VISION 23

SPIRITS OF STONES AND METALS

A vegetalista and his disciples are taking ayahuasca in a house in the middle of the jungle. They sing the icaro called Killo/lipian-rurni ficaro of the shining yellow stone, or gold]. By means of certain body movements they are able to visit the subterranean world where they encounter gnomos [gnomes], the guardians of subterranean treasures. The colors of these gnomes are all symbolic, representing diamonds (white), gold (yellow), copper (red), bronze (green), silver (light blue), garnet (purple), and quartz (lilac). The vegetalista and disciples find themselves in a

dichroic circle, which is a door leading to a cave, the dwelling of the people of fire. In the upper part of the painting, radiating power the spirits of various plants are dancing while extend mg the ayahuasca vine. Each of these spirits corresponds to plants that are occasionally added to t~ ayahuasca brew. From left to right we have

the following plant-spirits: mureohuasca, chacruna [Psy chotria viridis], clavohuasca [see footnote to Visio 1], bobinzana [Calliandra angustifoliaj, ajosqairo [Gal liz Ia corazema], motelo huasca [Bauhinia guinnensis] altaruna [unidentified], toe [Brugmansia sp.], albaha ca [Ocimum n'icranth urn], and alcanfor [Zanthoxy lam sp.]. A row of luminous arches forms a fence surrounding the scene to protect those partaking in the ceremony. Aromatic plants contribute to the beauty of the visionary experience.

VISION 24

THE AYAMANCHARE

In this painting we see the great Ayamanchare [aya = dead person, spirit, manchare = fright]. This spirit, which comes from the steam of the earth, has ex traordinary qualities that help the vegetalistas make medicines using aerotherapy, a respiratory discipline practised in a state of relaxation. It has, in front and at the back, a necklace with nine round plates, representing the eighteen most

fundamental elements of the earth. In the spirit's womb are beings of perpetual fire that contain the volcanoes. When this being rises from the earthly depths, the vegetalistas and their companions feel their bodies stretch, resembling large waves. This trance can drive weak or nervous people insane. The blue horns of this being represent the aerotherapy. The red ones represent medicine by means of the earth, or geotherapy, practised through various types of clay found in different parts of the earth. The yellow horns represent physiotherapy, which is done by massages, walks, postures, etc. The women on the left, the marnaicunas, tell mys terious tales and represent the five fingers of the right hand. The men on the right side, the tataicunas, represent the five fingers of the left hand and carry out mysterious functions.

Behind these men we see the yura-aya [white ghost] with four horns as antennae that pick up all kinds of supernatural bodies. The allpa-pishco [bird of the earth] is seen in the background enduring great temperatures. The vegetalistas use it to make astral and planetary trips.

We also see beings from the Divine Kingdom descending from above and giving perfect foundation to the earth, whose nucleus appears behind them. To the left we see a six-headed serpent, and next to it the rumi salamandra [salamander of the rock], with ultra-physical powers. More towards the front one sees the ailpa-puma [jaguar of the earth] with bristles and two horns.

The great sylph Mesafel is on the left. She is an expert in the techniques of hyperchemical transformation, both from the spiritual to the physical form, and from the physical to the spiritual form. She works with ointments and perfumes of very pleasant aroma.