A Review by C. Michael Smith, Ph.D

Seti Gershberg’s new film, AYAHUASCA NATURE’S GREATEST GIFT is a must see for anyone interested in exploring the world of Amazonian plant medicines, especially ayahuasca and its various admixtures.

http://http://youtu.be/VewJ3Dzgsfs

I have seen many ayahuasca documentaries. They abound on Youtube. Many are made by overly idealistic Western novices, and do not give a solid or well-rounded introduction to the major issues. Seti Gershberg’s documentary is a remedy to this situation. He brings his own seasoned background in Peruvian shamanic practice, training in anthropology and the arts in crafting this informative documentary. Segments of the film take us into the Amazonian jungle, listening to Ronald Rivera, a Peruvian shaman, discuss a variety of basic topics related to his ayahuasca ceremonies. Generous commentaries and clarifications are interwoven by an illustrious group of experts, including the likes of Dennis McKenna, Ph.D. and Stephan Beyer, Ph.D.

Coming from my own background as a shamanic teacher, Jungian psychologist, and medical anthropologist, my comments here have to do with how I can help those who consult with me, in the USA and Europe regarding the possibility of their traveling to the Peruvian Amazon to experience ayahuasca. I have long been highly concerned about modern Westerners who descend into the Amazon unaware of the basics and the dangers. I have wanted a film that could really help anyone contemplating engaging with ayahuasca in making informed choices. This film remedies this situation. I highly recommend the film for anyone who may be considering a trip to the Amazon to experience the medicine. The reason is simple. The film presents a crucial and solid overview of a range of crucial topics, 30 subtopics in all, such as the cultural history surrounding ayahuasca, its methods of preparation, its ancient ritual-ceremonial context, Mestizo shamanism, the origins and role of the chants (Icaros), ontological status of the spirits or entities (vs modern Western reductionist views), and the kinds of seekers who come to drink the tea: those seeking physical, mental, or spiritual healing, and those seeking a shamanic-type visionary experiences. The point is made that often the two types of ayahuasca experience tend to intertwine, because that is the nature of ayahuasca.

Anthropologist Stephan Beyer, one of the experts interviewed in the film clarifies that indigenous tribal shamans in the Northern Amazon have used the Tea themselves for diagnostic purposes, to see into the patient, body and soul, to see what is needed for healing. After 1991, with the publication by Luis Eduardo Luna of “Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconography of a Peruvian: with Pablo Amaringo,” a growing interest of modern Westerners in taking the ayahuasca themselves, for visionary or healing purposes has developed. This development has offered a relatively new area of contemporary consciousness research and expansion, but also some dangers that every new seeker needs to know about. The film’s experts frankly discuss the dangers and downside of ayahuasca: tourism and the challenges and dangers of traveling in a Third World Country, charlatanism, sorcery, and the impact on indigenous life-styles and culture.

Towards the end of Ayahuasca Nature’s Greatest Gift, Dennis McKenna shares his vision of a new kind of research into the potentials of this promising medicine. He envisions the establishment of research and treatment centers in Peru, Brazil and other Latin American countries where use of power plants is legal. In such a setting modern medical doctors, psychologists and indigenous shamans could work collaboratively on patients suffering a wide variety of afflictions. The would gather empirical data and make follow-up studies available.

What I admire most in this documentary is the well-rounded up-close look at ayahuasca, warts and all. Whether you are well experienced, or are a new seeker of the ayahuasca experience, get this video!

–  C. Michael Smith, Ph.D.  (Mikkal)

Peruvian shaman Ronald Rivera

Film Maker Seti Gershberg

Purchase the film through: http://www.thepathofthesun.com

C. Michael Smith (Mikkal)

C. Michael Smith, Ph.D. (Mikkal) is a Jungian psychologist and medical anthropologist. He is director of Crows Nest Centers for Shamanic Studies International, and is author of JUNG AND SHAMANISM IN DIALOGUE, and PSYCHOTHERAPY AND THE SACRED. A member of Le Collège de Chamanisme Ancestral in Paris, and a teaching member of the French Cercle de Sagesse de l’Union des Traditions Ancestrales, he was keynote presenter at the 8th International Conference on Amazonian Shamanism in 2012, in Iquitos, and is a former psychological consultant to Mi Templo Sagrado,  Tarapoto, Peru. www.crowsnestshamanism.com