Practice
HapéRapé
A carefully held Amazonian snuff ceremony, offered with respect for its traditional use in grounding and presence.
18+. Hapé and sananga are offered only to adults. They are not for children or young people under 18.
These pages describe traditional and personal practices. They are not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment. Experiences vary. If you are unwell, speak to a GP or another clinician as well as David. Terms of use.
Where it comes from
Hapé (also spelled rapé) is a sacred Amazonian snuff prepared from mapacho tobacco and the ashes of medicinal trees. It has been held for generations by peoples including the Yawanawá, Kaxinawá (Huni Kuin), Katukina, and Nukini. This work is shared here with respect for those lineages — not as a trend, and not as a shortcut.
What it is
Hapé is blown into the nostrils through a pipe: a tepi when it is served to you, or a kuripe if you already self-administer. It is not smoked and it is not recreational. In the traditions David works with, it is used to ground the body, settle mental noise, and come back into presence. Many people describe a strong drop into the body, then a still sitting. That is their experience — not a medical outcome we can promise.
David holds hapé in ceremony, one-to-one in Heckfield and in group circles (often with meditation and sound) at Soul Barns. You are not expected to know what to do. You will be guided, sat with, and given time to integrate. Serving hapé to another person is trained work — this companion is for preparing as a participant, not for becoming a server.
What to expect
- A brief sting or heat in the sinuses, then a wave of sensation through the head and body.
- The mind often goes very quiet. Some people feel emotion rise. Some feel nothing dramatic — only a deeper stillness.
- You may need to spit. In this tradition that is ordinary, not a problem.
- The strongest intensity usually lasts a few minutes. The grounded after-feel can last hours.
How to work with it
- 01
Arrive and settle
Come a little early. Phones away. Sit with a long spine, feet on the earth if you can. Take a few unforced breaths. You do not need a perfect posture — you need to be here.
- 02
Set a simple intention
One honest sentence is enough. “Help me drop the noise.” “I want to feel my body again.” “I offer this sitting to what I cannot carry alone.” Speak it inwardly. You can write it in the journal here before you leave home.
- 03
Receiving in ceremony
When you are served, you will usually sit opposite the facilitator. The pipe (tepi) may be touched to the heart or brow first. You take a breath, close the throat gently, and receive one nostril, then the other. Some lineages work with the left side as letting go and the right as calling in — traditions vary, and David will hold the sequence.
- 04
Sit with what comes
Head slightly forward. Eyes soft or closed. Breathe through the mouth if the nose is full. Do not rush to talk, stand, or fix the experience. If you need to spit, use the vessel provided. Feeling may come; you are not required to perform insight.
- 05
If you already self-administer
Use a kuripe, never a straw or rolled paper. Measure a small, pea-sized amount. Apply one side, pause, then the other. Blow steadily — not a violent punch. Work seated, not in a car, not in a crowd, not as a daily stimulant. If you have not been shown, book a ceremony rather than guessing.
Prepare
- Eat lightly two to three hours before. Avoid a heavy or greasy meal.
- Skip alcohol that day, and keep caffeine modest.
- Wear clothes you can sit in. Bring a jumper — bodies cool after ceremony.
- Bring water and a journal. Plan a quiet evening afterwards.
- Tell David about medications, pregnancy, heart conditions, or high blood pressure in advance — do not leave this until you are on the mat.
Aftercare
- Sit or walk slowly. Do not jump straight into screens, driving, or a busy room if you can help it.
- Rinse the nose with saline later if it feels raw. Drink water. Eat something simple and grounding.
- Write what you noticed — not what you think you should have felt.
- The medicine keeps working in ordinary life: sleep, conversations, the way you hold your jaw. Give it a night.
Safety
- Hapé is for adults 18 and over.
- Hapé contains tobacco. It is not appropriate in pregnancy, and may not be appropriate with heart conditions, untreated high blood pressure, or if you are very unwell.
- This is not a medical treatment and not a substitute for mental-health care.
- Do not work with hapé daily. More is not more.
- Never serve another person unless you have been trained to do so.
- Best received with a facilitator who knows the blends they are holding.
Often paired with meditation, sananga, or sound. Book a held ceremony with David.