Something ive been pondering lately that i find very disturbing is the vast amount of brujeria that exists esp in the amazon. I was startled to learn there are more brujos than non-brujo shamans. So i did some research into them and seems brujo/sorcerer is a shaman that focuses their knowledge n power towards ego-oriented means rather than helping others, or in otherwords rather than just follow the path of love like true cureandos for example, they follow the path of power, and many do so through means of witchcraft n spells. Kinna like star wars one can become a jedi or cross over to the dark side hehe. This than gave me idea maybe lots of the shamans in those high priced fancy retreats are brujos, since they get paid muchhh more than regular village shaman, that heal for little to no money. And with more brujos than non brujo shamans in the amazon, it can be very dangerous indeed for a traveller to end up in the wrong hands. What i dont understand, is how so much brujeria exists, i mean when i take aya it heals me/my ego, making me a better person overall and helping me realize the true nature of things like the unimportance of money and power, and the importance of love. So what i dont understand is doesnt aya help set them straight?...thoughts?

sorry for the unusual topic , besides conversing ideas hope this can help travelers keep an open eye, cheers

I'm not sure if there would be more brujos in those fancy retreats than in the jungle. The fact that the ones in fancy retreats get paid more could just be indicative of a shift in cultural identity. To a medicine person who lives in the jungle in a relatively traditional way, money has little value to them. They would probably trade their services for food or other goods instead. As these people become more westernized or have contact with the modern world, suddenly money has a value because you can use it to exchange for goods or other necessities of life.

It is fascinating (and a little scary) to hear of the prevalence of brujo's and "dark" energy/magic among cultures that use Ayahuasca and other psychoactive plants. I agree, it can be dangerous for a traveler, especially one from a different culture, to go looking for the shamans. You never know when someone might spike your brew with Brugmansia or something.

I guess that the ability and understanding of how to use plants to heal, also gives you an ability and understanding of how to cause harm. They are opposite sides of the same coin, and it comes down to the individual to choose how they will use their knowledge. When brujos start firing psychic darts and such at each other, or setting curses, it sounds like just another manifestation of humans fighting with each other, just using unusual weapons.

Also since shamans spend much of their time in the "spirit realm" perhaps some of them get a bit dissociated from ordinary people's feelings and concerns. They literally live with one foot in this world, one foot in the other, and I imagine that's a strange life to live. Always called on to guide the tribe, but never fully free to live like the others. Ayahuasca can be incredibly healing, but we know that intent is huge, and if you go in with an intent of gaining power then probably the kinds of experiences or beings you encounter are totally different than going in with an intention of healing, or feeling the power of love. Some DMT entities that are encountered are quite malevolent and/or tricksters, and I wouldn't even rule out possession as a possibility.

yess u hit on smoe very interesting points, like regarding intent and entities. The brujos actions i read about like the spiritual fighting all seems very ego drivin, So yeh maybe that is their intent, and what intent you have you get, and can attract the different kinds of spirits. They are only human afterall n I believe we all have the ability or potential to do both good and horrible things, like seeds in ourselves what ever we water will grow. Like We feed our ego it will grow and grow hungrier and the ego can never be satisfied. And as one feeds the darkness, the light/love diminishes. I also read somewhere its much easier to become a brujo than a healer shaman, so myb lack of enough disapline seems to be another factor.. Its sad that unfornately the power/knowledge can be used both ways but indeed yin yang, 2 sides of the coin

If you dont believe in something it doesnt make it go away or not exist

It is up to each of use to give positive or negative to the energy we are given.