The Sacred Mosquito. Protector of Madre Selva.
A friend is going to the jungle for Dieta. She asked - "if she can use essential oils to prevent and/or treat mosquito bites?"
My reply:
Traditionally speaking, you are advised not to use anything at all that has a scent. This means no essential oils, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, etc....
I was specifically told by a certain high-level and very well respected Maestra not to use anything that has peppermint, so definitely no peppermint essential oil. She was very ANTI-MINT (jaja) She is Shipibo...
However, it is important to note and to understand that different Maestra/o's have different "rules" - Always speak to and ask the person you are working with directly. This is the best and easiest way to get the most clear answer.
Also, ASK YOUR PLANT!!!
Every plant is different. Some plants are more strict. Others are more flexible & forgiving.
Again, this would depend on which plant you are dieting and who you are dieting with. Different diets have different circumstances. Especially when it comes to "Healing Diets" verses "Learning Diets."
Part of being in the jungle is being "comfortable being uncomfortable." Dieta can be somewhat uncomfortable. The best advice anyone can give you is to EMBRACE IT. (You won't really have a choice, so you're better off just going with the flow 🙃)
I sometimes think of getting bit by the mosquitos as "an offering" to the jungle. A small payment you make for the right to be there. Paying with the only thing that we really have - Our own blood 🩸
They take small pieces of us with them into the jungle, so we become part of the jungle, connecting our flesh & blood, in a deeper way.
There are other more "Dieta Friendly" ways to deal with mosquitos, if you must, like - soaking Mapacho in water and then putting the Mapacho on your skin... or Copaiba Oil, or Sangre de Grado, or Agua de Florida... Or mixing Copaiba with Agua de Florida - (That particular mixture really helped me one time when it was extremely buggy out!!!)
You can help yourself be bit less by wearing the proper clothes. It helps to wear high socks and to walk around covered by a shawl. If you want to be really nerdy, you can order this jacket on Amazon.
I got one of these jackets for when I want to go on walks deeper into the forest... Mosquitoes happen to love me (blood type?) and I swell up from the bites, so I do like to protect my skin in this way…
The more you surrender into the experience overall, the more you'll get out of the process.
You can't fight the jungle. The jungle will always win. Accept it. It is what it is. Madre Selva is stronger than us all. That's obvious. It's not easy by design to weed people out who can't deal with it. The natural challenges of the jungle make us more resilient.
I hope this helps. Be safe and have a beautiful and profound dieta.
Written with love + care by
Amaru Ñan Warmi / Zihuakoatl Zitlallinikue
If you'd like to share your thoughts or contribute to this conversation, you can do so on IG: @GuidedByGrandma
Wearing my very cool “Mosquito Jacket” so that I could walk deeper into the forest to visit a very special healing tree called Chullachaqui. This tree is dieted in the Shipibo tradition. He is known as a trickster spirit, who has an injured left foot… Something interesting to note is that I have had pain in my left foot since October 2022… It ebbs and flows, but sometimes I feel it is a sign from Chullachaqui, who is calling my attention. So I went to visit him. Ever since visiting the tree, the pain has lessened to a degree! The jungle is a mysterious place, let me tell you.
