THE HEALING POWER OF THE ICAROS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF AYAHUASCA EXPERIENCES by Susana Bustos A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the California Institute of Integral Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in East-West Psychology San Francisco, California 2008 Certificate of Approval I certify that I have read THE HEALING POWER OF THE ICAROS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF AYAHUASCA EXPERIENCES, by Susana Bustos, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. _________________________________________ Janis Phelps, Ph.D., Chair Professor of Psychology _________________________________________ Luis Eduardo Luna, Ph.D. Professor of Anthropology External Committee Member _________________________________________ Amedeo Giorgi, Ph.D. Professor of Research External Reviewer Barbro Giorgi, Ph.D. Professor of Research Dissertation Committee Member (in memoriam) © 2008 Susana Bustos Susana Bustos California Institute of Integral Studies, 2008 Janis Phelps, Ph.D., Committee Chair THE HEALING POWER OF THE ICAROS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF AYAHUASCA EXPERIENCES ABSTRACT This qualitative study explores the intense healing experiences of individuals who, in the context of the Peruvian vegetalismo tradition, ritually imbibe ayahuasca (a hallucinogenic brew of plants) as a type of shamanic songs called icaros are sung. Some anthropological studies describe the position of icaros within this tradition, as well as their functions in ceremonies with ayahuasca throughout the Amazon Basin. However, research on icaros is scarce, particularly as regards to their healing functions during these ceremonies. The present study addresses the lived experience of ritual attendees, in order to uncover the essential structure of meaning of the phenomenon of intense healing with an icaro, with a secondary focus on the perception of musical features. Using Giorgi’s (1986, 1997) method of descriptive phenomenology as it pertains to psychology, data were collected in traditional contexts in Peru during an eight-month fieldwork period; this includes written reports and in-depth interviews. Participants were 5 adult men and women with extensive past iv experience with ayahuasca, who reported their experiences after a sound-recorded ceremony and identified the icaros that were significant to them. The experience with the icaro stands out as a pivotal moment within a healing process that unfolds during a ceremony. The phenomenon emerges as dependent upon contextual and integration factors, as process-like, and dynamic. Its structure presents 28 meaning constituents and one variation in two constituents related to the direct exposure to the icaro. The perception of musical features, which relies upon the essential meanings of the phenomenon, is described under the categories of lyrics, singing voice, and musical dynamic. Supplementary data present the distribution of the phenomenon under the labels of demographic variables, the healer’s perspective of his healing work on participants, and a formal musical analysis of the icaros that were identified. This study contributes to the understanding of the use of singing in facilitating therapeutic states of consciousness under psychotropic effects in a controlled setting. Since traditional vegetalismo knowledge on the healing use of the icaros is culturally-bounded and progressively disappearing, it deserves further study to be bridged to the West and to contribute to clinical use. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the many people and institutions that supported the completion of this study. First, to the Beca Presidente de la República, the Chilean governmental scholarship that was granted to me, for supporting innovative areas of studies and research abroad that will enrich the academic development of our country. Second, to the Kranzke Research Grant for the study of entheogens, whose financial support made this study possible. Third, to the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and the commitment of Dr. Haridas Chaudhuri in developing a center of studies open to the challenges of integral education and new areas of human research. My deepest acknowledgement to Stanislav Grof, whose advice led my path to the California Institute of Integral Studies, and whose work and training expanded the frontiers of my interest in the clinical applications of nonordinary states of consciousness. This study could not have been conceived without the inspiration and support provided by Takiwasi, particularly through Jacques Mabit, Rosa Giove, and Jaime Torres. My initial experiential immersion in vegetalismo at the Center and my work-study activities there, contributed greatly in shaping this research. My gratitude to the patients, therapeutic team, and dozens of visitors and external clients who processed with me innumerable hours of inner material accessed through traditional practices. Also, to the maestro curanderos I met and learned from: don Solón, don Lucho, don Guillermo, don Mateo, Orlando, and Pablo. I am deeply indebted to maestro curandero Juan Flores Salazar, his wife Sandra Encalada, and the workers at Mayantuyacu for doing their best in hosting vi and offering the conditions needed to conduct the study, supporting me as a person and researcher, and for sharing their hearts, hard work, and deep knowledge with me, in admirable ways. I deeply honor the integrity in their work and the deep sharings of participants in this study, the fuel of this study. The loyal company, support, and love of my fellow life journeyer Robert Tindall nourished my soul and provided me with inspiration throughout the process. I would like to acknowledge in particular the crucial support I received from my methodologist Brabro Giorgi. Her devotion to teaching, her bright and open mind, her humanity and readiness to be present whenever I needed advice, imprinted in me the deep values I would like to carry on in further academic and research endeavors. Barbro’s sudden passing away in the last stages of completing the writing of this dissertation represented a huge loss, yet it was also a personal call to believe and fully embody my own unique life and work. I also appreciate the advice, continuous support, and encouragement over the years of Janis Phelps, the value of Luis Eduardo Luna’s comments on my work, and the generosity of Amedeo Giorgi in taken over my work with Barbro. My gratitude goes also to Karolyn van Putten, Jacotte Chollet, and Sabine Rittner, for their contributions to the preliminary stages of this study, as well as to Joseph Thompson (JT), for his knowledgeable help during the musical analysis of the icaros. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my dear family members and friends, for their unconditional support, reflections, humor, listening despite vii everything, and for their abundant love in good and difficult moments during the study. You are a blessing in my life. viii DEDICATION This study is dedicated to nature and to its workers, the keepers of the sacred songs. May nature’s higher project, and its workers’ knowledge, service, and love be honored and protected. May their work continue to benefit all beings in our quest for fulfillment, our tuning in to the Great Concert. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT........................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................... vi DEDICATION....................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................ xv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 Background Context ............................................................................................1 Description of the Study ......................................................................................5 Significance of the Study.....................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................9 An Overview......................................................................................................10 The Concept of Icaro......................................................................................10 Research Literature on Icaros ........................................................................12 The Vegetalismo Tradition ................................................................................14 Social Role and Healing Approach................................................................14 Medicinal Knowledge and Icaros ..................................................................17 Ayahuasca Healing Rituals............................................................................21 A Vegetalismo Practice..............................................................................21 What is Ayahuasca? Overview and Therapeutic Functions ......................22 The Ceremonial Setting .............................................................................27