Hapé 101: A Complete Guide to Sacred Amazonian Plant Medicine

Welcome to Shaman Hapé Tribe — a living bridge between the modern world and ancient forest wisdom.

We are a spiritual platform dedicated to sharing authentic, indigenous medicines sourced directly and respectfully from the tribes who have safeguarded these traditions for generations.

In these turbulent times, many people feel the call to awaken, to step beyond ordinary life, and to seek plant ally tools that nourish the soul’s journey. If you are here, you may be one of those seekers, and we welcome you with gratitude.

In this blog, you will be introduced to the sacred medicine known as Hapé/Rapé, explore its origins, and understand the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of the Hapé ritual. You will also learn how to approach this powerful plant ally with the deep respect, intention, and reverence it deserves.

What is Hapé or Rapé

Hapé is a sacred tobacco-based snuff traditionally prepared from Nicotiana rustica combined with the ashes and herbs of various medicinal plants. There are thousands of distinct hapé blends created by different tribes throughout the Amazon rainforest, as well as many modern versions produced outside their ancestral origins.

However, not all hapé is created equal. Much of the online market is saturated with non-indigenous or improperly prepared blends, which we do not recommend. Some may even be unsafe due to poor handling, questionable sourcing, or a lack of understanding of the medicine’s spiritual foundation.

At Shaman Hapé Tribe, we offer only authentic blends sourced directly from tribes renowned for their wisdom, lineage, and deep ceremonial practice. Each blend comes from trusted elders and keepers of tradition, ensuring purity, respect, and integrity in every preparation.

Traditional and authentic hapé is made from Mapacho, also known as Aztec tobacco or Nicotiana rustica in scientific terms. This is a much stronger species of tobacco compared to Nicotiana tabacum, the variety widely commercialized and exploited by tobacco companies for cigarette production.

Authentic Hapé from Yawanawá & Huni Kuin Tribes:

Caption: Mariri Festival 2025, Yawanawá Tribe.

Because Mapacho carries such a powerful, energetic, and medicinal force, it must be balanced with other plants. This is why tribes combine it with sacred ashes such as Tsunu, Cumaru, and various medicinal herbs. These ingredients harmonize the blend, creating a balanced and intentional medicine suitable for spiritual practice.

Authentic Hapé from Yawanawá & Huni Kuin Tribes

“The hapé we offer is sourced from the Vinya Village of the Yawanawá tribe, located along the Gregorian River in the Amazon rainforest, and the Pinuya Village of the Huni Kuin tribe in Tarauaca.”

During this time, they gather the ingredients, grind them by hand, and perform prayers, chants, and blessings that infuse the medicine with intention and spiritual force.

The energy, devotion, and discipline poured into each batch are what give these blends their extraordinary quality. The Mapacho flowers are carefully dried and combined with specific herbs and sacred ashes to create distinct and powerful formulations.

But this is only one part of the equation.

The other part lies in the spiritual strength, intention, and proper usage of the medicine. True healing does not come solely from the hapé itself—it also comes from how it is offered and who delivers it. The presence, energy, and integrity of the person administering the medicine play a vital role in the overall experience.

Hapé can be used in two primary ways:

• Self-administered, using a kuripe, or
• Received from another, often from a shaman or a spiritually trained person, using a tepi pipe.

Both methods carry their own teachings, and each one opens a different doorway into the healing potential of this sacred practice.

How to Self-Administer Hapé: Sacred Amazonian Ritual

Caption: Video tutorial how to self-administer hapé.

To self-administer hapé, the first step is to create a sacred and comfortable space. Light candles, burn incense, and play ancient indigenous music/chants to invite guidance and healing. When the space feels settled, call upon the spirits of wisdom and ask the Creator Source to enter your hapé circle, blessing you with clarity, protection, and teaching.

The heart of this practice lies in intention—why you are doing this.
It may be to shed an old layer of yourself, renew your spirit, shift limiting patterns, heal emotional wounds, or reconnect with your higher guidance. Whatever your purpose, hold it gently and sincerely. You are about to enter the spirit’s true zone—a space beyond thoughts, emotions, worries, or anxieties. In this state, the mind becomes still, and you may experience a profound energetic reset.

When your intention is clear, sit comfortably on the ground. Place a small amount of hapé in your dominant hand and divide it into two equal portions—one for each nostril. Then, using your kuripe (the self-administering pipe), scoop up the first dose in the direction of your heart, honoring the medicine and the moment.

The blow is the force of your spirit. Do not approach it timidly—deliver a strong, firm, and decisive blow that ends sharply and cleanly in the end. Once you complete the first side, you are already halfway through the process.

Now, it is time to offer the second dose, bringing balance and grounding to the experience and neutralizing the effects. After administering it, relax into your posture, breathe deeply, and allow the presence of the medicine to unfold. Let the music guide you through this short yet powerful journey. Rest your mind, soften your breath, and offer gratitude to the Indigenous guardians of this medicine and to the Creator who guides all healing.

Hapé Effects: Personal Spiritual Journeys

The effects of hapé are deeply personal and unique, as each of us carries our own energy and experience. Depending on the dose, some may sneeze, others may hiccup, and some may simply feel waves of gratitude and love for this creation. After a few minutes, you will experience a strong wave of relaxation within the body. While these expressions may vary, they are short-lived and not the focus. What truly matters is how fully you enter the present moment and what you learn from this brief yet powerful journey. In this way, we can glimpse the natural expanses of our mind, beyond the need for a helper plant, and connect with our own innate clarity and awareness.

A larger dose combined with a strong shamanic blow may bring more intense expressions, even purging (vomiting), which is a powerful and beautiful way to cleanse the mind and open to profound states of bliss. Therefore, it is important for first-timers to approach this ritual with respect and seriousness.

Passing Hapé: Shamanic Rituals for Spiritual Healing 

Caption: Passing hapé to the receiver. 

Passing the hapé is a deeper spiritual ritual that involves two people, typically a shaman and the receiver. In this practice, a long ceremonial pipe called a Tepi is used.

The shaman or spiritual guide sets the intention for the session and determines the appropriate dosage for the receiver. After offering blessings over the medicine, the shaman places one end of the Tepi in their mouth, opening the channel for the receiver to connect the other end to one of their nostrils. The shaman then passes the hapé, and once the first dose is complete, prepares the Tepi for the second dose, guiding the receiver through the process with care and presence. 

The effects of hapé are usually much stronger when it is passed by a shaman, as the Tepi delivers a more powerful dose deep into the nasal cavity. Another essential element is the spiritual power of the shaman. Among the Huni Kuin and Yawanawá tribes, there are many shamans whose presence and mastery create profoundly transformative experiences for those receiving the medicine.

Hapé vs. Commercial Tobacco

Tobacco has been used by Indigenous peoples for centuries as a sacred plant for healing, ceremony, and spiritual connection. In contrast, Eastern civilizations and modern industries have commercialized tobacco, turning it into a widely consumed drug that has caused addiction, widespread abuse, and countless deaths. This mindset, taking a sacred plant and converting it into a daily habit, is exactly what the U.S. tobacco companies promoted.

Hapé, however, is fundamentally different. Even though it is not smoked or inhaled into the lungs, it is a sacred medicine meant to be used with intention and respect, never as a habit or recreational stimulant. 

Thus, if this sacred ritual is turned into a daily practice, its spiritual value is diminished, and the practice becomes focused on pleasure rather than healing. Over time, this can manifest as spiritual, mental, and even physical imbalances. For this reason, we urge all readers to approach Mapacho and the other sacred herbs blended with it with the utmost respect and reverence. Our recommendation is to experience the hapé ritual no more than once or twice per month.

Closing: Hapé: Sacred Amazonian snuff

Hapé is a sacred ally that invites us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our inner and outer worlds. Its true power lies not only in the medicine itself but in the intention, respect, and presence we bring to the ritual. Approach it with reverence, honor the wisdom of the tribes who have preserved this tradition, and allow each experience to guide you toward clarity, healing, and a deeper connection to the spirit within and around you.