Rainforest Medicine: Preserving Indigenous Science And Biodiversity In The Upper Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Chronicling the practices, legends, and wisdom of the vanishing traditions of the upper , this book reveals the area's indigenous peoples' approach to living in harmony with the natural world. Rainforest Medicine features in-depth essays on plant-based medicine and indigenous science from four distinct ian societies: deep forest and urban, lowland rainforest and mountain.The book is illustrated with unique botanical and cultural drawings by Secoya elder and traditional healer Agustin Payaguaje and horticulturalist Thomas Y. Wang as well as by the author himself. Payaguaje shares his sincere imaginal view into the spiritual life of the Secoya; plates of petroglyphs from the sacred valley of Cotundo relate to an ancient language, and other illustrations show traditional Secoya ayahuasca symbols and indigenous origin myths. Two color sections showcase photos of the plants and people of the region, and include plates of previously unpublished full-color paintings by Pablo Cesar Amaringo (1938-2009), an acclaimed Peruvian artist renowned for his intricate, colorful depictions of his visions from drinking the entheogenic plant brew, ayahuasca ("vine of the soul" in Quechua languages). Today the once-dense mysterious rainforest realms are under assault as the indiscriminate colonial frontier of resource extraction moves across the region; as the forest disappears, the traditional human legacy of sustainable utilization of this rich ecosystem is also being buried under modern realities. With over 20 years experience of ground-level environmental and cultural conservation, author Jonathon Miller Weisberger's commitment to preserving the fascinating, unfathomably precious relics of the indigenous legacy shines through. Chief among these treasures is the "shimmering" "golden" plant-medicine science of ayahuasca or yajé, a rainforest vine that was popularized in the 1950s by Western travelers such as William Burroughs and Alan Ginsberg. It has been sampled, reviled, and celebrated by outsiders ever since.Currently sought after by many in the industrialized West for its powerful psychotropic and life-transforming effects, this sacred brew is often imbibed by visitors to the upper and curious seekers in faraway venues, sometimes with little to no working knowledge of its principles and precepts. Perceiving that there is an evident need for in-depth information on ayahuasca if it is to be used beyond its traditional context for healing and spiritual illumination in the future, Miller Weisberger focuses on the fundamental knowledge and practices that guide the use of ayahuasca in indigenous cultures. Weaving first-person narrative with anthropological and ethnobotanical information, Rainforest Medicine aims to preserve both the record and ongoing reality of ayahuasca's unique tradition and, of course, the priceless forest that gave birth to these sacred vines. Featuring words from ian shamans--the living torchbearers of these sophisticated spiritual practices--the book stands as testimony to this sacred plant medicine's power in shaping and healing individuals, communities, and nature alike.
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1 edition (September 17, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158394608X
ISBN-13: 978-1583946084
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #904,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #18 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Ecosystems > Tropical #178 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Forests & Rainforests #343 in Books > Science & Math > Agricultural Sciences > Forestry
Coming from an enduring and dedicated conservationist, Rainforest Medicine is an amazing journey into the world of shamanism. This book covers a broad spectrum and shows just how special, complex, and valuable these wisdom traditions of the really are. The author has been working with indigenous tribes in the jungle for most of his life, helping to preserve their lands and their beautiful cultures. This is a very heartfelt and personal account, written from a perspective of great care, respect, and imagination.Each chapter of Rainforest Medicine covers a different topic and presents new information. It goes into detail about several medicinal plants and their traditional uses. It talks about the destruction of the rainforest and the challenges of trying to preserve these pristine lands in a resource-hungry society. It gives you the ins and outs of shamanic healing and learning as practiced by both tribal and city-dwelling people. And it's full of magical lore and legends, painting a worldview that is rooted in the earth and connected to the heavens. I can't recommend this book highly enough. You will learn a lot while having your imagination pushed and your heartstrings pulled.
Streaming beneath the surface of Weisberger's bobbing, infectious love of the and its indigenous peoples is a tide of information crucial to ian conservation, and, by extension, human emancipation. A somewhat dauntingly heavy tome upon first inspection, replete as it is with full botanical illustrations and descriptions of the many medicinal plants of the ian pharmacopoeia, curious readers will quickly discover the author's alchemical ability for turning what is definitely prose into something that reads like poetry a true delight. In its exploration of the cultural, ecological and spiritual dimensions of pan-ian indigeneity and the implications of ignoring such tried-and-true perennial wisdoms, Rainforest Medicine asserts itself as a must-read for anyone interested in the future of the planet and its delicate web of life.
When I got my copy in the mail, I started reading immediately and before I knew it, several hours had passed. Jonathon is the source of so much wisdom, acquired first hand in the jungles of the , Costa Rica and Berkeley. ;o) His love for plants, conservation and the world around him is unequaled in my experience and he is well known as an activist who puts his money where his mouth is. His facility on the Osa Peninsula is an amazing place for a gathering. One last note on the author is that his love of Chinese Medicine adds an eclectic edge to his voice...The book, itself, is an amazing view into indigenous peoples in the Ecuadorean who are trying to protect a life that is based on principles that are not shared be Western Civilization but ought to be. The fast encroaching "modern" world and what this means for the preservation of the old ways is carefully detailed in this book. The past, future, and present of these peoples and how a vine is entwined with their destiny is given a microscopic, detailed look and in that look, larger concepts of how we treat indigenous people across the entire planet emanate.Part intense, personal, spiritual journey, part inspiration and part instructional how-to, this book is a labor of love and should be read that way.It isn't accessible to all but by its nature, it is self-selecting material. If you have found this book, it is because you are looking for knowledge that isn't easy to come by. Be assured that you have found the definitive word on what you are looking for. Buy this book. Buy several copies and spread the word. The words between these covers will change you in the most positive of ways but first you need to look at present reality for context, cry a little, and then roll up your sleeves and dig in.
Yes, ayahuasca is well presented. But really, this book contains the entire context around the phenomenon of ayahuasca. The jungle, the peoples, the full cultural ambience surrounding this native healing and divination ritual, are all presented by the author; who has lived , worked, and traveled in the " natural territory of historic ayahuasca culture" .
This book is well-researched and was obviously a "labor of love" for the author. I learned a lot from reading this book and found his writing style engaging and personable.I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about indigenous people, their traditional medicines and also about their lives past and present, in these remote areas of the world.I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars as this is rather "heavy" reading for someone like me who didn't know much about this topic previously.
As someone that has partaken in several Ayauasca ceremonies and in so found the traditions associated with the plant medicine to be fascinating, illuminating and powerful, Rainforest Medicine has been a beautiful addition in learning more about the medicine, the traditions and in so been a helpful guide at times in my own spiritual journey. I am glad to have a way to delve deeper into the stories and world views of the peoples of the .This book is great for those that are curious about Ayauasca and beautiful for those that have experienced the medicine and yearn to understand more deeply from those who have traversed the path for thousands of years. I Highly recommend! Along with being very informative, it is also a pleasurable read full of funny stories and anecdotes. I often just open it up and see where it takes me and am never disappointed.
by Don Hanlon JohnsonThis is an extraordinary blend of Weisberger's lifelong direct experience of the people of the upper and their living and endangered skills with plant medicines, with his intellectual background of the linguistics, history, and botany. For the many people who are coming into contact with these traditions here in the US, this is an important book for understanding the depths and intricacies of these wisdom practices. It is also a beautiful book, with radiant photos of this soulful region of the world.
Rainforest Medicine: Preserving Indigenous Science and Biodiversity in the Upper The White Possessive: Property, Power, and Indigenous Sovereignty (Indigenous Americas) Original Local: Indigenous Foods, Stories, and Recipes from the Upper Midwest Visions of a Rainforest: A Year in Australia's Tropical Rainforest Canning And Preserving Cookbook: 100+ Mouth-Watering Recipes of Canned Food: ( Canning and Preserving Cookbook, Best Canning Recipes) (Home Canning Recipes, Pressure Canning Recipes) Canning and Preserving: A Simple Food in a Jar Home Preserving Guide for All Seasons: Bonus: Food Storage Tips for Meat, Dairy and Eggs Corridor Ecology: The Science and Practice of Linking Landscapes for Biodiversity Conservation The Independent Farmstead: Growing Soil, Biodiversity, and Nutrient-Dense Food with Grassfed Animals and Intensive Pasture Management In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) The Bee-Friendly Garden: Design an Abundant, Flower-Filled Yard that Nurtures Bees and Supports Biodiversity Reptile Biodiversity: Standard Methods for Inventory and Monitoring Last Stand: Protected Areas and the Defense of Tropical Biodiversity A Landowner's Guide to Managing Your Woods: How to Maintain a Small Acreage for Long-Term Health, Biodiversity, and High-Quality Timber Production Manu: The Biodiversity of Southeastern Peru Conserving Forest Biodiversity: A Comprehensive Multiscaled Approach Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants A Desolate Place for a Defiant People: The Archaeology of Maroons, Indigenous Americans, and Enslaved Laborers in the Great Dismal Swamp (Co-published with The Society for Historical Archaeology) Reimagining Indian Country: Native American Migration and Identity in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles (First Peoples: New Directions in Indigenous Studies) Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples
