What is Rapé?

Rapé, pronounced “ha-pay” or “rah-pay,” is a traditional snuff made from tobacco powder and/or dried herbs and ashes from the rainforest.

A small amount is blown into the recipient's nose through a pipe called a Tepi, accompanied by a prayer. Rapé must be administered through both nostrils, as each nostril represents an energy flow of the body:

• Right Side: The channel of the sun - Yang (sending). Represents rational strength, learning, and resilience to overcome challenges. It is the masculine side, often associated with issues such as arrogance and pride.

• Left Side: The channel of the moon - Yin (receiving). Symbolizes emotions, pure love, empathy, and creativity. It is the feminine side, associated with issues such as depression, low self-esteem, guilt, or lack of motivation.

Used for thousands of years as a sacred plant and spirit of the "Grandfather," Rapé, when combined with the ash of other plants, cleanses the sinuses, travels through the lymphatic system, and initiates a detoxification process. Energetically, Rapé possesses grounding, protective, and purifying properties, working on the chakras to remove blockages and activate the pineal gland. Often used before or alongside other plant medicines, Rapé serves to focus and calm ceremonial practices, while also being an excellent preparation for meditation.

Rapé is typically used before Sananga and Kambo in our practice.

Additional Benefits of Rapé:

• Clears mucus and parasites from sinuses

• Clears the mind and silences inner dialogue

• Promotes wound healing when applied to injuries, acting as an antibiotic

• Relieves skull pressure and sinus congestion

• Enhances bowel movement and relieves accumulated mucus

• Allows for deep meditative states and clarity in intention-setting

• Removes long-held toxins, relieving sinusitis and migraines

• Purifies and aligns energy fields, especially the third eye and crown chakras, balancing the spine's energy flow

• Treats respiratory and digestive issues, and is effective for sinusitis and rhinitis

• Energetically clears anxiety and other solar plexus-related energies, allowing release of dense energy through purging

• Functions as an analgesic, reducing head and body pain, and acts as a relaxant and fever reducer

Rapé is also highly effective in treating respiratory and digestive system issues. Many people find relief from sinusitis and rhinitis with this remedy, which also offers immunity support against respiratory illnesses. It is equally effective for digestive system treatments.

Energetically, Rapé provides a direct pathway to address anxieties, restlessness, and other energies related to the solar plexus. It induces purging, allowing the release of accumulated dense energies in that area. Rapé is also a potent analgesic, relieving head and body pain, and possesses relaxing and fever-reducing properties.

Guidelines for Therapeutic/Spiritual Use of Rapé:

Rapé is a powerful healing remedy and spirit of the forest that must be treated with respect. Its potent effects vary depending on its application. Rapé should not be taken at just any time; it’s recommended to use it in the morning on an empty stomach, late in the afternoon after work, or in the evening before sleep to promote good dreams and restful sleep. During sessions, it may be administered multiple times as needed.

Kambo

Kambo is an intelligent, spiritual, and detoxifying energy derived from the secretion of the two-colored frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor.

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