natem will cause a nauseating sensation, followed by stomach pain, discomfort, and vomiting.

Minor, but still not very recommended, are cardamom and clove. The use of pepper is slightly tolerable but not very recommended, as it produces an uncomfortable sensation of heat. Ginger is also not recommended, though it is much less harmful than garlic. The use of cinnamon and ginger is more appropriate for treating colds. Regarding common spices such as oregano, basil, thyme, cilantro, parsley, and similar herbs, it must be noted that they don’t cause major inconveniences.

Another important recommendation: never heat the oil and never fry it. It should be steamed. Sometimes it can be roasted or prepared in soup, but always with dishes of very good quality.

Lastly, we must mention that the use of dairy products is a serious mistake and a source of diseases, allergies, inflammations, phlegm, mucus, and pain. It is also a source of fatigue and mental heaviness, and it reflects a lack of respect for other mammals.

We must have a sense of responsibility. As I said earlier, it is important not to consume too many relaxing substances. But this also applies to stimulants. If we stimulate ourselves more than we need, we are making the same mistake. Coffee and chocolate are especially contraindicated in the diet, as are any substances that involve roasting the seeds during processing. All of these are harmful. The taste of a burned substance is undoubtedly unsuitable for human use, so it is strictly prohibited by our elders. This applies to peanuts and other nuts, which are too greasy. The exception, among all types of nuts, is walnuts, which are highly recommended for the diet. Bananas and fruits that are too sweet, like dates, are also not desirable. And don’t hesitate to avoid processed, manufactured, and packaged foods.

MY GRANDPARENT'S DIET. A CLARIFICATION STATEMENT.

It’s very difficult to find fats and proteins of vegetable origin in the jungle. Everything is too wet in such a place. The terrain is often just water, with almost no earth on top. These are the central ingredients for a diet designed to optimize high muscular performance for proper development and maintenance. In the jungle, it’s absolutely necessary to have the perfect functioning of the physiological systems of any animal. We must ensure we survive: build a house so we don’t get wet; gather lots of dry firewood; hunt, fish, and grow vegetables to feed the family. We must be strong and excellent to overcome any risk. We cannot afford to lose our strength even for a moment, because we know that when death arrives, our fall will be both the first and the last.

My ancestors were partially nourished by what they cultivated: a variety of pumpkins, leaves from the forest, diverse roots, fruits they found, chontas, etc. They didn’t consume much of this, because they were too abundant in carbohydrates: they only consumed the basics to have good energy before it was time to rest. Beyond this functional purpose, no more importance or attention was given to food. The basis of their diet consisted of the fats and proteins they could obtain only from fish (no seafood, slugs, octopus, etc.) and birds: wild birds in general, which they hunted with a blowgun; they also fed on turkey-like species and so on. Saturated fats kept them satisfied for a long time, and protein nourished their muscles, building or repairing their tissues daily. Thus, they forged athletic bodies that were perfectly adapted to live under extremely harsh conditions.

As for me, I usually eat fresh fish, although I don’t feed on birds. I’ve been sympathetic to veganism for a long time: it’s a beautiful idea and very philosophical, but reality, in the final sense of the individual, shows its failure. If we remove animal fat and protein from our diet, we end up replacing them with manufactured foods and excessive carbohydrates, which won’t work for a person who needs to perform perfectly. “Normally,” we find vegans who are weak, thin, consumed; or on the contrary, fat, flabby, and with an unfortunate state of muscle tone. These men and women could not survive in a natural environment that required the best of them, so they remain in their cities, going from home to work and back. It’s regrettable to witness, all across the world, how disastrous certain philosophical beliefs have been when lacking rigor in individual feeling. I’m really writing this short post because I want to be better every day and share what I have learned and personally verified, in the company of the people who follow me and whom I love. I know that many will get upset, and even the knives of their blind beliefs will want to make me bleed; think, then, how violent a vegan can be when he does not eat meat…

My grandparents taught me this way, and in this way, Natem was taken in peace.