How to Use Hapé: A Sacred Journey

Mastering the Sacred Use of Hapé: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hapé, a revered plant medicine, is much more than a tool for healing and personal development—it’s a sacred practice rooted in the deep spiritual traditions of indigenous cultures across the Amazon. Using Hapé requires respect, mindfulness, and proper guidance to honor traditions and achieve its full potential. This guide will walk you through the essential steps for safely and effectively using Hapé, while also respecting its cultural origins and spiritual significance.

Preparing for Hapé Use

Setting Your Intention

Before using Hapé, it’s essential to set a clear intention. What do you hope to achieve? Whether your goal is healing, clarity, or spiritual connection, a clear intention will guide your experience. Some common intentions include:

• Grounding and centering.

• Emotional or physical healing.

• Connecting with higher spiritual realms.

Creating a Sacred Space

Your environment plays a crucial role in your Hapé experience. Choose a place where you feel in harmony with nature. You may wish to light candles or incense and play soft, calming music to enhance the sacredness of the moment. If possible, incorporate natural elements like plants, stones, or an open window to invite in fresh air… but truly, nothing beats sitting outside, in nature. By integrating nature into the intention-setting process and environment creation, you can cultivate a more grounded and harmonious Hapé experience.

Gathering Your Tools

Ensure you have all the necessary tools for your ceremony:

• Hapé.

• An applicator: Kuripe (for self-use) or Tepi (for two-person administration).

• A tissue or cloth (for any post-application clean-up).

• Ceremonial items such as incense, feathers, or crystals to enhance the space.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Hapé

Step 1: Measure the Right Amount of Hapé

Begin by carefully measuring the appropriate dose. The desired amount is usually scooped or poured from the bottle into the palm of your non-dominant hand. For beginners, start with a small amount to become accustomed to the sensation. We recommend a lentil sized lump of hapé for first timers. Experienced users may opt for a larger dose, but it’s important to respect the medicine’s power and adjust accordingly.

Step 2: Loading the Applicator

Holding the applicator in your dominant hand, use the side that goes into the nose to flatten the hapé in your hand. Begin scooping half of the powder into the applicator, tapping it after each scoop so the hapé settles deeper into the applicator. This ensures the proper application and also prevents the powder from clogging when loading your applicator. Normally, If someone is applying it for you using a Tepi, they will load it for you. Some experienced practitioners choose do this step and then hand the tepi to the person that will apply the hapé.

Note: When determining which side is for the nose, If using a Kuripe, this is the longer side. If using a Tepi, this depends on the design of the tool at hand, but this is usually the side that you designate as the front, or if it has a significantly larger hole on one side, than the smaller side is usually for the nose.

Step 3: The intention

This moment is when many will choose to remember their intention, or say a prayer. Bring that intention to your heart, bless and thank this medicine, and proceed when ready.

Step 4: The Application Process

• Self-Application (Kuripe): Take a deep breath and hold that air in the lungs, and close the throat, as you place one end of the Kuripe in your mouth and the other in your nostril. Using the air heals in your lungs, blow the Hapé into your nostril. Breath out through the mouth to release tension, and continue to breathe through the mouth as you repeat the process for the other nostril. This balances the energies in the body, and the hemispheres of the brain

• Assisted Application (Tepi): If someone is applying the Hapé for you, take a deep breath and hold that air in the lungs, and close the throat, as you guide the Tepi into your nostril. Receive it with a calm, closed throat, and exhale immediately through your mouth. Keep breathing and then repeat the process as they apply to the other nostril. The application from a Tepi can be much more intense, and is recommended to only receive from someone with experience and that is trustworthy, since you will receive some of their energy.

Step 4: Post-Application Practices

• Breathing and Grounding: After the application of Hapé, your body and mind are in a heightened state of awareness. To fully integrate the medicine, focus on slow, deep breaths through your mouth, allowing your body to relax and stay grounded. Feel your connection to the earth beneath you and the air flowing in and out—this helps to center yourself as the medicine works. It's important to remain calm and avoid overthinking or trying to put the experience into words immediately. Simply be present, allowing the insights, emotions, and sensations to unfold naturally.

• Meditative Practices and Prayers: Once you feel grounded, you may choose to deepen your experience with meditation or prayers. Close your eyes and focus on your intention, letting the medicine guide your thoughts and emotions. You can silently recite a personal prayer or mantra that aligns with your spiritual path, or simply sit in silence, observing the sensations in your body and the energy around you. Nature sounds, such as wind, water, or birds, can also help to deepen your connection with the present moment.

• What to Expect Physically and Spiritually: After using Hapé, you may experience a range of physical sensations, from tingling and warmth to light pressure in your head or body. These are normal as the medicine works to cleanse and realign your energy. Spiritually, you may experience clarity, emotional release, or profound insights into your intentions. Each person’s experience is unique, so remain open to whatever arises.

• Clean up: Within 5-10 minutes, you will feel a heavy mucus buildup in the nose. You can wipe your nose if it runs during your session. Whenever you are ready, you can blow your nose clean up. If you feel it running down the back of your throat, feel free to spit as well. Whatever help you clear out the residual left over after your hapé session. If you are outside, be sure to take any used tissues etc. to the trash bin.

Different Types of Blows for Hapé

The way Hapé is administered significantly impacts the experience. Below are the basic types of blows:

1. Gentle or Soft Blow (Feminine Blow)

A slow and long hapé blowing style is called the “Jiboiá” – the Boa Constrictor. The Boa is a sacred medicine animal that is highly revered by the indigenous people of the Amazon. This blow, is long, slow and gentle, Just like the Boa! This blow is perfect for using smaller amounts of hapé, ideal for beginners or those seeking a calming experience, and to induce a contemplative, meditative state. It helps gently open the senses and promote healing. With larger quantities, it can induce a deep meditative state.

2. Strong or Forceful Blow (Masculine Blow)

This fast and powerful blow is sharp and direct, often used for clearing blockages or deep spiritual work. It is known in Brazil as the “Beija Flor,” or Hummingbird. It is a nice short hit that ‘wakes you up’ – a more energizing application. It delivers immediate and intense effects, ideal for breaking through mental or emotional obstacles.

3. Balanced Blow

A combination of both soft and strong blows, this blow is often called the “deer.” This blow technique starts gentle and increases in intensity for a few seconds before finishing with a sharp and strong push of the breath, pushing the hapé further up the nostril for deep cleansing. It provides a balanced experience that harmonizes both masculine and feminine energies. This blow is great for those seeking equilibrium in their spiritual practice. This blow is also great for use in ceremonies and with more substantial quantities of hapé, when one seeks to experience a new level.

Each blow carries its own energy and intention, shaping your Hapé experience. Experiment with different blows as you become more familiar with the practice, allowing the medicine to guide you.

Best Practices and Safety Considerations

Frequency of Use

Hapé is powerful and should be used with intention and moderation. A common practice, especially when new to hapé, is to use a small quantity once daily, as part of a morning or evening routine focusing on meditative/ spiritual practices. Daily use however, is not necessary; instead, simply use it when you feel called or when you need cleansing or grounding. Overuse can lead to desensitization or imbalance. We recommend taking a 5 day fast from the hapé, once per month. This is especially important if you have done intensive wirk with the hapé that involves multiple doses per day, for 21 days or more.

Cultural Sensitivity

Hapé is a gift from indigenous cultures, and it is essential to use it with deep respect. Honor traditions by understanding its origins and purpose. Avoid using Hapé in social or recreational settings—this is a sacred tool for spiritual work.

Health and Safety Warnings

If you have respiratory issues or allergies, proceed with caution. Avoid inhaling the hapé, and always exhale immediately after application. Hapé is not suitable for casual use or for those unfamiliar with its potency. If you experience excessive discomfort (remember that some discomfort is normal with all plant medicines), allow yourself time to ground and reflect.

Embracing the Sacred Practice of Hapé

Using Hapé is a sacred practice that requires mindfulness, respect, and patience. By following these steps, you can engage with the medicine in a way that honors its tradition and unlocks its full potential. As you deepen your relationship with Hapé, you'll begin to recognize the subtleties of the practice and the profound teachings it can bring into your life.

Explore our range of ethically sourced Hapé blends and applicators. Each product is made with respect for the ancestral wisdom of indigenous cultures, ensuring each blend serves a meaningful purpose.

Understanding what Hapé/Rapé is and its origins will deepen your connection to this sacred medicine. At Spirit Visions, we take pride in sharing this wisdom while supporting the communities that have passed down these practices for generations.

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