Jessica Lewis |
I wanted to create this guide for anyone who would like to learn more about how to work with hapé, and how to administer hapé. I get asked a lot of questions, and so here are the answers to some of the most common ones that I receive.
Firstly, it can be helpful to approach Hapé as something we work with rather than something we simply take. When we work with Hapé, we enter into a relationship and create a pathway of reciprocity. We offer our prayers, intentions and willingness, and in return Hapé carries those prayers, amplified by the spirit of tobacco, supporting the healing, clarity or release we are looking for.
Approaching Hapé in this way naturally invites a deeper sense of respect, and so rather than viewing it as a something that we consume, we recognise it as a sacred medicine and honouring its roots. To work with Hapé means acknowledging its Indigenous nature, the tribes who have preserved this knowledge, and the maker of the particular blend you are working with.
Each Hapé blend is totally unique, it combines tobacco with the ashes of different medicinal plants and trees, each carrying its own qualities, energies, gifts and teachings. Taking a moment to connect with these plant allies through prayer, gratitude and intention deepens your relationship with the medicine and the experience itself.
This is one of the questions I am asked most often. The truth is that every Hapé experience is unique and will vary depending on the prayer or intention you make, the blend you work with, your current state of being, and the amount you receive.
In general, the larger the amount, the stronger the experience is likely to be, while smaller amounts often create a gentler process.
Hapé is both a physical and energetic medicine, and the first sensation most peoplenotice is a slight sting as the medicine is received, but this dissipates after a few minutes. If you are working with a smaller amount, then this may be the strongest physical sensation you experience, aside from watery eyes or a runny nose when the hapé liquidises.
With larger amounts, people may also experience sweating, heat, nausea and purging. While these experiences can be uncomfortable, it’s important to see them as part of the cleansing or release process.
One of Hapé’s most valued qualities is its ability to help clear mental clutter and noise. Certain blends, such as Huni Kuin Pixuri and Huni Kuin Caneleiro, are well known for bringing clarity and focus. Other blends, such as Bobinsana Hapé, support emotional release when something is ready to be felt, expressed and released. Many people report feeling calmer, more present and more centred after working with Hapé.
Once you have received your Hapé, it is important to avoid chatting and sit quietly with the medicine in meditation. Focus on your breath, your prayer or your intention. This allows you to fully connect with the experience and receive the greatest benefit from your work with the medicine.
Hapé is often described as an ancestral prayer medicine. Many Indigenous peoples work with Hapé to strengthen their connection with their ancestors, seeking guidance, wisdom and clarity. I personally find this a beautiful way to approach the experience, using the medicine as an opportunity to connect with my own ancestors through prayer.
One of the things I often hear people say about Hapé is that it is a grounding tool, and yes, there is certainly some truth in that. Tobacco, by its very nature, is a grounding plant. Ask anyone that smokes, if they get stressed out, tobacco is the thing they reach for, however, I don’t believe grounding should be the sole reason for working with this medicine.
There are many practices that can help us feel grounded, including time in nature, meditation, breathwork and movement. If we begin turning to Hapé every time we feel uncentered or ungrounded, then there’s a risk that it can become a crutch rather than a conscious practice.
For me, Hapé is first and foremost a sacred prayer medicine, whilst grounding is one of the gifts tobacco offers, it’s not the reason I choose to work with it. Approaching the medicine with respect, intention and prayer helps us to have a healthy relationship with it and it also honours the traditions and lineage.
If you really want to get the most out of working with hapé then here are a few ideas that you might like to try.
Journaling is a powerful tool for integrating your experience with Hapé. After working with the medicine, take some time to write down any thoughts, emotions, insights or messages that came up for you during your process. Sometimes the most important teachings are subtle and can easily be forgotten as we return to daily life and if that’s the case, then we can miss some of the teachings.
You don’t need to write pages, even a few sentences about what you experienced, what you felt, or what you are being invited to work on can help deepen your relationship with the medicine over time, is a great starting point.
Nature can be a beautiful ally for integration! After working with Hapé, its a great idea to spend some time outdoors (if you worked with it indoors), whether that’s walking through a forest, sitting beside a tree, or simply feeling the earth beneath your feet.
Nature has a way of helping us slow down and absorb what the medicine has shown us. It can also help us stay grounded and connected to the natural world.
Hapé often continues working long after the initial experience has passed, so pay attention to how your body feels in the hours and days that follow.
You may notice changes in your energy, emotions, clarity or awareness, and so rather than immediately moving on to thenext thing, allow yourself time to listen, often the body holds wisdom that the mind can overlook.
The ceremony does not end when the effects of Hapé begin to fade. One of the most beautiful ways to integrate your experience is to continue the prayer you made when working with the medicine.
Ask yourself:
When we continue to walk with our prayer after the ceremony, the medicine becomes part of an ongoing relationship rather than a single experience.
Yes, beginners can use Hapé, but it is so important to approach Hapé with respect,moderation, a clear intention and not because you fancy a hapé.
For those new to Hapé, starting with smaller pea sized amounts is generally recommended. The experience can feel intense at first due to the physical sensation in the nose and the rapid energetic effects. Taking time to sit quietly, focus on your prayer and intention, breathe, and remain grounded after application can help ease the experience.
Hapé should be experience during ceremony or guided healing work with an experienced practitioner,althouogh you can self serve out of these settings, as long as respect and sacredness is involved. Learning proper administration and understanding the traditional context of the medicine can help beginners develop a healthier and more respectful
Hapé is administered through the nose using a special pipe called a Kuripe (for self-application) or a Tepi (used to serve another person) but its not recommended to serve another person unless you have had training. Hapé is blown gently into each nostril,
The left nostril symbolises death or releasing energy, while the right nostril symbolises rebirth, clarity, and intention, the process is done with prayer, mindfulness, and focused intention rather than casually.
This is a question I get asked a lot, and my answer is both yes and no. Yes, anyone can learn to facilitate Hapé. However, simply knowing how to load a tepi and blow the medicine into someone’s nose is not the same as understanding how to serve Hapé in a safe, responsible, and traditional way.
When we serve Hapé to another person, we are doing far more than administering a medicine. We are holding space for another person’s process, prayers, emotions, releases, and experiences. This requires presence, discernment, respect, and a deeper understanding of the medicine itself.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is people receiving Hapé a handful of times and then deciding to start serving it to others. While the intention is usually good, there is often very little understanding of the energetics of tobacco, the importance of prayer, or how to properly work with the medicine in a ceremonial context.
Tobacco is a prayer medicine. It carries intention and direction. When we serve Hapé to someone else, we are introducing our own energy into that exchange, whether we realise it or not. For this reason, I believe facilitation carries a responsibility that goes beyond simply learning a technique.
This does not mean facilitation should be exclusive or reserved for a select few. It simply means it should be approached with humility, respect, and a genuine willingness to learn.
If you feel called to serve Hapé to others, I encourage you to spend time developing your relationship with the medicine first. Learn from experienced practitioners, deepen your understanding of Indigenous traditions, and take the time to understand why Hapé is worked with, not just how it is administered.
Over the years, I have spoken with many people who have had negative experiences because they were served by facilitators who lacked the appropriate knowledge, training, or awareness. Equally, I have seen how powerful and transformative this medicine can be when it is served with clarity, integrity, and respect.
If you feel called to work more deeply with Hapé and would like guidance on safe administration, ceremony, prayer, energetic awareness, and the traditional foundations of facilitation, I offer a one-to-one Hapé Initiation & Facilitator Training.
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This training is designed for people who wish to deepen their relationship with the medicine, develop confidence in serving others, and learn to work with Hapé in a way that honours both the medicine and the traditions from which it comes.
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Working with Hapé is about far more than simply administering a powder through the nose, the medicine is approached as a tool for prayer and connection. Creating a calm environment and approaching the medicine with respect can significantly influence the experience, and working with mindfulness rather than rushing through the process.
Before receiving Hapé, find a place where you can sit comfortably without interruption. Many practitioners choose to work with the medicine in nature, during meditation, or in a dedicated ceremonial space. Turning off distractions and allowing yourself time to be fully present can help create a more intentional experience.
Take a few moments to think about why you are working with the medicine, your prayer doesn’t need to be over complicated, but it must come from the heart. Tobacco is a plant that needs direction and our prayers guide tobacco to where it needs to go, in the energy field or body. State your prayer, offer your gratitude and respect, you don’t need to do this out loud.
If you are new to Hapé, beginning with a small pea sized amount is generally recommended, with many first-time users find that even a small serving can produce a powerful effect. Developing a relationship with the hapé gradually often brings a more balanced and respectful introduction. Do not work with hapé daily.
Hapé is traditionally administered using a special applicator, a Kuripe is used for self-application, while a Tepi allows another person to servethe medicine. The hapé is blown into each nostril, one side at a time, with mindfulness and controlled breath. Traditional teachings often associate the process with balance, cleansing, and energetic alignment.
After application, allow yourself to remain still for several minutes, many people choose to close their eyes, focus on their breath, focus on their prayer and observe the sensations arising in the body and mind. The initial intensity stops after a while, but you should still sit with the experience for a while after this.
Rather than immediately returning to daily activities, give yourself space to integrate the experience. Journaling, meditation, prayer, or quiet contemplation can help deepen your understanding of any insights or emotions that arise during the process.
The experience following Hapé can vary significantly depending on the blend, dosage, setting, and individual receiving the medicine. While no two experiences are exactly alike, certain themes are commonly reported by both traditional users and modern practitioners.
Many people describe an immediate sense of mental stillness, as though internal noise has temporarily quieted. Others notice a feeling of grounding, presence, and heightened awareness of the body and breath. Some blends may feel energizing and clarifying, while others support a more introspective and meditative state.
Emotional release is also not uncommon. Tears, deep breathing, spontaneous insights, or a sense of emotional clearing can arise as the medicine settles. Within traditional contexts, these responses are often viewed as part of the cleansing process rather than something to resist.
After the initial effects subside, many people report feeling centered, focused, and more connected to their surroundings. The experience may last only a short time physically, but the sense of clarity and presence can remain long afterward.
Developing a relationship with hapé doesn’t mean we need to work with it constantly. Daily hapé use is too much and not needed at all, and developing a daily routine with hapé is risky because it can become something we start to use for the wrong reasons, such as just because they just want a hapé. The sacredness goes out the window at this point.
When we develop any kind of relationship it takes time and not something that is rushed. The same goes when we work with hapé, we build the relationship with it over time, with gratitude and respect. When we communicate our prayers to the spirit of tobacco and to the plants within the blend, we start to connect with hapé in a much deeper way.
As I have already mentioned earlier, respect is key, we need to make sure that the way we are woking with hapé reflects this, and overtime the relationship develops.
Two tools are used to administer Hapé: the Kuripe and the Tepi. While both serve the same purpose, they are used in different contexts and carry distinct ceremonial significance.
A Kuripe is a small V-shaped applicator designed for self-administration. One end is placed in the mouth and the other in the nostril, allowing the user to apply the medicine the selves. Many people who work regularly with Hapé choose a Kuripe because it allows them to maintain a personal practice and connect with the medicine on their own terms.
A Tepi is a longer ceremonial pipe used when one person serves Hapé to another. Within indigenous traditions, the exchange between giver and receiver is often viewed as an important aspect of the ceremony itself. The person serving the medicine brings their own presence, intention, and prayer to the experience, creating a shared ceremonial space.
Neither tool is inherently better than the other. The choice depends on whether you are working alone or receiving the medicine from a trusted facilitator or ceremonial guide.
Do not serve hapé to someone unless you have received appropriate training and initiation.
Another frequent mistake is approaching the medicine without clear intention or a prayer, while Hapé can certainly be used for grounding and focus, traditional use often emphasises conscious engagement with the tobacco spirit and the spirits of the other plants, rather than habitual use.
I have seen a lot of people rush the experience by administering Hapé and immediately moving on to other activities, taking time to sit quietly afterward allows the medicine to settle and often leads to a more powerful experience.
Finally, treating Hapé as a recreational product rather than a sacred indigenous medicine can lead to a misunderstanding of its purpose, respecting the origins of Hapé helps to preserve the wisdom and lineage that it comes from.
Most authentic Hapé blends contain mapacho tobacco (Nicotiana rustica), a powerful Amazonian tobacco species that differs significantly from commercial tobacco products. Because of its strength, Hapé should be used mindfully and with moderation.
Many practitioners recommend avoiding alcohol before or during ceremonial work with Hapé, working with the medicine in a clear state is generally considered preferable within traditional practices.
Individuals who are pregnant, nursing, or avoid working with Hapé. Anyone with concerns about nicotine exposure should also exercise caution also!
One of the most common questions people ask when first discovering Hapé is which blend they should beginwith. Tribes have many varieties available, each carrying its own history, ingredients, and energetic qualities, it can be difficult to know where to start! Understanding the purpose and benefits of each blend can help beginners make a more informed choice.
In the Amazon, Hapé is not necessarily viewed through the lens of finding the “strongest” blend, instead, different preparations are used for different purposes, and the relationship between the individual, the medicine, and the intention behind its use is considered more important than strength. Many indigenous traditions approach Hapé as a sacred tool for prayer, focus, and energetic cleansing rather than something to be measured solely by its intensity.
For this reason, many experienced practitioners encourage newcomers to begin with balanced and grounding blends before exploring stronger or more specialised varieties. Tsunu-based Hapé is often recommended as an introduction because it is one of the most widely respected and commonly used. Made using the ashes of the Tsunu tree, these blends are centering, clarifying, and supportive of meditation and self-reflection. While experiences vary from person to person, many beginners find Tsunu blends a great choice.
Some people are drawn to blends with plants such as cacao or cumaru, which are often associated with heart-centered work and a gentler energetic profile. Others may feel called toward blends created by specific such as the Yawanawá, Noki Koi, or Huni Kuin, who carries traditions surrounding the preparation and the use of Hapé.
When choosing your first Hapé, it is also important to consider the source. Authenticity matters not only because it affects quality, but because Hapé is deeply connected to indigenous cultures whose knowledge and traditions have been preserved for generations.
There are a lot of fake tribal blends out there, made by people who simply copy recipes, and whilst some of them may be good, it’s important to support the tribes and their lineage. Finding ethically sourced blends that directly support tribal communities helps ensure that these traditions continue to be honored and sustained.
Rather than focusing on finding the perfect blend immediately, many people find that their relationship with Hapé evolves over time, starting out with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to learn often provides a stronger foundation than searching for a particular effect. As your understanding deepens, you may naturally feel drawn toward different blends and traditions that align with your personal practice and intentions.
Its important to get to know the various plants in the blends you choose, so you understand why you would want to work with one blend over another,
Hapé is a sacred medicine, and not a recreational substance and because of this, ceremony is an important part of working with hapé.
Hapé ceremony etiquette often includes approaching the medicine with clear intention, sitting quietly and respectfully during application and not moving around or entering into conversation or immediately afterwards. Its important to remain present with the experience rather than distracting yourself, offering gratitude or prayer before and after serving and also erespecting the ceremonial space and other participants.
Even if you are outside of an official ceremony, it’s important to work with hapé in the same respectful way. New to Hapé? Start with our beginner’s guide explaining what Hapé is, its origins and traditional uses.
If you feel called to begin or deepen your relationship with Hapé, explore our collection of authentic, ethically sourced Hapé medicines.
Jessica Lewis
If this article resonated with you, you may also wish to explore other traditional Amazonian plant medicines and educational resources. See below.
Tobacco as a Prayer Medicine: Six Gifts from the Tobacco Spirit
What is hapé? A Beginners Guide
Explore Hapé Initiation & Training
