Using rapé safely: preparation and technique

In short

• Prepare yourself: eat light, avoid alcohol, find a quiet place, and set an honest intention.
• Start small: about the size of a pea per nostril.
• You use a kuripe, a V-shaped pipe for yourself.
• In the tradition, you start on the left (letting go) and then on the right (receiving).
• Runny nose, tears, or nausea are part of it. Don't fight it and keep breathing.
• New to rapé? Get guidance.
• Only for 18 years and older. Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Do not combine with antidepressants or MAO inhibitors. Use rapé consciously and in moderation.

By Kevin Lorenzini | Reading time: approximately 10 minutes

You now know what rapé is. Read "What is rapé?" first if you are not yet familiar with it. Now the real work begins. There is a big difference between knowing what rapé is and knowing how to use it. It is like a musical instrument: technique is only one part. The rest lies in how you prepare, how you remain present, and what you do afterwards.

0. The right mindset

The most important thing is the willingness to receive what comes, even if it is uncomfortable. Many people hope that rapé will feel pleasant and light. Sometimes it does. Often resistance, intensity, or tears come first. That is normal. The trick is not to run away from it. Keep breathing and stay present.

1. Preparation

The day before

• Eat light. Avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and processed food. A light body makes it clearer.
• Fewer stimuli. Fewer screens, less news, less busyness.
• Write down your intention. What do you want to let go of? What do you want to receive? Be honest, not pretty. Read it aloud to yourself the evening before.

The day itself

• Light or sober. Eat at least 2 hours beforehand.
• No caffeine. Herbal tea is fine.
• No alcohol or cannabis. This is not a tip, but a boundary. Both change how your body and mind react to rapé. And not for the better.
• Drink enough water.
• Dress comfortably. Have tissues and a paper bag ready.

The space

• A quiet space where no one disturbs you
• A rug or mat
• Phone completely off or on silent
• Tissues, a small bowl, and a glass of water
• Possibly a notebook and pen for afterwards

2. The kuripe

A kuripe is a V-shaped pipe with which you give yourself rapé. The short end goes in your mouth, the long end by your nostril. You give and you receive. That requires honesty: you cannot look away, because you are right in the middle of it.

• Material. Kuripes are made of wood, bamboo, bone, or ceramic. Do you want a kuripe? Send Kevin a message.
• Cleaning. Blow it clean with air after use or use a small brush. Let it dry.
• Do not share it. A kuripe is personal. That is more hygienic and fits the tradition.
• First time? Practice without rapé. Hold the kuripe to your mouth and nostril and blow slowly. This way you feel the airflow.

In the tradition, you start on the left and then on the right. Left stands for letting go, right for receiving. You always take both sides.

3. Quantity

There is no fixed right amount. It depends on who you are, which kind you use, your intention, and your experience.

• Beginner: about the size of a pea per nostril. That is less than you think.
• With experience: build up slowly, over multiple occasions.
• Golden rule: you can always take more, but never less.
• New kind? Take less the first time than you are used to. Get to know the blend first.
• Do not compare yourself to the Huni Kuin. They grow up with rapé.

You use rapé consciously, not out of habit. Do you notice that you grab it to push away stress? Then take a break.

Difference per kind

The same amount of two kinds feels different. Therefore, look at the strength on the label, from 1 to 7. Rosa has 3 out of 7. Tsunu has 5 out of 7. Samaúma has 6 out of 7. Murú and Buna Rao have 7 out of 7. In doubt? Use the choice helper.

4. The session

1. Sit upright, with your back straight and your hands in your lap.
2. Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply and consciously three times, and breathe out.
3. Say your intention, aloud or in your mind.
4. Start on the left. Blow powerfully and evenly.
5. Afterwards, breathe through your mouth, not through your nose.
6. Stay upright and let what comes come.
7. After 30 to 60 seconds: right, in the same way.
8. Close your eyes, sit still, and receive.

Your breath

Your breath is your anchor. Breathe slowly and consciously through your mouth. Feel panic rising? Breathe out longer than in: four counts in, six counts out. Repeat that until it subsides. It always subsides.

Runny nose, tears, and dry heaving

In the tradition, this is called the purge: letting go. A runny nose is normal. Keep tissues at hand. Do you need to dry heave or vomit? Don't fight it. Sit upright or lean slightly forward. Many people feel lighter afterwards. That varies per person. Tears almost always belong to it. They don't necessarily say anything about your emotions. Let them flow.

Do not lie down during the peak if you are nauseous. Stay upright until it is over.

5. When it gets difficult

Fear or panic. Bring your attention to your breath (four counts in, six out). Lay your hands flat on the floor and feel the weight of your body. Say: "I am safe. It will pass." Do not stand up and do not walk away. Sit through it.

If nothing seems to happen. That happens more often than you think. Tension can then dampen the experience. Wait 10 minutes, breathe consciously, and stop waiting for something.

If emotions overwhelm you. Allow them. Breathe. Cry if you need to cry. Move if you need to move. Are you in a session with a guide? Then say it.

Do you not feel good afterwards? Contact Kevin or, in case of complaints, a doctor.

6. After the session

• Stay seated. Do not stand up immediately.
• Drink water slowly.
• Eat nothing else for a while.
• Talk as little as possible. Protect the silence.
• Place a hand on your heart and breathe into it.
• Write down what happened, in the present tense: "I feel...", "I see...".

In the days after: do not plan a full agenda, move in nature, avoid alcohol and many stimuli, and talk about it with someone who understands.

7. Solo or guided?

Using with a kuripe is well within your means if you already have experience, know how your body reacts, and can dose yourself.

Get guidance for:

• your first introduction to rapé
• a blend with strength 6 or 7 if you do not yet know it
• emotionally heavy periods or major life transitions
• a combination with Kambo or Sananga

I guide private sessions in Nuenen and Eindhoven. Feel free to send me a message.

8. Take care of your kuripe

Treat your kuripe with respect. Blow it clean, store it in its own bag or box, and do not share it. This way it remains yours.

9. The core

Using rapé safely means being present: during your preparation, during the session, and with what comes afterwards. The Huni Kuin grow up with rapé. We are newcomers to this knowledge. That is not a problem, but it requires us to take the time to learn. Start where you are. Build up slowly.

Safety at a glance: only for 18 years and older. Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Not with unstable heart or vascular problems. Do not combine with antidepressants or MAO inhibitors, alcohol, or drugs. In doubt? Consult a doctor. Rapé is not medicine and does not replace medical or psychological treatment.

View the collection · Do the choice helper · Send Kevin a message

About the author: Kevin Lorenzini is a ceremonial leader and founder of Purity Healing. He guides Kambo and Sananga ceremonies in Nuenen and Eindhoven.

Also read: rapé for beginners · the art of blowing · what to look for when buying rapé?