​The calling to become a curandero in the Amazon comes in similar ways as in other shamanic traditions - often one becomes a curandero through curing his own sickness, which can be originating from a spiritual source; through hereditary tradition run in the family, through the call of the plants or sometimes simply by his own desire.

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       When one decides to train as a curandero, one retires into the forest to

undergo ​plant dietas. Dieta in the Amazonian shamanic tradition is a way

of gaining  knowledge of  the plant  spirit and restoring one’s health. The

person undergoing dieta retreats to an isolated tambo (hut) in the forest

for any period of time from 5 days to several months at a time, depending

on the  reason  for  the  dieta. During  the  shamanic apprenticeship, the

curadero is expected to  spend 3-6 initial years in dieta and later, during

his practice, to maintain regular dieting in order to progress on the shamanic path and to keep the spiritual power. During the dieta the apprentice eats very limited food (boiled rice and plantain prepared with no oil or salt), water and the chosen plant medicine.

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Social interactions, sexual activity, and speaking of outside concerns are eschewed. In this way the dieta loosens the hold of human cultural traits – the understanding being that by doing so humans are more open to guidance and power from the natural world. In addition, its ritualized structure values and inspires self-discipline.Such traits are shared with vision quests, and the dietas can be approached in this way.

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During the dieta, the apprentice learns the medicinal properties of the plants he is dieting, ways to prepare them and also receives icaros - medicinal songs. By way of icaros the curandero calls on the plants he has dieted, thus bringing their spirit and medicinal properties into the ceremony.​

 

There are several opinions on how the plants are being selected and in what

order, while some curanderos feel that there is a strict sequence of the

plants for the dieta, others use a more intuitive approach based on the need

of each dietero ( a person undergoing a dieta). But all maintain the view that

one should start first diets with plantas (plants, bushes and small trees) and

move to palos (hardwood trees) with time, as palos require stronger

discipline and longer dietas. The first dietas usually would include plants such

as ajosacha or sukoba for purifying the blood and intestine track and then later progress to more advanced dietas such as chiri sonango, which is usually given to the initiates on the healing path as it opens one heart and emphatically connects one to others, the skill necessary for a healer. A more experienced dietero can venture into the more shamanic dietas with tobacco, one of the most respected plants of the forest, and toe (angel's trumpet) a highly powerful visionary plant.​

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Dietas are not reserved only for curanderos, majority of the population living in the Amazon area and even outside, in bigger cities like Lima, come to the jungle to undergo dietas to restore health or to address spiritual illnesses such as evil eye and curse.

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An experienced vegetalista (a type of curandero who is skilled in the art of dietas and knows properties of medicinal plants) will choose an appropriate plant for each person and indicated length of the diet, depending on seriousness of the illness. Usually, the dieta will last at least 10 days for initial healing, but in some cases of serious or advanced illness the dieta can last up to several months.​

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In Canto Luz we approach each guest with individual care and select the plant for his or her dieta based on one's physical and emotional health, experience and personal desires. We can help to improve your health and accompany you deeper on your spiritual learning path, providing a competent expertise and safe environment for your dietas.

 

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​​After completion of the dieta it is important to ease your way back into the world and protect your physical and spiritual body by following a restrictive diet for another month.

 

- no meat

- no sex

- no alcohol

- no chemicals, additives, preservatives

- no dairy ( cheese)

 

Eggs, fish, fresh vegetables are all good options for post-dieta month.