Hapé Ceremony
With plant and shamanic medicines becoming more accessible, understood & supported in western culture, we see an emergence of opportunity to partake and experience the many benefits of these ancient practices first hand.
Hapé is one of these psych substances.
Used for thousands of years for sacred and spiritual practices, this tobacco-based snuff provides a range of benefits.
Below is everything you need to know about this shamanic snuff so you’re prepared when you try it.
Or click below for Ceremony times and availability.
What Is Hapé?
Pronounced “ha-peh” it is a fine, ground-up shamanic snuff.
It contains Nicotiana Rustica, a type of tobacco also known as mapacho. It’s different from the western tobacco used in cigarettes, which is Nicotiana Tabacum.
Although it contains tobacco, you don’t actually smoke Rapé. Instead, it’s administered into your nose.
Hapé also contains other medicinal and sacred plants, including parts from tree bark, leaves, seeds, and various plants. Once collected, the components become pulverized with a pestle, and strained through a mesh.
The result is a fine, light-colored powder. Different combinations of plants provide different uses and effects, and the exact recipe is often kept secret by the shaman.
Historical Details
Snuff goes back to the time of the Incas. Thus, many people believe rapé may date back to the discovery of tobacco’s psychotropic properties.
It’s frequently used in spiritual practice by shamans and tribes in Brazil and Peru. The use of tobacco in these cultures tends to be different than around the globe: Unlike mindless chain smoking, there is a respectful connection with what is described as a "Plant Teacher or Master Plant"
The frequency and intention of using hapé varies by group or tribe. It’s used before breakfast and dinner by some, or solely in ceremony by others, and many ways in between.
We’re seeing it commonly used in western countries in combination with other spiritual medicines, such as Ayahuasca, Sananga, and Kambo.
With these substances as well as Rapé, the set and setting are essential.
Set and Setting
The set is your mindset and headspace, while the setting is your external environment.
It’s essential that both things are intentionally aligned when using Rapé.
The Tranquility Wellness Space is totally congruent for Hapé Ceremony.
You should have an intention in mind when taking Hapé. It might be to clear your mind, answer a question you’ve been asking, or deepen your meditative state.
Once intentions have been set, the person administering and the user can proceed with the medicine.
What to Expect During Ceremony
Rapé isn’t snorted or inhaled.
Rather, it’s tactfully blown through the subject’s nose using a v-shaped bamboo or bone pipe. Simon has been serving Hapé for many years, to countless sitters.
Simon will give more instruction around the process during Ceremony.
A pea-sized amount of Hapé is generally the appropriate amount.
Both nostrils receive Hapé to promote balance and should occur within a short period of one another.
Once administered, you can expect the following things to happen.
What Happens
When Rapé enters your nose, it immediately permeates through your mucous membranes into your bloodstream.
The constituents attach to nicotine receptors, resulting in increased production of dopamine, acetylcholine, and epinephrine.
These chemical processes cause the person to feel relaxed and calm, yet aware and alert. It happens quickly and often feels like a jolt, yet it typically doesn’t cause anxiety or fear.
You should close your eyes, breathe slowly, and focus on your intention when the effects quickly start to set in. Most people experience watery eyes due to the sensitivity of the nose, and also due to the fact that Hapé can be purgative.
That said, sometimes people experience crying, extra salivation, sneezing, vomiting, or the need to have a bowel movement. This is normal and part of the process, as one of the purposes of Rapé is to cleanse and purify the mind and body.
Here are the medicinal, healing effects that may happen in the process.
Medicinal and Spiritual Benefits
Again, there are different types of Hapé because shamans use different plants to create the powdery mixture. Nonetheless, here are some of the mental and physical effects.
Mental and Spiritual Effects
Hapé brings you to a place of acute attention and awareness. The mind becomes quieter, negativity dissolves and emotional tensions release.
People often feel more grounded during the experience, allowing them to clear up confusions or discomfort about an issue they may have been experiencing.
If you focus on the intention you set, you may easily find what you were looking for, be it a state of consciousness or an answer to a question.
Your mind gets purged of everything it needs to let go of. The body often follows suit.
Physical Effects
We mentioned the purgative effects of Hapé. While many people may think of this as not an ideal situation, the purgative and expectorant properties of Rapé is actually beneficial for the immune system.
Through forcing a release of toxins, mucus, and other unwanted things in the body, Rapé helps purify your system. This strengthens your immunity and especially helps with congestion problems.
Along with this, the body can release physical tensions, resulting in a relaxed, peaceful state.
Investing In Your Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Health
Learning about and partaking medicines such as Hapé helps you grow and become a better person.
Shamanic snuff is completely legal in NZ so we hope to see you at the Tranquility Massage & Wellness Centre soon.