Page 14 - aruba-today-20190514

A14 LOCAL
Tuesday 14 May 2019

Episode XVIII

Shamans II Each week we share the most interesting and revealing
articles regarding Aruba, a destination to be explored,we
can find,and so doing uncover amazing and informative
stories along the way.
Boratios, Beykes, Boitius, Whitch docter are some of the titels people use to identify
those who practice the art of traditional healing. Locally they where known as Curan-
deros or Curiosos, “ titles” which may have come from the inquisitive nature of those
who practice the natural way of healing with assistance of spiritual powers of plants.

Ishi a powerful healer of Tibuxi
The means by which spiritual healers prac- was fundamental to the effectiveness of
ticed their role and powers includes: expected result.
• Knowledge of the trance state and The fundamental doctrine is based on the
use of trance-inducing methods and belief that every object in nature is con-
techniques to go on a vision quests trolled by its own independent spirit, or
and incite tribe members soul.
• The use of symbolic regalia and sacred Spirits inhabit the rivers, lakes, mountains, A Native healing ceremony
objects such as the pipes, maracas or forests, trees, plants, sky, stars, sun, moon, Many Native American this tradition are referred
images of saints and angels in their animals, insects, fish, flowers and birds. Tribes believe that when to as medicine men, witch
ceremonies and rituals Some spirits are good and help men who a man is ill a bad spirit has doctor, medicine people
• Symbolic magic, incantations, harvest please them whereas other spirits are bad taken away his soul or has and mystery men, Shaman,
and, rain dances, spirit blessings and and liable to wreak havoc and harm on entered into him, it is there- Curioso or Curandero.
cleansing. Offerings to the sky and sea people and on tribal communities as a fore not surprising that the
spirits and his protection against evil whole. It is the bad spirits that cause trou- Native Americans would Regalia - masks, rattles
eye or hoyada in Papiamento through ble, suffering, sickness and death. wish to gain power over and drums
prayer with the use of rattles, contras, If a healer had control over the spirits he these spirits. Healers are equipped with
incense, tobacco and drums. became extremely powerful, such power a number of objects that
of conscience or quality of awareness The man with knowledge helps him to communicate
Fasting and cleansing ritualshealerof the- was there to be used for good and not for of spirits and the super- with spirits in other worlds.
spirits one`s own benefit. natural was the Shamanic They practice dances, ges-
The belief in spirits and the ability of the Cu- healer, he who would know tures and sounds as the
rioso Curandero to communicate with the Medicine, mystery and wisdom protective words, chants symbolic powers of curan-
earthly spirits:“God, the angels or saints” The healing role of the person was critical. and have the knowledge dero to enter the spirit
obtain through objects, world. A curandero also
substance, the burning of wears ceremonial clothes
tobacco and botanical and carries sacred objects
resins. Others use feathers, such as rattles and feathers
corn pollen or talismans, special seeds, beans, tal-
which, if carried, would dis- ismans, drums and smoke
arm bad spirits and protect to incarnate the spirits of
their owners against bad nature and amplify their
omens etc. Such wisdom, power. The curandero of
knowledge and discipline some tribes or communities
is what Amerindians be- also used masks that were
lieve and respect as “true believed to hold spiritual
medicine” or “mystery powers and would iden-
healing” in the ceremo- tify them with the spirits in
nial context of indigenous other worlds and activate
American communities, their powers, the means by
“medicine” usually refers which spiritual healers em-
to spiritual healing. bodies their role.

The Native Americans who Continued on Page 15
Bonchi Hoyada or evil eye bean a talisman seeks knowledge through