Shamanic Experiences on Coast to Coast AM February 17, 2025

Shamanic explorer Matthew J. Pallamary discussed the universal appeal and foundational significance of shamanism across cultures, including the use of ayahuasca. He pointed out similarities between South American indigenous beliefs and those found in various global religions, including the legend of the Great Flood. Calling shamanism "the world's oldest spiritual belief system," he said its roots are deeply embedded in prehistoric spirituality. Shamanism, he continued, encompasses the roles of healers, teachers, and therapists. They serve as guides, "going to the other worlds or the other realms... to find the knowledge," with the pursuit sometimes involving working with psychoactive plants like ayahuasca, which help shamans explore consciousness through visionary experiences, and spiritual animal totems.

Drawing from his extensive experiences with ayahuasca ceremonies over the past 25 years in Central and South America, Pallamary offered personal insights into the plant medicine and related rituals. He explained how these practices are steeped in centuries of trial and error, and that knowledge has been passed down through generations. "In the jungle, there are no medical facilities close by. And these cures and these plants go back literally to prehistoric times." Pallamary emphasized that ayahuasca is not for everyone and requires careful screening and respect, especially considering its potential interactions with medications like SSRIs.