Terminology
Learn some of the common terms used in Mestizo Amazonian Curanderismo and Andean Shamanic Energy Medicine.
Andean Shamanic Energy Medicine
(Q'ero & Alberto Villoldo Lineage)
Luminous Energy Field (LEF): Describes the aura or energy field surrounding a person, which holds information about an individual's emotional, physical, and spiritual histories.
Chakra: Energy centers within the human body, each associated with different aspects of spiritual and physical functions.
Wiracocha: In Andean spirituality, a high celestial spirit or god; in the Villoldo lineage we also use this term to refer to our 8th chakra or soul, our connection to source energy.
Bands of Power: Energetic protections installed into the LEF for shielding against negative energies.
Q’ero: Indigenous people of Peru, believed to be descendants of the Inca, who maintain traditional spiritual practices.
Kuya: A stone or crystal imbued with spiritual energy, used in healing practices.
Mesa: A ceremonial altar used in Andean shamanic rituals, often consisting of sacred objects and kuyas.
Allyu: A community or social group in Andean cultures, emphasizing communal relationships.
Illumination: A healing practice aimed at cleansing and balancing the chakras.
Extraction: Removing crystallized or fluid energies that are negatively impacting a person’s LEF.
Crystallized Energy: Dense energy within the LEF that may manifest as chronic illness or emotional disturbances.
Soul Retrieval: A shamanic journey to recover parts of the soul lost due to trauma or stress.
Destiny Retrieval: A practice to align oneself with a higher purpose or original blueprint of life.
Fluid Entity: Intrusive energies that flow and move within a person’s LEF.
Energetic Cords: Connections that tie one's energy field to others, which can drain or invigorate one’s life force.
Feeding Tubes: Energetic structures believed to either provide or deplete life force.
Serpent Medicine: Represents grounding and transformation, associated with the root chakra.
Jaguar Medicine: Embodies integrity and empowerment, connected with the heart chakra.
Hummingbird Medicine: Symbolizes joy and resilience, associated with the throat chakra.
Eagle/Condor Medicine: Represents vision and spiritual connection, associated with the crown chakra.
Otorongo: Often refers to the jaguar in the Amazonian cosmology, symbolizing power and strength.
Ayahuasca: A psychoactive brew made primarily from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and other ingredients like chacruna, used in traditional healing and spiritual ceremonies.
Chacruna: A plant, Psychotria viridis, containing DMT, commonly used as an additive in ayahuasca brews to elicit visionary states.
Mapacho: A potent, sacred tobacco used in Amazonian spiritual and healing rituals. It is employed to cleanse negative energies, protect against spiritual disturbances, and facilitate communication with the spiritual realm.
Curandero: A healer who uses folk remedies and traditional healing practices, often within the context of indigenous South American cultures.
Ayahuasquero: A specialist curandero who leads ayahuasca ceremonies.
Maestro: A master healer or teacher within the tradition of ayahuasca curanderismo.
Palero: A healer who specializes in using tree barks for medicinal and spiritual purposes.
Vegetalista: A herbalist or healer who uses a variety of plants in traditional medicine.
Sanangero: A specialist who works with the Sanango plants, which are known for their strong spiritual and healing properties
Tabaquero: A healer who specializes in using tobacco as a medicinal and spiritual plant.
Maloca: A traditional longhouse used for community gatherings and ceremonies, such as ayahuasca sessions.
Icaro: A sacred song or chant used in various healing ceremonies, believed to direct the spiritual and healing energies.
Sopla: A blowing technique used by healers to cleanse or imbue a person with protective or healing energy, often using smoke or breath.
Chupa: An extraction technique used in healing to suck out illness or negative energy from a patient's body.
Arkana: Protective prayers or chants used in healing ceremonies to shield against negative energies.
Venteada: A cleansing technique using wind or breath, often accompanied by specific plant fragrances.
Dieta: A dietary and behavioral regimen followed in conjunction with plant medicine work, aimed at cleansing the body and enhancing spiritual insights.
Mestizo: A person of mixed indigenous and non-indigenous ancestry, often serving as a cultural mediator.
Sachamama: A term meaning "Mother of the Forest" in Quechua, often referring to the spirit of the jungle and its protective, nurturing qualities.
Amazonian Curanderismo
(Mestizo Lineage)
Otorongo: A Quechua word that refers to the jaguar in Amazonian cosmology, symbolizing power and strength, the protector of the forest.
Ayahuasca: A psychoactive brew made primarily from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and other ingredients like chacruna, used in traditional healing and spiritual ceremonies.
Chacruna: A plant, Psychotria viridis, containing DMT, commonly used as an additive in ayahuasca brews to elicit visionary states.
Mapacho: A potent, sacred tobacco used in Amazonian spiritual and healing rituals. It is employed to cleanse negative energies, protect against spiritual disturbances, and facilitate communication with the spiritual realm.
Curandero: A healer who uses folk remedies and traditional healing practices, often within the context of indigenous South American cultures.
Ayahuasquero: A specialist curandero who leads ayahuasca ceremonies.
Maestro: A master healer or teacher within the tradition of ayahuasca curanderismo.
Palero: A healer who specializes in using tree barks for medicinal and spiritual purposes.
Vegetalista: A herbalist or healer who uses a variety of plants in traditional medicine.
Sanangero: A specialist who works with the Sanango plants, which are known for their strong spiritual and healing properties.
Tabaquero: A healer who specializes in using tobacco as a medicinal and spiritual plant.
Maloca: A traditional longhouse used for community gatherings and ceremonies, such as ayahuasca sessions.
Icaro: A sacred melodic and rhythmic sound used in ceremonies to direct healing energies and call upon the medicine of plant spirits that the Ayahuasquero has formed an allyship with.
Sopla: A blowing technique used by healers to cleanse or imbue a person with protective or healing energy, often using smoke or breath.
Chupa: An extraction technique used in healing to suck out illness or negative energy from a patient's body.
Arkana: Protective prayers or chants used in healing ceremonies to shield against negative energies.
Venteada: A cleansing technique using wind or breath, often accompanied by specific plant fragrances.
Dieta: A dietary and behavioral regimen followed in conjunction with plant medicine work, aimed at cleansing the body and enhancing spiritual insights, as well as forming an allyship with the plant.
Mestizo: A person of mixed indigenous and non-indigenous ancestry, often serving as a cultural mediator.
Sachamama: A term meaning "Mother of the Forest" in Quechua, often referring to the spirit of the jungle and its protective, nurturing qualities.
Luminous Energy Field (LEF): Describes the aura or energy field surrounding a person, which is believed to hold information about an individual's emotional, physical, and spiritual histories.
Chakra: Energy centers within the human body, each associated with different aspects of spiritual and physical functions.
Wiracocha: In Andean spirituality, a high celestial spirit or god; in the Villoldo lineage we also use this term to refer to our 8th chakra or soul, our connection to source energy.
Bands of Power: Energetic protections installed into the LEF for shielding against negative energies.
Q’ero: Indigenous people of Peru, believed to be descendants of the Inca, who maintain traditional spiritual practices.
Kuya: A stone or crystal imbued with spiritual energy, used in healing practices.
Mesa: A ceremonial altar used in Andean shamanic rituals, often consisting of sacred objects and kuyas.
Allyu: A community or social group in Andean cultures, emphasizing communal relationships.
Illumination: A healing practice aimed at cleansing and balancing the chakras.
Extraction: Removing crystallized or fluid energies that are negatively impacting a person’s LEF.
Crystallized Energy: Dense energy within the LEF that may manifest as chronic illness or emotional disturbances.
Soul Retrieval: A shamanic journey to recover parts of the soul lost due to trauma or stress.
Destiny Retrieval: A practice to align oneself with a higher purpose or original blueprint of life.
Fluid Entity: Intrusive energies that flow and move within a person’s LEF.
Energetic Cords: Connections that tie one's energy field to others, which can drain or invigorate one’s life force.
Feeding Tubes: Energetic structures believed to either provide or deplete life force
Serpent Medicine: Represents grounding and transformation, associated with the root chakra.
Jaguar Medicine: Embodies integrity and empowerment, connected with the heart chakra.
Hummingbird Medicine: Symbolizes joy and resilience, associated with the throat chakra.
Eagle/Condor Medicine: Represents vision and spiritual connection, associated with the crown chakra.
