Hapé: Sacred Plant Medicine of the Amazon

For centuries, South American indigenous cultures recognized the healing power of hapé. Use of the sacred snuff in ceremonies and rituals has been passed down through generations from tribes like the Nukini, Kuntanawa and Shawandawa. 

South American indigenous people produce hapé from the ashes of specific trees, mixed with organic plants and mapacho, a jungle tobacco. The blend is ground into a fine powder and administered through the nose to produce different effects, based on the plants used. 

For some, hapé is grounding, allowing the mind to become still and open. For others, the snuff can induce visions, raise and cleanse energy, and enhance connection to inner consciousness. The hapé blends are meant for sacred ceremonies and should always be used as a spiritual tool, never recreational. 

Using Hapé

Hapé can be self-administered, using a pipe called a “kuripe.” The V-shaped pipe connects the mouth to the nostrils. Using a pea-sized amount of powder, put the medicine in your hand, set your intention and align with the hapé’s spiritual essence. Putting half of the powder into the kuripe, blow the blend into the first nostril, allowing the medicine to permeate the mucous membranes, moving directly into the bloodstream. Repeat in the second nostril. After the medicine is applied, sit for 5-10 minutes in meditation.

This is the hardest part because it requires centering yourself and giving yourself a strong, powerful application. It is necessary to have firmness, purpose and an empty mind, so the hapé can be received with fullness of blessings. In time, your ability will grow and you’ll be able to use this tool to center yourself whenever necessary. 

First-time users can benefit from having a trained administrator perform the hapé ceremony using a tepi pipe. The person performing the ceremony will blow the hapé into the user's nostrils, one at a time, to make sure it’s used correctly. 

At Sacred Energy, the numerous hapé blends available are treated with respect to the tribes and locations where they were created. The organic blends from Peru offer a range of experiences, from a soft grounding to a more robust energy enhancement. 

Let the experts in the shop help you along this sacred medicine journey.