Hampaya Ceremony with Huni Kuin Chiefs from the Amazon

Hampaya Ceremony with Huni Kuin Paje’s (shamans) Uncle Masha + Txana Masha

The Hampaya ceremony is a core ritual of the indigenous Huni Kuin people who live deep in the Brazilian Amazon. The ceremony involves applying a mixture of macerated pepper called ‘yutxi’ to the tip of the tongue with the beak of the Japini bird, while Uncle Masha or Txana Masha chants a specific prayer to invoke the spirit of the Japini bird. The Japini bird is a type of bird that imitates the songs of other birds and animals, and sometimes humans, and is considered sacred for the indigenous tribes of the Amazon. In the native language of the Huni Kuin people the name for the Japini bird is Txana, which is also how they refer to initiated singers.  The purpose of the Hampaya ceremony is to ignite the voice and to open the throat and vocal chords.  The ceremony offers a way of healing for their communities.

Uncle Masha and Txana Masha are tribal elders visiting from Brazil.  We are very lucky to have this rare opportunity to participate with them in the Hampaya ceremony.

Uncle Masha was born deep in the Amazon forest, on the Humaita River, Kaxinawa Reserve, in the state of Acre, Brazil.  His father was a traditional chief and Masha was raised to be an advocate for the ecological heritage of his people’s native lands, to preserve and share the Huni Kuin culture.  From an early age, Masha began his responsibility to care for and practice their ancestral wisdom, as his family and village are immersed deeply in the Forest culture.  He became fluent in speaking Portuguese when he was 20 y ears ol, so the he could bring the messages of the forest into the modern world.  Masha is the father of 9 children and countless grandchildren.  He is considered an elder and one of the carriers of traidtional knowledge of the Huni Kuin people.  He is the spiritual chief of his village and the vice chief of the Huni Kuin People of the Humatia River.  For more than a decade, Masha has traveled to share his culture and the miedicines of the Amazon forest as a way to support his culture, family and his village.

Graduated in letters, Txana worked as a teacher for 18 years.  Txana’s academic profession indirectly influences and accompanies his way of sharing the culture of his Huni Kuin people around the world.  He is a Chief of Mati Txana Mukaya, and a respected articulator inside and outside his land.  In addition, Txana cares for and practices the ancestral knowledge and traditions of his Huni Kuin people, which are aligned to the world of spirituality through a philosophy of teaching and learning together.  His mission is to keep alive and intact all the cultural identity and expression of his land and his people, through stories, chants, songs and education, and rituals of the powerful and healing sacred medicines of the forest.

What to expect:

The Hampaya ceremony helps to open the vocal chords, and the throat chakra, bringing benefits in communication, expression, reasoning capacity, as well as improvements to one’s memory.  It is helpful to singers, public speakers, or anyone wishing to express themselves more clearly or learn a new language.

While dipping the beak of the Txana bird into the macerated pepper and passing it over the person’s tongue, Uncle Masha or Txana Masha sing a chant to invoke the spirit of the Txana bird.  The participant has to keep the tip of their tongue out for about 10 – 15 minutes in a meditative way, letting the saliva flow into a cup, while feeling the burning of pepper on the tongue.  This initiation encourages us to listen for the messages the Txana bird brings.

Once everyone receives and completes the baptism, there will be a song circle.  As each person shares a song or a poem, we embody this ritual.  Sharing in this way nurtures the spirit of the Txana bird, now within our body, mind, soul and heart.  The circle will close with a brief orientation on the post-ceremony diet of no salt or sweet foods (fruits, honey, sugar, maple syrup, etc) for 3 days following.

Please be prepared with a song, poem or short story to embody the gifts of Hampaya and close the ceremony.

This is for you if you’re ready to:

• Open up your channels of vocal expression
• Step into a more fully expressed version of yourself
• Overcome your fears and hesitations in speaking out and expressing yourself
• Offer your voice to the public in a more confident and secure way with clarity and surety

Who is this for?

• Open to ages 18 and older
• Anyone looking to gain clarity in their vocal expression

What to expect:

• 2 hour Ceremony
• Clarity
• Energetic healing

What to bring:

• Water Bottle
• Wear comfortable clothes
• a song, story, poem or anything else you have written that you can share with the group at the end.

*Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today.

illustration by loverichartwork.com