icaro
, ikaro (Span.): (n) Derived most likely from the jungle Quichua verb ikaray, the Spanish word icaro designates the magical lyrics, incantations, either whistled or spoken, learned by the shaman through the diet of plant teachers. POP Magical or medicine song that constitute the quintessence of shamanic power and are acquired from spirit helpers. Icaros are given to the shaman by the spirits of the plants the shaman is ingesting and learning to heal with. (See, yachay.) The icaro has material and immaterial qualities representing a transference of the spirits of the entheogenic plants with all of the animal and human form manifestations into the shaman’s own body. Once you know the icaro of a plant, you no longer need to consume that plant. Icaros must be sung perfectly for them to work. AYV Air or force charged with positive energy. EMMHaving strong icaros is essential for surviving as a medicine man. MSIN Amazonian medicine/healing song. Common to both tarjos and icaros, there is an opening chorus that is used to set the healing ground. Once sacred space is created, the curandero must then allow the medicine song to sing itself. It could be said that when this occurs, the curandero no longer sings the song, the song begins to sing the curandero, ultimately delivering the medicine that Spirit deems appropriate for the given occasion. PSPM (See, Appendix E for much more on icaros.)