The Shaman & Ayahuasca: Journeys to Sacred Realms
As interest in ayahuasca grows, so does the question of how to explain this mysterious phenomenon to the uninitiated seeker. Filmmaker Michael Wiese's latest documentary, meets this challenge with remarkable grace. In mind-bending portraits of jaguar-skinned shamans enshrouded by seeing-eye vines, the spiritual alchemy between man and nature that takes place in the ayahuasca realms is magically revealed. These enchanting interviews with Amaringo, recorded only months before his untimely death, are among the film's brightest highlights a deeply introspective story of healing and discovery. --Stephen Thomas, RealitySandwich.comI enjoyed seeing and hearing Don Jose at work and seeing Pablo and his beautiful work. The film is a good introduction to that whole world. It does a good job putting the world of ayahuasca shamanism on the table. --Jeremy Narby, PhD, author of The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of KnowledgeThis is a gem of a movie contemplatively paced, beautifully photographed, and filled with insights into the practice of ayahuasca shamanism in the Upper Amazon. The interviews with shaman Jose Campos, visionary artist Pablo Amaringo the last before his death and phytochemist Julio Arce Hidalgo provide a solid grounding for the story of the filmmaker's own quest for healing and understanding. Poignant and moving, the film is enriched with an evocative soundtrack by Peruvian recording artist Artur Menas Salas. --Steve Beyer, author Singing to the Plants