In the form of powder or snuff, sacred tobacco is known as rapé (sometimes pronounced ha-peh). It is a traditional medicine of many Amazonian peoples, prepared with great care and prayer. The blend is held as a plant ally for cleansing, grounding and opening vision.

Rapé is administered using a pipe (tepi). The powder is placed into the pipe and then blown with clear intention into the client’s nostrils (traditionally the left side, then the right), inviting the medicine to travel swiftly into the bloodstream and the subtle channels of the body.

The effects are felt quickly. There may be a strong sensation in the head and sinuses, tingling in the body, watering of the eyes and nose, and sometimes the impulse to purge or lie down. These responses are part of the cleansing action of the medicine, as it clears stagnant energies, thought-forms and emotional residue. As the initial intensity settles, many people experience a deep sense of grounding, presence and inner stillness, as if the mind has been gently emptied and the body has returned to itself.