Shinan: Cosmology of the Shipibo Tribe

The shamanic anthropology book, Shinan, explores the significance and power of Ayahuasca-inspired song patterns from the Shipibo tribe from the Peruvian Amazon. In Shipibo Ayahuasca ceremonies, the shaman often sees beautiful geometric designs called Kené. A Shaman attempts to describe theses visual designs by using song, transforming them into healing chants called Icaros. Shipibo women who take Ayahuasca are often inspired to paint or embroider these designs on cotton material or on clothing after the ceremony ends. The complex and mesmerizing Kené designs they make are artistically captivating and considered to be healing for those who look at and meditate on them. Shinan also studies the history and development of Shipibo tribe ayahuasca artwork--pottery, body paint, embroidery, and painted fabric. To date there is no other book exploring this shamanic anthropology subject so thoroughly and with such beautiful detail. Each piece of artwork in Shinan was made specifically for this book, and as such directly benefited over a dozen families who helped create the images. Sales of Shinan also helped to finish a large water well project in San Salvador, near Pucallpa, Peru, where much of the information for Shinan was gathered, edited, polished, and made ready for this publication.