“Aya” by Rak Razaam was such an experience that I just had to write something
about it. I almost wish I had prepared with a mini Dieta of my own for at least
a few days beforehand. Why? Because I was compelled to feel as if Mother
Ayahuasca was present.
At the start of the night, after a “brisk” walk from Chelsea to the screenings’
location in the lower east side, the Anthology Film Archives on 2nd Avenue,
the guests gathering at the entrance were graced by Rak and a lovely friend
of his with a smudging of White Sage.
I was wondering if I was in the right location until the familiar scent hit my nose.
After being administered entry into the theatre, conversation was a-buzz with
people’s experiences traveling to places where the brew is revered and sought
after, such as Peru. A pair of friends who sat next to me were even talking
about how to prepare for such a trip, one friend telling the other of his
previous destinations and how to go about pacing such a journey. It brought back
memories of my voyage to Peru, which was originally for a Dieta, and made me
wish I had brought my warm alpaca hoodie while also evoking thoughts, memories
and even nostalgic smells of the High Andes.
The movie began with Raks’ introduction to his journey and scenes of the Jorge
Chavez International Airport of Lima, Peru – as if the viewer were actually
embarking on a physical journey to South America, taking the usual steps one
would to leave modern civilization and begin to make their way into the Amazon.
From then on out, the movie became a vivid and potent journey filled with
syncretic visuals and dialogue that made me question my sobriety, bringing me to
a more liminal state of consciousness and receptivity. One could not help but at
least somewhat relate to the narrative as if they too were also taking part in
some sort of ceremony.
At the culmination of the screening, nearing the end of the panel, one person
said something to the account of “after years of watching tripping-movies,
someone finally did it right!” I would say that’s a bit of an understatement,
however- at one point during the panel discussion, Rak mentioned he had partaken
in a sort of drum circle ceremony beforehand. Perhaps it was that, or the sage
smudging, or just the trick of the layering of psychedelic visuals, but I felt a
magick in the air that night, in that theater. It worked its way through me, and
I could not help but close my eyes and take it in, during the bulk of the panel
portion of the night. It worked its way through my neural cortex, my nerves, my
body and my psyche, healing recent traumas and synchronistically combining with
the topic of discussion at the panel – I had come to a conviction about thoughts
that have been troubling me this past Moon-phase, thoughts pertaining to a
previous dream and goal – a career path.
Granted this is all from the perspective from one who has partaken of the Vine
and had more than one ceremony; but I feel the essence I experienced is true and
that Rak Razaam does a great job of conveying this energy with his film,
spreading the Word of Ayahuasca – heal thyself with Nature, she loves you, heal
the world.
We are the Change we want to see.