“This native Shipibo woman is embroidering a traditional textile depicting Ayahuasca Spirit Vision. In time this entire cloth will be almost entirely covered with rich, kinetic colors that seem to leap off the cloth.

These detailed works of art are in essence an exquisite “still” shot (as in, a single image taken from a moving image) of a type of swirling patterns almost all people experience in ceremony. The pattern has come to be known as “sacred geometry” and appears in art throughout Amazonia.

The Shibipo tribe is credited with developing Ayahuasca, “The Medicine," which is a special honor. Thankfully, this unique fine craft, and precious cultural tradition, is being passed down from woman to woman.

Colombian women also express sacred geometry in vibrant, graphically striking textiles called, “molas.” Molas are equally as equality as stunning as Shipibo textiles, but are created by using a sophisticated appliqué technique, rather than the detailed, texturally dense embroidery work of the Shipibo.

In time, I promise to add more photos of these beautiful works of art, as I have fallen rather in love with them.”

– Zoe Helene, on Shipibo Women’s Textiles