Shamans of the Amazon

In the age of “The War Against Drugs” where governments lump native spiritual and visionary aids into the same category as the diabolical Crack and Heroine one finds him or herself questioning the reasons behind this association. How could a thousand year old spiritual tradition with no real cultural or physical side effect be deemed Taboo by the powers of the world? Why is it that the modern day politician has such hatred for ancient societies and their peaceful ways?

In Shamans of the Amazon a three part series, Dean Jefferys travels deep into the Amazon and to different parts of the world including Iraq to find answers about the Shamans of the Amazons, their quickly depleting rainforest, traditions, life, and freedom.

In the first episode Jefferys travels deep into the Amazonian rain forest with his 7 month old pregnant girlfriend and 1 year old child. They go to the Ecuadorian rainforest and meet with two shamans and experience the ancient hallucinogenic ayahuasca ritual. The filmaker does his best to translate the visions and spiritual messages he receives from the magic plant. The film has footage of a Shaman healing ritual and of shamans partaking in the ayahuasca experince. There is a great deal of intrigue that is summoned from watching this. You can see how this amazing plant makes the consumer have visions and insight into the natural world and makes one empathetic to the destruction of the planet.

In the second episode Jefferys concentrates on the political social and environmental impact of the progressive corporate world (Big Oil,) the demand of oil and the destruction of the Amazon and the native environment of the Shamans and their people. This episode has an incredible shock factor. I might be a tree hugger, but Jefferys holds no reserve to show the disquieting nature of corporations and their blatant disregard for the natural environment, historical and environmental preservation.

The last episode is mostly an in depth interview with Terence McKenna a world renowned psychedelic explorer, lecturer and author, and who had been researching and experimenting with hallucinogens including DMT since the sixties. You can see how this episode was consumed by Terrance and rightfully so, Terrnace was fighting a losing battle with cancer and died shortly after this interview. This episode holds astonishing insight into the great mind of Mr. McKenna and vital legacy he has left behind.

These films are not for everybody. They are cheesy at times and I could see how people might think it not worth their time. For me this film has made another integral notch in my mind. It aids in solidifying the notion that there is so much more to life than what the western world has led us to believe.