[Tribal World] Shamanic meditation
by Matthew
Portrait of a Yanomami shaman, © Claudia Andujar
Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, a Shaman himself, speaks of the xapiripë (the spirits):
‘Only those who know the xapiripë can see them because the xapiripë are very small and bright like light. There are many, many xapiripë, thousands of xapiripë like stars.
‘They are beautiful and decorated with parrot feathers, painted with urucum (annatto). Others have oraikok and others still have earrings and use black dye. They dance very beautifully and sing differently.’
As hyponotic as the portrait is, the Yanomami find themselves threatened by ranchers, goldminers, soya growers and others in the business of stealing Yanomami land.
The latest threat is the mining bill making the rounds in the debating hall of Brazil’s congress. You can help: write to the Brazilian president expressing your concern. It really works.