Amaringo, Pablo

(1938 or 1943– )

   Peruvian Amazonian former vegetalista whose paintings of “ayahuasca visions” were published in a book (1991) he coauthored with Luis Luna (who had met Amaringo during ethnobotanical work with Dennis McKenna). Although the colorful and dramatic paintings draw attention to the visionary results of ingesting ayahuasca and chakruna (Psychotria viridis), powerful plant persons and shamans themselves, the book’s text not only notes altered states of consciousness but, perhaps more importantly, adjusted styles of (and abilities in) communication. With the aid of ayahuasca, for example, Amaringo heard Amazonian trees weeping as they were cut down and sought healing knowledge from helpful other-than-human persons or spirits. Amaringo ceased shamanizing in 1977 and founded an art school to teach painting.