U B U W E B :: Maria Sabina

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		1. Sacred Mushroom Chant, 8:06 María Sabina: from The Mushroom Velada A major Wise One (= shaman) among the Mazatecs of Oaxaca, Mexico, María Sabina received her poems/songs through use of the psilocybe mushroom at all-night curing sessions (veladas): a practice going back to pre-Conquest Mexico and witnessed by the Spanish chronicler who wrote: "They pay a sorcerer who eats them [the mushrooms] and tells what they have taught him. He does so by means of a rhythmic chant in full voice." The sacred mushrooms are considered the source of Language itself — are, in Henry Munn’s good phrase, "the mushrooms of language." The selection presented here departs from the more extended, even "grandiloquent" language of most of the Chants, relying in part on techniques of fragmentation & the use of non-semantic sound (meaningless syllables, humming, clapping, whistling, etc.) The session itself goes on for a whole night, with many of the images, "self"-namings, etc., established early & repeated throughout in full or fragmented form. Cayetano García, in whose home the session took place, acts also as the principal respondent. "The tone of voice in which this passage [begins]," writes Henry Munn, "is definitely playful, and at one point the man laughs with pleasure at her song. He thanks her for the beauty of her words." translation Ah, Jesu Kri I am a woman who shouts I am a woman who whistles I am a woman who lightnings, says Ah, Jesu Kri Ah, Jesusi Ah, Jesusi Cayetano García [She calls his name to get his attention. "Yes," he responds, "Work, work."] Ah, Jesusi Woman santa, says Ah, Jesusi [Here she begins humming and clapping, uttering the meaningless syllables "so" and "si." Throughout the entire passage that follows she goes on clapping rhythmically in time to her words.] hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm so so so si hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm Woman who resounds Woman torn up out of the ground Woman who resounds Woman torn up out of the ground Woman of the principal berries, says Woman of the sacred berries, says Ah, Jesusi Woman who searches, says Woman who examines by touch, says ha ha ha hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm She is of one word, of one face, of one spirit, of one light, of one day hmm hmm hmm Cayetano García [He answers "Yes …" She says, "Isnt't that how?" He responds: "Yes, that's it." She says: "Isn't that it? Like this. Listen."] Woman who resounds Woman torn up out of the ground Ah, Jesusi Ah, Jesusi [In the background the man laughs with pleasure.] Ah, Jesusi Ah, Jesusi Ah, Jesusi hmm hmm hmm so so so Justice woman hmm hmm hmm ["Thank you," says the man.] Saint Peter woman Saint Paul woman Ah, Jesusi Book woman Book woman Morning Star woman Cross Star woman God Star woman Ah, Jesusi Moon woman Moon woman Moon woman hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm Sap woman Dew woman [The man urges her on. "Work, work," he says.] She is a Book woman Ah, Jesusi hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm so so so Lord clown woman Clown woman beneath the ocean Clown woman [The other words are unintelligible.] Ah, Jesusi hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm so so so Woman who resounds Woman torn up out of the ground hmm hmm hmm Because she is a Christ woman Because she is a Christ woman ha ha ha so so so so so so so so so Whirling woman of colors Whirling woman of colors Big town woman Big town woman Lord eagle woman Lord eagle woman Clock woman Clock woman ha ha ha so so so so so so so so so [That’s it. Work, work," exclaims the man.] hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm so so so hmm hmm hmm so so so so so so si si si si si si si si si so sa sa si si si so sa sa sa hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm si so soooooooooiiiiii [The end of "so" is drawn out into a long tone. She calls, "Cayetano García." "Work, work," he relies. She goes on humming, clapping faster and faster. "Cayetano García," she calls again, in between her humming, almost as if she were animating him, bringing him to himself with her clapping. "Work, work," he says, "don’t worry." And the passage ends on an expiring "siiiiii."] You my Father You Christ You Christ Along the path of your soles, along the path of your feet Where you triumphed, Christ Where your saliva is, where your sweat is, Christ That is why I am searching for the path of your soles, that is why I am searching for the path of your feet Where you stopped, Christ Where you stopped, Father Where you stopped, Old One You are a respectable Father, an admirable Father You are a respectable Mother, an admirable Mother You are a green Father, a Father of clarity You are a green Mother, a Mother of clarity You are a budding Mother, a Mother of offshoots You are a green Mother, a Mother of clarity Father Jesus Christ We go to you speaking poorly and humbly, holding out our hands to you in supplication With all of the santos With all of the santas Because there are santos, because there are santas Because there are santos, because there are santas All the clean spirits All the good souls It is a clean soul It is a well-prepared soul It is a respectable soul It is a radiant soul Greenness and sap Flower of the dew Flower in bud Translucent flower Flowering flower Respected flower Ah, Jesus Christ It is a flower of fresh water A flower of clear water Fresh flower Translucent flower Because there are clean flowers where I am going Because there is clean water where I am going Clean flower, clean water Fresh flower Growing flower Mine that is increasing Green mine Budding mine There is no wind, there is no spit, there is no garbage, there is no dust There is no whirlwind, there is no weakness in the air That is the work of my santos, that is the work of my santas Ah, Jesus Christ Ah, Jesusi Ah, Jesusi Ah, Jesus Christ He is the santo Ah, she is the santa Ah, he is the santo Ah, she is the santa Ah, he is spirit Ah, he is spirit Ah, it is light Ah, it is dew Ah, it is sap Ah, it is sap Ah, it is greenness Jesus Christ Jesus Jesus Christ There is no resentment, there is no rancor, there is no insult, there is no anger It is not a matter of insults, it is not a matter of lies It is a matter of life and well-being, of lifting up, of restoring ["Thank you," says the man.] Source: Álvaro Estrada, María Sabina: Her Life and Chants, Ross-Erikson Publishers, 1981. Recorded July 21-22, 1956, by R. Gordon Wasson in Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca (Mushroom Ceremony of the Mazatec Indians of Mexico, Folkways Records, FR 8975). Back to UbuWeb \| Back to UbuWeb Ethnopoetics