Podcast Summary: Highest Self Podcast® – Ep. 591
Guest: Rasu Yawanawa (Chief of the Yawanawa Tribe)
Host: Sahara Rose
Date: February 25, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode features Sahara Rose in conversation with Rasu Yawanawa, the youngest chief of the Yawanawa Tribe of the Brazilian Amazon, guardians of the sacred plant medicine, Ayahuasca. The discussion explores the deep spiritual intelligence of plant medicine, ancestral healing, the importance of intention, the unique role of indigenous music in ceremonies, soul connections, and the responsibility of supporting indigenous guardians of the Amazon. Through translation, Chief Rasu offers rarely-shared wisdom directly from his tradition, emphasizing the spiritual, ethical, and experiential realities of working with plant medicine and living in right relationship with the Earth.
Key Topics & Insights
1. The Spiritual Function of Plant Medicines
[06:15]
- Rasu emphasizes that plant medicines are sacred tools, not the Creator themselves. “Medicine is not the Creator. It's just a way that the Creator has given us to connect with him.”
- The ability to connect with plant medicine requires openness of heart, which bridges the material and spiritual worlds.
[07:48]
- Plant medicine works with the intentions one brings:
- “When you're gonna drink the medicine or take a medicine, we need to have an intention. So the medicine can work through the intention that you have in the spiritual world.”
- Lack of intention or openness can result in less beneficial or even negative experiences.
2. The Relationship Between Consciousness, Free Will, and Destiny
[10:24]
- The spiritual “calling” to medicine begins long before the ceremony.
- “From that point that you decided to go, it's kind of like you have received a spiritual calling...the medicine is made for all of us, but not all of us are made for the medicine.”
- The number and nature of ceremonies are intuitively “known” to the medicine. Each session is unique and builds upon the last, offering deeper revelations as trust and surrender increase.
3. Navigating Visions and Messages
[13:50]
- Not all visions are literal truth. Some are tests or metaphors, related to current events or ancestral patterns.
- “No, not all the visions that you see are really real. There are visions that come as a test...”
- “Medicine is a study...each work, it's a work.”
- Emphasizes the need for patience, discernment, and ongoing learning.
4. The Role of Music (Saites) and Ceremony
[15:00]
- The Yawanawa use various sacred songs (saites) for different purposes: celebration, spiritual fortification, or healing.
- “It's not any person that can sing. It needs to be sung by the people [who have] done the spiritual diet before and like have a deep study in the force.”
- Elders and ancestors join during traditional song, intensifying the spiritual presence in ceremonies.
- “When we sing the traditional is when our elders, the spirit of our people, start to introduce themselves and join us as well...” ([16:45])
5. Ancestral Healing
[17:22]
- Plant medicine enables deep ancestral healing:
- “When you drink medicine and start to connect with yourself, it's kind of you give a step forward, you heal something already and then you start to get another comprehension and open this portal to heal spot as well.”
- “The medicine is exactly this. She's here for that, to show us many things in different ways.”
- The process brings awareness to both ancestral gifts and traumas; healing comes from understanding and breaking cycles where necessary. ([19:44])
6. Destiny vs. Free Will
[22:14]
- Both destiny (the situations given by the Creator) and free will (the choices we make within those situations) coexist:
- “Many things are directed by the Creator and many things are there to us to choose in our free will.”
- Example: Rasu never expected to become a leader, as he was not born to a chief’s family, but was chosen. He adds, “But now it's my free will to be a good leader or a bad leader...I’m choosing to do good things from my heart.”
- “If we plant a plant that is a thorn, then you're gonna harvest a thorn. But if you plant a good fruit…then you're gonna harvest fruit.” ([23:30])
7. Soulmates and Relationships
[26:15]
- Chief Rasu acknowledges the Yawanawa believe in soulmates, but emphasizes the need for mutual support from family and tribe for relationships to thrive:
- “We cannot get anything by ourselves. We need people that believe on you and especially your family.”
- On letting go:
- “If you like and the other person don't like, so it's a little bit hard...If you make a mistake, then you're gonna do this together as well. But you never are by yourself when we have those people close to you.”
- On knowing when to let go:
- “If you don't like, then don't disturb the others...and seek for the person that is really willing to live with you.” ([30:32])
8. The Medicine of Hape and Its Purpose
[32:33]
- Hape is described as a very sacred, strong, and healing tobacco-based medicine used for clarity, spiritual training, and healing.
- “Our great shamans also take a lot of hapa when they are about to heal someone...they are able to heal only with the force of this medicine.”
- “Hape cannot be taken anywhere, or without instructions, or with alcohol. It is made of tobacco and ash of a tree.”
- Sahara’s experience: “It has given me the ability to really meditate and drop in…It also prepares you for death, I find—a complete ego death” ([34:41]).
- Chief Rasu: “In our tradition, the medicines are not from Earth...they are from the heaven.” ([35:19])
9. The Origin Story of Plant Medicines
[35:19]
- The Yawanawa believe plant medicines arose after the death of a great leader—the medicines grew from his body, connecting the people to the spiritual world and acting as a means to heal illness and bridge life and death.
10. Supporting the Amazon and the Yawanawa
[37:39]
- Rasu details the ongoing struggle to preserve the forest, emphasizing that real support for the Amazon means supporting indigenous people directly.
- “There are many organizations out there that say they are supporting the Amazon. The truly people that are taking care and looking after the Amazon are the indigenous people.”
- Many funds raised do not reach indigenous communities; direct donation via their own GoFundMe or similar initiatives is most effective ([40:29]).
- Sahara to post the GoFundMe link in the show notes.
11. Closing Blessing & Song
[41:46]
- Rasu shares a sacred song/blessing for listeners: “The song that I'm gonna share, it's sharing for like may all the people that are listening. Those words can touch your heart. With lot of love…”
- Final message: “I hope this message also can help people…whatever they are passing through their life as well…Thanks so much for the opportunity.” ([47:06])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Medicine is not the Creator. It's just a way that the Creator has given us to connect with him.” — Chief Rasu ([06:15])
- “When you're gonna drink the medicine...you need to have an intention. You need to have a really open heart in order to receive it.” — Chief Rasu ([07:48])
- “The medicine is made for all of us, but not all of us are made for the medicine.” — Chief Rasu ([10:24])
- “No, not all the visions that you see are really real. There are visions that come as a test...” — Chief Rasu ([13:50])
- “Life here on earth, it's really short, it's really little. We need to enjoy as much as possible and do the right things.” — Chief Rasu ([20:38])
- “If we plant a plant that is a thorn, then you're gonna harvest a thorn. But if you plant a good fruit...then you're gonna harvest fruit.” — Chief Rasu ([23:30])
- “In our tradition, the medicines are not from Earth...they are from the heaven.” — Chief Rasu ([35:19])
- “You cannot do things only to please people. You need to please yourself and be good and feel happy with yourself.” — Chief Rasu ([23:30])
- On support: “The main weapon that we have is the awareness — bring conscious to people to expand more...try to survive a bit longer on Earth. Because it's been hard.” — Chief Rasu ([39:00])
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [06:15] – Introduction by Chief Rasu & the nature of sacred medicine
- [07:48] – Importance of intention and approach in ceremony
- [10:24] – The spiritual “calling” and pre-ceremony communication with medicine
- [13:50] – Discernment of visions and their meanings
- [15:00] – The role and tradition of Yawanawa ceremonial music
- [17:22] – Ancestral healing and connection through plant medicine
- [22:14] – Destiny, free will, and Rasu’s personal journey
- [26:15] – Yawanawa views on soulmates and relationships
- [32:33] – The meaning, use, and guidance around Hape medicine
- [35:19] – The origin story of sacred medicines according to the Yawanawa
- [37:39] – Supporting the Amazon & direct action advice
- [41:46] – Rasu’s closing blessing song & gratitude
Tone & Style
The conversation remains respectful, contemplative, and deeply heartfelt throughout, with Sahara expressing reverence for indigenous wisdom and Chief Rasu offering gentle, direct truth from his lineage. Both speakers maintain a tone of humility, curiosity, and encouragement for listeners to connect authentically—with plant medicines, the Earth, themselves, and each other.
Summary
For anyone interested in plant medicines, spiritual healing, or indigenous wisdom, this episode is a rare and illuminating window into Yawanawa perspectives. It underscores the sacredness of working with these medicines, the importance of intention and humility, and the urgent need to support indigenous protectors of the Amazon. Chief Rasu’s authentic sharing, including a traditional blessing song, brings a direct source transmission of ancestral ways for healing and reconnection.
Find the direct donation link to support the Yawanawa in the show notes.