Photo Credit: Patricia Bromirsk
A very exciting event took place on Friday, May 13th (coincidentally!) with our Multicultural Counseling delegation in Brazil.
Far before the delegation's departure, the leader had requested a meeting with an indigenous healer during their time in Brazil, so we arranged for the delegation to meet with a very well known and highly respected man,
Pajé Sapaim Kamayurá, an indigenous leader and spiritual healer. His knowledge and services are in very high demand throughout Brazil and abroad, and we are quite fortunate to have been able to arrange a private session for our delegation.
Attached are photos of the "pajelança" during the healing session he performed for our delegation in Rio. Can you believe that this man is 90 years old?
In the second photo from top he is showing the disease that he took from Vera Coachman (one of our Brazilian office staff who paid out-of-pocket for the Pajé to treat her, as she is very captivated by his work) and the ceremony continues, he blows his hands and the disease is gone.
Then he treated Dr. Roysircar (delegation leader) – she has a problem in her ankle from a fall some 6 months ago – he said he could not treat it but that he would relieve her pain, which he did. Then he treated another delegation member – top photo – the first man on the left – he was born in a Canadian First Nation and was quite taken with the Pajé. He wants to take him to Canada!
By the reaction of the delegation members, the session was a great success! We're looking forward to receiving further feedback from the delegates via their post program evaluations.
Upon the delegation's return, the leader's sent us the following comments regarding the visit:
We visited a shaman in the hills of Rio and observed his practice of spiritual healing with a patient. This activity of visiting a spiritual healer was a specific request from me to People-to-People. I am most grateful that this event was organized. I will narrate my experience of the spiritual healer to my students and fellow professionals.
Leader's comments regarding the program overall:
Dear People-to-People, We had a wonderful trip to Brazil with many interesting visits to universities and community building projects. Our delegates liked each other and we were a cohesive team. Our national and local guides, who were also our interpreters, were simply fantastic. The food was outstanding and abundant, and our hotel accommodations were very comfortable. I will send you our journal entries and pictures shortly. I will be happy to speak with potential delegate applicants to your tour programs. Gargi Roysircar-Sodowsky Lead Delegate of the Brazil Multicultural Counseling Delegation, May 7-16.
Information provided to the delegation about the
Pajé prior to departure:
Friday, May 13th, Rio de Janeiro
This morning, delegates will spend time with
Pajé Sapaim Kamayurá,
an indigenous spiritual healer who lives in the Xingu National Park, in the heart of Brazil. Pajé Sapaim will be in Rio at the same time as the delegation and will be conducting a "pajelança" (healing session) for delegates to observe.
This meeting is a very special occasion as Pajé Sapaim Kamayurá is a very respected indigenous leader who spends his time divulging the traditions of the native culture and healing processes. The Pajé is 90 years old.
For further information on Pajé Sapaim, there are 5 videos online that are part of a documentary produced by TV Cultura (somewhat similar to PBS in the U.S.). There is no English version, only Portuguese.
You can view these videos on youtube.com.
