C-Realm Podcast #57

[KMO]

Episode 57: The Curandero's Apprentice (http://www.podomatic.com/link/dd9d0bcc13c9e54160768e4c62170a7e)

http://c-realmpodcast.podomatic.com/2007-09-26T18_59_16-07_00.jpg (http://www.podomatic.com/link/dd9d0bcc13c9e54160768e4c62170a7e)

KMO interviews Chip "Carlos" Tanner, a gringo apprenticing under a Peruvian curandero and explores the spirit realm with Wendy Luckey, with whom he participated in a San Pedro ceremony in Iquitos in July of 2007. Ever wondered why KMO bleeps out the profanity? KMO explains all and provides audio glimpses into two very different ayahuasca ceremonies.

[ottonomy]

On the profanity issue, I hope someday that podcasts come out in an open audio format that has more meta control, like an optional "bleep" track so listeners could choose whether or not to use the censored version.

[sam101]

Thanks for the episode KMO it was really excellent. I have not listened to many of your podcasts and its great to have found them, truly refreshing.

Do hope your dog is getting better, he looks wonderful; have you any idea what breed he may be? Always loved brindle dogs since a child, his eyes look like he could make you do anything!

I was facinated by the Curandero and alot of what was said rang true. I struggled with the healing aspects though as they were so far from my western paradigm.

One point I find it hard to get past is the fact that mortality rates in western countries are better than that of South American countries. How can this be true if the Curanderos can really heal people at a biological level? My only counter to this would be maybe western medicines prolong a life further than should of been the case, if the spiritual world had its way maybe they 'should' of died sooner and western medicines simply prolong the evitable.

Whats your take on this; or anyone for that matter?

[KMO]

One point I find it hard to get past is the fact that mortality rates in western countries are better than that of South American countries. How can this be true if the Curanderos can really heal people at a biological level?

In Peru, and in the two-thirds world generally, first world strategies for "economic development" have pushed the population from rural lands into urban areas. People who live in urban slums never see, much less benefit from the regular services of a curendero.

That said, there's definitely an important role for allopathic medicine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopathic_medicine). When my dog had a foreign object obstructing his bowls, I took him to a veterinary surgeon who doped him up with pharmaceuticals, cut a path to the obstruction, and removed the object. If I hadn't, he'd be dead.

[sam101]

Thanks KMO that is a good point you make.

Do you think if you narrowed it down to a isolated experiment where a community was not being influenced by the western world and all had access to Curanderos their mortality rate would equal that of the western world.

Or do you think ultimately there is truth in both sides paradyms and enbodying both sides view would be most beneficial to longevity.

[Podders]

"One point I find it hard to get past is the fact that mortality rates in western countries are better than that of South American countries."

Well you know I find that quite hard to find on the web, well the OK the Wiki of "life expectancy" has something.

Strange though it doesn't tie in with my experiences of Perú.

I was introduced to a member of my Peruvian family, he was 93, we sat down and drug up a crate of beer, he told me all about his life and then left. "Oh he just lives around the corner?" I asked upon bedtime :) "Oh no he's got about 200Km to get home."

His name is Cornelius.

[KMO]

Do you think if you narrowed it down to a isolated experiment where a community was not being influenced by the western world and all had access to Curanderos their mortality rate would equal that of the western world.

I wouldn't really care to venture a guess or a speculation on that point. I do think that people who drink ayahuasca regularly seem fitter, healthier, and more vital even in old age than do people here in the midwest of the USA. I work with senior citizens here, and so many of them are on multiple pharmaceuticals, expensive pharmaceuticals... so expensive that a couple of years back the federal government expanded the Medicare program in a huge way to try to allow people to pay for the very expense drug regimes that allow them to live to such amazingly old ages. How's their quality of life? From where I'm standing, not so good. But yes, they do live a long time.

[sam101]

Thanks again KMO. I do understand its difficult to speculate. And as you say its about quality of life not longevity. I for one would rather die than live in a drug dependent state with no quality of life. Maby the Western drugs preserve the body and not the soul.....

Its strange hearing you talk so much about Ayahuasca, I lived in a house with friends as a student and we used to order in the ayahuasca vines and a leaf that contained DMT I believe (Diplopterys cabrerana). We all took it and fasted a day before etc. Tom my good friend took it often and we all took turns sitting for him. The smell of the stuff on the cooker is very pungent though, always remember my girlfriend commenting on the smell! We were growing psylosybin amazonian mushrooms as well as the growroom, we were very enterprising as one of our parents owned the place! What upstanding members of the community we once were those years ago. It would be amazing to have a trip out to south America to experience it with a Curadero in a truly spiritual setting. Only reason I mention this is its so funny were things lead to in life, at the time it was this obscure thing we were doing and researching for what reason other than curiosity I don't know, but its shown me the way here and for that I am very grateful!

Podders have a look at the beneath link it maybe (is) biased seeing as it is from the CIA, but it gives you the gen on most countries that the US acknowledge, and a very good breakdown of the countries economic and political status. Take it with a pinch of salt!

hxxps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/