While ayahuasca has become something of a celebrity in Western culture recently, there are many misleading understandings about ayahuasca circulating the web. From unreasonable fears about the dangers of the brew to sensationalist ideas about its benefits, the need for a mature discussion about ayahuasca has never been more important than in today’s globalizing environment.
Kahpi is a learning hub dedicated to providing a holistic understanding of ayahuasca. We bring together ayahuasca experts from science and medicine, anthropology and ethnobotany and shamanism and alternative healing networks. We aim to create bridge between indigenous and local knowledge with academic and global research and thinking.
Kahpi publishes academic, esoteric and real-world knowledge about ayahuasca in language that ordinary people can understand. You can browse our 40+ articles on all things ayahuasca, or if you would like to go deeper in your learning, we encourage you to check out our 12 premium video courses that are taught by experts from various backgrounds.
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If you are a writer, researcher, artist or videographer with a message to share about ayahuasca, we encourage you to submit your work to us at: learn[at]kahpi.net
Kahpi is a small but passionate organization made of editors, writers, videographers and technical wizards. We have a large social media audience (65,000+ viewers across all our channels) and many organizational partners to help spread our word loud and clear. During the last 12 months, our articles have received 350,000+ readers and our viral ayahuasca video series has received 3+ million views.
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The Kahpi Course Teachers
Glenn H. Shepard, PhD – Anthropologist
Teacher of Substance, Soul & Shamanism in the Amazon & Beyond
Dr. Clancy Cavnar, PsyD – Psychologist
Teacher of Psychological Aspects of Preparing For & Integrating Ayahuasca Experiences
Dr. Luís Fernando Tófoli, PhD, MD – Psychiatrist
Teacher of Ayahuasca & Mental Health
Draulio de Araujo, PhD – Neuroscientist
Teacher of Ayahuasca & The Brain
Darpan – Ceremony Facilitator
Teacher of Heal Yourself and Thrive with Ayahuasca
Des Tramacchi, Ph.D – Scholar of Spirituality
Teacher of Ayahuasca, World Spiritualities & Psychonautics
Gretel Echazú, PhD – Anthropologist
Teacher of Ayahuasca in the Peruvian Amazon: Nation, Gender & Race/Ethnicity
Jerónimo Mazarrasa – Digital Storyteller
Teacher of Spiritual Tourism, Spiritual Materialism & the Ethics of Intercultural Encounters
Nicolas Langlitz, PhD – Anthropologist
Teacher of Neuropsychedelia & The Laboratory
Dr. Brian Anderson, MD – Medical Doctor
Teacher of Ayahuasca & Allopathic Medicine
Celina De Leon, M.A. (c) – Healer
Teacher of The Role of Spirituality in Ayahuasca Healing
Access The Kahpi Ayahuasca Courses Here
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A Short Introduction to Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew typically made from boiling two plants, banisteriopsis caapi and psychotria viridis. The brew has been used by many indigenous peoples of the Amazon Rainforest for healing, magic and social welfare for at least a few centuries, possibly much longer. When consumed, ayahuasca usually creates extraordinary experiences of visions and intense emotions.
In recent decades, ayahuasca has become an increasingly popular choice of alternative healing for people in Western societies who travel to the Amazon for an ayahuasca retreat or who attend ayahuasca retreats in other parts of the world. Ayahuasca is also at the centre of two large religious organisations that began in the 20th century in Brazil and now exist in many parts of the world.
The brew is used in contexts of shamanism, spirituality, religion and psychotherapy. It has expanded from the Amazon jungle into societies in which similar psychoactive plants and chemicals are illegal, and it is currently illegal in many parts of the world.
In recent years, there has been an explosion of high-quality scientific research into ayahuasca, with hundreds of research articles being published in academic disciplines ranging from anthropology, botany and history to psychology, neuroscience and pharmacology. Research has examined the benefits, risks, and practices of drinking ayahuasca.
