We are continually taught that tobacco is bad for us. It's true that smoking contributes to all kind of horrible diseases, especially the adulterated cigarettes the corporations provide the world over. However, in shamanism tobacco is considered one of the most powerful plants of all. It has been used for thousands of years in many parts of the world from the jungles of Peru to the Siberian wilderness. It is used as a powerful purgative to cleanse the body. It was my turn to experience tobacco in a completely new light through a tobacco purge.
At about ten o´clock I entered the
maloka where Ealdio was waiting with his latest tasty beverage. He may be a man of power but I'd recommend getting someone else as a cocktail waiter. He'd made a tea using tobacco with added coffee and sugar. I can't quite see this replacing the quick fag and dash to Starbucks enjoyed by many office workers during their morning break but it wasn't as unpleasant as it sounds. After gulping down the liquid I took a floral bath, first crossing my head and chest with the water (nothing to do with Christianity) before drinking a handful. Following this I bathed from head to toe (more on this in the next entry). Kristen and Jim, who were also having a tobacco purge, joined me in sitting with Eladio for the next ninety minutes. We had been warned we may well feel pretty awful. Anyone who's smoked too much in one go can imagine why. However, after an hour and a half we still felt fine and decided to head back to the main house. Before we left, Eladio handed us each a bottle of
boldo tea. A herb which assists the plant purgatives in cleansing the body. Although not unleasant, we were to drink so much of this tea over the next few days it slowly became my nemesis.
I returned to my room where my girlfriend was waiting, keen to watch me as I went through the process. To help I drank half a litre of
boldo in the hope of purging. This did the trick and, sure enough, I was sitting pretty with a bowl full of the contents of my poor, confused stomach. A smugness filled me as I thought I'd got away with completing a tobacco purge without any nausea. Confidently, I trotted downstairs for lunch. Halfway through, however, I began whining to my other half that I couldn't eat any more. A great surprise for her as she'd become familiar with my hearty appetite. We returned to the bedroom where the nausea kicked in. For about two hours I lay on the bed saturating the mattress with my sweat. Tossing this way and that I couldn't shake the feeling. Eventually she suggested we go for a swim which seemed like a good idea. Full of feminine intuition, her suggestion was perfectly timed as, when I was leaving the building, I purged again... big time... everywhere. I was grateful to be outside and just made it to the toilet in time to avoid fertilising the entire garden. Tobacco is indeed a powerful plant! After the swim I skipped dinner, my appetite having done a runner. I spent a little quality time with my girlfriend as we were about to be separated, against our wishes!
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