Sitting with Hape
During my time in the medicine space, I have been introduced to a handful of earth medicines. Each medicine that is connected with, has different and profound effects. One of the medicines I work with is called Hape, also known as Rape or Rapeh. This medicine is completely legal as it is a combination of things such as tobacco, bark and leaves as well as various aromatic medicinal flowers. I'll get into the heart of the make up as we continue. I love sitting with this medicine on its own or before ceremony. It allows me to come into my body and quiets my mind.
Hape is native to areas like Peru and Brazil and has been traditionally used by indigenous peoples for ceremonial, spiritual and medicinal purposes. Hape is made with a tobacco base and various other plants depending on the blend that is wanted to be worked with. Now, there is a difference between the tobacco we smoke or chew and the kind that is made into Hape for a snuff. Nicotiana Rustica, also known as Mapacho, is used for the base, whereas Nicotiana Tabacum is used in cigarettes. Depending on the desired blend, in addition to the tobacco, various other plant materials are commonly used. Ash from specific plants are used as a carrier for the active ingredients. Tree barks and leaves can be used for their medicinal or psychoactive properties like cinchona bark or coca leaves. Aromatic herbs and flowers like mint, sage, chamomile and eucalyptus can be used for medicinal and therapeutic properties. All ingredients are dried and pulverized to a fine powder usually with a gray hue.Â
Hape is a snuff, this means it is not smoked or snorted, rather it is blown into your nose. You can administer this on your own using a V shaped tool called a Kuripe, or you can have someone else administer this medicine using a tool called a Tepi which is a L shape. These tools are traditionally made from bone, bamboo, or various other sacred wood and can be adorned with crystals, feathers, beads and sacred native items. If you are working with a space holder, they will guide you through some breathwork in order to begin the process. Hape is then blown into your nose one nostril at a time and permeates through the mucous membrane into your bloodstream. It attaches to the nicotine receptors resulting in increased production of dopamine and epinephrine. Tobacco is known to be a blood cleaner, so it can help purify your system, strengthen immunity and help congestion problems. This medicine quiets the mind, draws awareness to stagnate energy to release blockages, brings a deep sensation of grounding, increased focus and a sense of connection to the spiritual world.
While some consider this a psychedelic, it is not a traditional psychedelic. Hape lasts for about 10-20 minutes. There can be hallucinations but not the typical kind you are probably thinking of. It is more so as if you are recalling a photo which can be paired with or separate from deep emotional sensations. There might also be somatic purging that takes place. It is also not traditional in the sense because you are completely coherent during your time with the medicine. You can function exactly as you would at any other time with maybe a runny nose, watery eyes and surface emotions. Not that it is advised to continue as regular once you sit with Hape though, this is a medicine to connect and ground your thoughts and emotions. I simply bring attention to this for stating it is not a traditional psychedelic.Â
As I stated in the beginning, Hape can be sat with on its own, or you can use it with other medicines like Sananga. It is also a great practice to sit with this medicine before a deeper ceremony such as mushrooms, ayahuasca, mescaline, kambo and many others. Because this medicine is used for grounding and drawing awareness to your body, it can help connect you with the other deeper medicines you are wanting to sit with. I can have a hard time quieting my mind and coming into my body so this medicine is definitely a favorite I sit with often to keep me in alignment or when I'm feeling I need help moving energy. This medicine always leaves me feeling in tune with my body and emotions. I am able to think clearly and move through my days with ease. Hape can also draw awareness to things that I may need to work on and brings clarity to my journey. While there are many places to source from online, be sure you check your resources and do your homework. This is a sacred medicine and should be treated and respected as such. Before you order, if it is from a company online, check their ethics, pay attention to their wording, their mission and always trust yourself.
With Love,
Ileah Taylor
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