The idea of healing through a psychotropic substance seems inconceivable to a Western observer. Yet this practice is observed among the Shipibo-Conibo indigenous people in western Amazonia and is explained by their particular cosmology. Most entities in the environment (trees, rivers, celestial bodies) are considered microcosms, housing unique populations with specific knowledge, such as the ability to heal. In a mythical past, the Shipibo-Conibo could interact with these beings and benefit from their expertise, but today they can only glimpse them, especially in dreams.
Shipibo-Konibo women in western Amazonia have moved from invisibility to hyper-visibility as shamans in the ayahuasca tourism industry. The article examines how these women navigate and are transformed by the growing global demand for ayahuasca ceremonies, balancing traditional spiritual roles with new economic and media pressures. It argues that their increased visibility brings both opportunities for empowerment and risks of cultural commodification, reshaping indigenous gender identities and shamanic practices in the context of transnational tourism.