If you’re curious about hapé (sometimes called rapé), you’re not alone. This sacred Amazonian snuff has been part of indigenous traditions for thousands of years, and it’s gaining attention for its grounding, cleansing, and centering effects. I remember the first time I tried hapé—I was both nervous and excited, not quite sure what to expect. What I learned is that approaching this medicine with respect and intention makes all the difference. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics, share some personal tips, and hopefully help you start your own journey with hapé in a safe and meaningful way.
What is Hapé Medicine?
Hapé is a fine powder, usually made from Amazonian mapacho tobacco, sacred tree ashes, and sometimes other medicinal plants. In the jungle, it goes by many names—rapé, hapé, or rushka ruma (if you’re following the Huni Kuin tradition). People use it for spiritual grounding, mental clarity, emotional healing, energetic cleansing and to prepare for ceremony. The process of making and using hapé is deeply ceremonial, filled with prayer and intention.
What’s really special is that every batch is unique. The energy, prayers, and hands that create it all come together to give each blend its own character.
Getting Ready to Use Hapé
Before working with hapé, it’s important to prepare both yourself and your environment. This sacred medicine is most effective when approached with respect, intention, and care. Taking the time to gather the right tools, set your intention, and create a supportive space will help you connect deeply with the medicine and its healing potential. Here’s how to get started.
What You’ll Need
- Kuripe: A self-applicator pipe for personal use.
- Tepi: A longer pipe for serving others.
- High-quality hapé: From a trusted source or directly from those who made it.
Setting Your Intention
Before you even touch the hapé, take a moment to check in with yourself. Why are you drawn to this medicine? Are you looking for grounding, clarity, healing, or something else? Your intention will shape your experience.
Creating Your Space
Pick a quiet, comfortable spot where you won’t be disturbed. I like to have tissues, water, maybe a bucket (just in case), and a few sacred objects or music to set the mood. A candle is always nice. Remember, you’re not just preparing your surroundings—you’re preparing yourself. Take a few deep breaths and center your awareness.
Step-by-Step: Using Hapé for the First Time
Step 1: Choosing Your Hapé
Different hapéblends have different effects. If you want grounding, go for one with more tobacco. For heart-opening, something like Parika might be better. Not sure? Don’t sweat it—the differences are often subtle. Trust your gut and choose it intuitively.
Step 2: Prepare Your Kuripe or Tepi
Clean your kuripe or tepi energetically with sage, tobacco, your intention, a candle flame—or your with your favorite cleansing technique. (If you aren’t sure how to do this, we cover it in more detail in our online Hapé Training.)
Step 4: Set Your Intention and Bless your Hapé
Put some hapé in your hand (start small—about the size of a pea or two), flatten it with the long edge of your kuripe, and say a prayer—either a traditional one or improved from your heart. Here’s one I often use:
“Divine Source of All That Is, I honor you. Father Tobacco, I am grateful for your medicine. Please empower me to align with my highest good, clear all blockages, and ground deeply with Mother Earth. I am grateful for your medicine. Aho.”
Let your intention flow into the medicine—through your breath, your hands, or even a song.
Step 5: Administer the Hapé
- For yourself: Load half the dose into your kuripe, bring it from your heart to your nostril, take a deep breath, hold, and blow the medicine into your right nostril (the intuitive side). Breath through your mouth and repeat on the other side.
- For others: Explain what to expect, guide them to inhale and hold their breath, then blow the medicine through the tepi and then invite them to breath through their mouth while the hapé is in their nose.
Step 6: Sit with the Medicine
Close your eyes, breathe through your mouth, and notice what comes up—what you feel. You might feel burning, tingling, dizziness, or even the urge to purge (tears, sweat, mucus, or otherwise). Let it happen—this is Father Tobacco doing his work.
You can meditate, visualize roots growing into the earth, or just sit quietly and FEEL Father Tobacco’s force move through you. After 5–15 minutes, blow your nose and rest if needed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Hapé Without Intention or Prayer: Hapé is a sacred tool, not a recreational substance. Skipping prayer or setting a weak intention diminishes its potential for grounding, cleansing, and alignment. Approach the medicine with sincerity, offering a heartfelt prayer that aligns with your purpose. For example, avoid vague or uninspired prayers. Instead, connect deeply with Father Tobacco and let your intention guide the process—and surrender to Father Tobacco’s force.
- Not Sourcing High-Quality Hapé: The energy and effectiveness of Hapé depends heavily on its source. Using medicine that lacks proper preparation, lineage, or prayer can weaken its force and even carry negative energies. Always source hapé from a good source, trusted tribes or practitioners who honor traditional methods and infuse the medicine with positive intentions.
- Skipping Sacred Space Preparation: The environment in which you use Hapé directly impacts your experience. Neglecting to create a clean, sacred space can block the medicine’s flow and reduce its healing potential. Take time to cleanse your surroundings with tools like sage or palo santo, arrange meaningful objects, and ensure the space feels calm and intentional before working with the medicine.
For more insights, see other common mistakes people make when working with hapé.
Ready to Go Deeper With Hapé?
Good training helps you understand the medicine, set clear intentions, and hold space for yourself and others. It also teaches you to serve with integrity and respect for tradition. Learning from experienced practitioners deepens your connection and helps you receive the full benefits. If you’re ready to take the next step, click here to learn 10+ years worth of jungle hapé wisdom in just a few hours from the comfort of your home.
If you’re ready to begin your journey with hapé, having access to high-quality, ethically sourced medicine is key. Visit our Hapé Apothecary to explore a curated selection of blends crafted with care, intention, and respect for tradition. Find the medicine that resonates with you and supports your path. Discover more here.
Learning to use hapé medicine is a journey—one that’s best held with respect, intention, and an open heart. By honoring tradition and seeking proper guidance, you’ll discover the true power of this sacred medicine.
The medicine is waiting to support you. Step in, and let your journey begin.