Shipibo Foundations · Module 6: The Medicine World · Lesson 1 of 6

Rao — medicine, and who carries it

By the end you can use the word rao correctly, and name who carries it.

6 new words · about 10 minutes

◆ This module walks without a companion — the register here is respect.

Rao is the wide word usually translated 'medicine' — and it names a category of relationship, not a substance. The tradition distinguishes non rao, our medicine — plant medicine — from nawan rao, the foreigner's medicine — the Western kind (nawa = outsider). The one who carries it: onanya — literally 'one with knowledge', from onan, wise, plus -ya, to have. And oni — ayahuasca — was taught to us as onan + ni: ancient knowledge.
Culture note. This module carries a different weight. It teaches the words you will hear — so you can listen with understanding and respect. It does not teach you to do anything. There is no companion character walking these lessons; here, we lower our voice.
✓ sourced recorded class 1 01:13-01:16 · nothing invented

The words

Read each one. The next screen hides the meaning so you can test yourself.

raomedicine
non raoour medicine — plant medicine
nawan raothe foreigner's (Western) medicine
nawaforeigner, outsider
onanyahealer — 'one with knowledge'
oniayahuasca

Cover the meaning

Say it before you flip. Be honest — "again" brings it back.

tap to reveal
tap to flip back

Match the pairs

Tap a Shipibo word, then its meaning.

In a sentence

Try translating each line yourself before you tap.

Jatonra oni xeai.
tap to translate
They drink the ayahuasca.
Nato riki medico, kushi kushi medico.
tap to translate
This is the doctor — the powerful, powerful doctor.
Try it. Say onanya slowly: o-NAN-ya. One with knowledge.

Build the sentence

Tap the words into order.

Say:

Now you write it

Accents optional while you learn — jakon = jakón.

Check yourself

Onanya means…
Nawan rao is…
✓

Lesson complete

Jakonshaman. Carried with respect.

You can now use the word rao correctly, and name who carries it.

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