AMARINGO, PABLO

(1938 or 1943– )

PeruvianAmazonianformervegetalistawhose paintings of “ayahuascavisions” 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 notesalteredstates of consciousnessbut, perhaps more importantly,adjustedstyles of(and abilities in)communication. With the aid of ayahuasca, for example, Amaringo heard Amazonian trees weeping as they were cut down and soughthealingknowledge from helpfulother-than-human personsorspirits. Amaringo ceased shamanizing in 1977 and founded anartschool to teach painting.