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A14 LOCAL
Tuesday 7 May 2019

Episode XVII

Shamans 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.

The journey
What is a Curioso? A Curioso is a spiritual Native American Shamanism.
healer of a group or tribe who adhere There are two kinds of spiritual leaders or
to the belief in ancient practices like the guides in prehistoric Caribbean Era: they
Caquietian Boratios Shamanism. The be- were called “Beyke” and “Boitiu”.
lief and practice incorporates a range of Beykes are ceremonial leaders and teach-
beliefs, customs, ceremonies and rituals ers of groups. The beyke’s responsibility is
regarding communication with the spiri- to organize and lead group ceremonies The spirits
tual world in which their religious leader, a which are necessary to maintain the bal- in the spiritual realms that like in the case of Aruba’s
Curioso or Curandero enters a supernatu- ance and connection between the peo- are identified as the “Three Curiosos and Curanderos
ral realm particularly when the tribe is fac- ple and the Divine Consciousness of the Cosmic Levels” of shaman- who had incorporated or
ing adversity or need to obtain solutions Great Spirit. The goal is to learn and be- ic geography; the Upper adapted Roman Catholic
to problems affecting their community in- come an expert in the tradition so that he World, the Middle World believes which they took
cluding sickness. or she can then teach and be a vehicle and the Lower World. Some over from the Spaniards to
for the evolution and blossoming of the of the power that the boitiu their existing natives’ prac-
The doctrine associated with Curanderia group. brings back from the spirit tices. Many items such as
or Curiosos incorporates the ancient role The boitiu, on the other hand, is an ex- realm is used to heal. The crucifix, rosary, candles
of Shamans, which is probably one of the plorer. The boitiu’s job is to go into realms boitiu is what many know and images or statues of
oldest beliefs man created which origins where not everyone can go. The boitiu as a “shaman”. saints where used in order
dates back to the Stone Age. does this through a technique called “jour- to supplanting their natural
The term “Shaman” is derived from the neying”. The journey takes the boitiu to We must note that Sha- spirits in order to maintain
Sanskrit word “sraman” meaning a worker places where she or he can gain spiritual manism is not a specific re- basic traditions.
or toiler. power or wisdom and then bring it back to ligion but a doctrine based
the community. These places are located on a belief that physical The role of the Curioso or
nature might be brought Curandero.
under the control of man, The healer uses appropri-
in the person of a Shaman. ate words, objects and
The Shaman is believed to rituals to protect men from
have a spiritual connection evil spirits - his role is that of
with animals, supernatural opponent to the bad spirits
creatures and all elements and of guardian to the or-
of nature. The Shaman dinary man. The role of the
helps members of the tribe Curioso Curandero differs
to identify personal Ani- from tribe to tribe as there
mal Totems that are spirit are some regional and trib-
guides who walk through al variations to their beliefs
life with them and some- in Shamanism. There are,
times appear in dreams or however, several common
Vision Quests or on a Spiri- roles that are shared by
tual Journey in the form of every Shaman, Healer, Cu-
an animal. rioso or Curandero.
Shamanism is mixed with
other beliefs such as Ani-
mism, Totemism, Ritual- Continued on Page 15
The spirits ism and Fetishism beliefs