I'm assuming you're interested in studying Ayahuasca traditions?
I recently learned that traditionally in Shipibo culture, ayahuasca was never meant to be given to "the normal mind". Instead the maestras would be the ones taking the ayahuasca in order to help guide them into diagnosing people dealing with various sicknesses.
These maestras were also ranked by how many different plants they'd done a dieta on. A dieta is kinda similar to fasting. You can't shower with soap, you can't have sex, you can't have too much salt/seasoning, can't be exposed to too much smoke, can't have alcohol, etc. And you use that specific plant throughout your time. Basically you want to eliminate any conflicting variables so you can experience the plant as purely as possible to understand its effects. Traditionally these dietas could last over a year but modern day maestros typically do them for just a few weeks.
I don't really have a point to this. Just found it fascinating how deeply and strictly they study certain plant medicines and wanted to share
Yes essentially. I've got a few resources cobbled together over the last few years but it'd be really nice to have this reference (my Spanish isn't the best, and running to the translator for a definition can be a little annoying). Also to share with fellow learners/apprentices I know. There are a couple of classes out there (which are actually geared more toward the ceremonial/icaro language, not purely conversational Shipibo, which is a bit simpler as you don't need to worry as much about conjugation and other complexities) which I might look into eventually.
(Fwiw I've accumulated a couple years worth of dieta under my belt and am well aware of the restrictions! It's indeed very fascinating, been pretty serious about it the last few years and I've barely scratched the surface)
Couldn't you use your smartphone and Google Lens (on Android, Google app on iOS includes Google Lens functionality) to translate the Spanish to English?
FYI - Lens on Android does in-place language translation including attempting to use the same/similar font that the original language is written/printed.
Unfortunately, I don't think Lens can be used in an automated batch translation mode to convert an entire book/multiple pages
I actually did too lol. I was pleasantly surprised because it was actually decent and realistic about the situation (a lot of people get this romantic idea about going to the jungle to live and learn with the indigenous and have an "authentic" experience, and this does a pretty good job if dispelling that).
I recently learned that traditionally in Shipibo culture, ayahuasca was never meant to be given to "the normal mind". Instead the maestras would be the ones taking the ayahuasca in order to help guide them into diagnosing people dealing with various sicknesses.
These maestras were also ranked by how many different plants they'd done a dieta on. A dieta is kinda similar to fasting. You can't shower with soap, you can't have sex, you can't have too much salt/seasoning, can't be exposed to too much smoke, can't have alcohol, etc. And you use that specific plant throughout your time. Basically you want to eliminate any conflicting variables so you can experience the plant as purely as possible to understand its effects. Traditionally these dietas could last over a year but modern day maestros typically do them for just a few weeks.
I don't really have a point to this. Just found it fascinating how deeply and strictly they study certain plant medicines and wanted to share