Hapé: The Sacred Medicine of Tobacco

Hapé (pronounced ha-peh or rapé) is a sacred tobacco snuff used for centuries by indigenous tribes of the Amazon. More than just a physical medicine, it is a tool for deep spiritual connection, mental clarity, and grounding. At Casa Floresta, we offer Hapé before, during, and after ceremonies for those feeling called to work with this sacred plant ally—to quiet the mind, settle into the space, and receive the wisdom of the moment with strength and presence.

A Spirit of Strength, Grounding, and Clarity

Tobacco is one of the most revered plant spirits in indigenous traditions. Unlike the commercialized tobacco of the modern world, the tobacco used in Hapé is pure, unadulterated, and deeply sacred. It is seen as a teacher spirit—one that provides protection, focus, and grounding.

In many traditions, tobacco is referred to as a "masculine" energy—a spirit of strength, clarity, and direction. It helps to quiet the mind, clear distractions, and bring deep presence into the body. The spirit of tobacco is often called upon in prayer, purification, and spiritual communication, as it is known to open channels between the physical and spiritual realms.

At Casa Floresta, we offer Hapé as an optional medicine before, during, and after ceremonies, allowing those who feel called to receive it to deepen their connection to the space, the medicine, and themselves.

Where Does Hapé Come From?

Hapé is a finely ground, powdered blend of tobacco and other medicinal ashes. It has been used for thousands of years by indigenous tribes of the Amazon, particularly in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. The tribes who work with Hapé, such as the Yawanawá, Nukini, Katukina, and Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá), carry deep ancestral knowledge of this medicine.

For these tribes, Hapé is not just a substance—it is a sacred tradition. It is used in:

Healing rituals
Vision quests and plant dieta
Cleansing and purification ceremonies
Hunting and warrior preparations
Prayer and spiritual connection

Each tribe has its own way of preparing and working with Hapé, blending it with their own selection of ashes from medicinal tree barks and plants, giving each variety its own unique spirit and effect.

Beyond the physical ingredients, the preparation of Hapé is a deeply spiritual process. Each tribe—and even each individual who prepares the medicine—infuses their own energies, prayers, and intentions into the blend. These prayers are offerings to the spirit of tobacco, asking for guidance, healing, and clarity for those who receive the medicine.

Because of this, no two blends of Hapé are exactly the same. The energy and intention behind its preparation shape the experience of the one who takes it. Some blends carry a deeply grounding and protective energy, while others open pathways for vision, expansion, or deep internal reflection.

At Casa Floresta, we honor this sacred lineage of preparation and transmission, ensuring that each serving of Hapé is offered with the same reverence and prayer that it was created with.

How is Hapé Administered?

Hapé is traditionally blown into the nostrils using a special tool. There are two primary ways it is administered:

Self-Application (Kuripe) – A small, V-shaped pipe used to blow the medicine into one's own nostrils.
Facilitated Application (Tepi) – A longer ceremonial pipe, used when a facilitator serves the medicine to another person.

How is Hapé Received?

To receive Hapé, one can sit or stand, maintaining a steady posture, closed eyes, and a held breath. The medicine is then blown forcefully into each nostril, one at a time. It is advised to breathe through the mouth between and after each serving, allowing the medicine to settle deeply into the nasal cavities while minimizing discomfort.

Because Hapé is a strong and immediate medicine, it is natural to feel an intense sensation upon receiving it. To support yourself through this intensity, it is best to:

Relax the body before and during the application, avoiding unnecessary tension.
Breathe steadily and keep the jaw unclenched to remain open to the experience.
Bare witness to the sensations as they arise, just as you would in meditation—without resistance or attachment.
Allow the medicine to move through you, trusting in its intelligence to work where it is needed.

By approaching Hapé with receptivity and presence, we create the space for it to offer its deepest teachings.

The Experience: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual

Physical Sensations

A strong tingling or mild burning sensation in the nasal passages.
A feeling of pressure or expansion in the head.
Possible watery eyes, increased mucus, or a slight purge, as the medicine cleanses the sinuses and energetic pathways.

Mental Activity

Immediate quieting of the mind, reducing overthinking and distractions.
A shift into deep focus and clarity.
A sense of presence and heightened awareness.

Spiritual & Energetic Effects

A feeling of grounding and centering.
Opening of the third eye and energetic channels, depending on the blend used.
Deepened connection to prayer, intention, and meditation.

Each blend of Hapé carries its own energetic signature. Some blends stimulate and energize, while others are deeply calming and grounding. The subtle differences come from the various types of ashes mixed into the blend—each carrying its own medicinal and spiritual properties.

The Purgative Effects of Hapé

Hapé is a powerful purgative medicine, meaning it can bring about different forms of release—both physically and energetically. This purge may manifest in various ways, including:

Energetic release – Spontaneous body movements, shaking, or stretching as energy moves through.
Vocal expression – Making sounds such as sighs, humming, or deep exhales as part of the release.
Salivation – Increased saliva production as a natural response to clearing.
Physical purging – Spitting, coughing, or in some cases, vomiting as the body expels what no longer serves.

How the medicine works with us and how the purge manifests depends on many factors, such as:

Where we are energetically in the moment of receiving the medicine.
The energy of the individual serving the medicine.
The dose and particular blend of Hapé being used.
The energies of the people who prepared the medicine.

While purging is often seen in modern culture as something negative or undesirable, within the context of plant medicine, it is understood as an opportunity for deep cleansing and release. Through this process, we shed stagnant energies, old patterns, and anything no longer serving our highest path.

By approaching Hapé with trust and receptivity, we allow it to work in the way it is meant to—guiding us into greater alignment, clarity, and connection.

Working with Hapé at Casa Floresta

At Casa Floresta, we offer Hapé as an optional medicine for those who feel called to receive it. It is used before, during, and after ceremonies as a way to:

Quiet the mind before stepping into a ceremony.
Deepen connection during moments of prayer, meditation, or integration.
Re-ground and settle after working with other medicines.

This medicine is always served with intention, reverence, and respect for those who wish to receive its teachings.

Final Reflections: A Gift from the Forest

Hapé is a powerful and ancient medicine—a gift from the forest and the tribes who have carried its wisdom for generations. More than just a tool for clearing the mind, it is a sacred ally for prayer, healing, and spiritual connection.

If you feel called to work with Hapé, we invite you to approach it with reverence, presence, and gratitude—and to allow the spirit of tobacco to teach you in its own unique way.