Numerous Indigenous groups throughout lowland South America practice forms of shamanism, in which ritual specialists, often referred to as curanderos (“healers”), communicate with spirit and/or animal worlds for purposes of healing, prophecy, and more. Though found as far south as central Chile among the Mapuche people, shamanism is particularly prevalent among groups in the upper Amazon. In this region, bordering the eastern Andes, shamans play an important role in the ritual life of Indigenous peoples such as the Shuar and Napo Runa in Ecuador and the Asháninka and Shipibo-Konima peoples in Peru.
Music forms a key part of shamanic practices, structuring phases of a ritual while acting as a bridge between human, spirit, and animal worlds. Among the Napo Runa, for example, shamans called yachaj (Quichua for “one who knows”) are believed to travel via song between this world and the spirit world in the context of healing ceremonies. In addition to providing a vehicle for metaphysical travel, songs offer commentary on the healing process itself, identifying sources of illness and narrating their resolution.
One Amazonian practice that has drawn global attention in recent years is the use of ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea brewed from the banisteriopsis caapi vine and other plants that produces strong visions and hallucinogenic effects among users. In ayahuasca ceremonies, typically lasting all night, a curandero uses music to create a structured and protected space for healing and transformation, guiding participants’ experiences and shaping the emotional and spiritual dimensions of their journey. The rhythms, melodies, and tonal qualities of the music can influence the flow of visions, emotions, and insights, helping participants navigate the often intense and unpredictable effects of the ayahuasca brew.
At the heart of this musical tradition are icaros, sacred songs sung by the curandero during the ceremony. Icaros are believed to carry spiritual power, transmitted through direct experience, dreams, or teachings from plant spirits. Each icaro has a specific function—it may call in protective forces, cleanse negative energies, summon healing spirits, or guide participants through difficult psychological territory. The curandero often tailors the choice and delivery of icaros in response to the energy of the group or the needs of individual participants, functioning as a spiritual navigator throughout the journey.
Beyond their energetic and spiritual influence, icaros serve as a bridge between the physical and non-physical realms. Their often repetitive, hypnotic nature can help induce altered states of consciousness, deepen introspection, and connect individuals with deeper layers of memory, emotion, or transpersonal awareness. For many, the music becomes the language through which healing and insight are transmitted, making it not just an accompaniment to the ceremony, but an integral and transformative part of the experience
Look for the CDs Music of the Jívaro of Ecuador (Folkways FE 4386, 1973), which includes several tracks recorded by a Shuar uwishin or shaman, and Soul Vine Shaman (Polar Fine Arts, 2007), featuring a field recording of an ayahuasca ceremony among the Napo Runa.