How to Use Rapéh (Hapé): The Complete Beginner's Guide to Ceremonial Tobacco | Munay Temple

Written By Munay Temple

Reading Time: 12 minutes | Ceremony Level: Beginner to Intermediate
By: Omora Munay Sonqo | Last Updated: February 2026

The First Breath: Why Technique Matters

You wouldn't play a Stradivarius with a pickaxe. Don't disrespect the medicine with poor technique.

Every week at Munay Temple, I witness the same scene: A seeker sits down with precious Yawanawá Tsunu Rapéh—sometimes their first encounter with Amazonian medicine—and administers it incorrectly. They snort too hard, angle the pipe wrong, or fight the purge. The result? A harsh burn, a coughing fit, and a missed opportunity for the clarity this medicine offers.

Rapéh is not a drug to consume. It is a prayer to receive.

This guide will teach you the exact protocols used by the Yawanawá, Kaxinawá, and Katukina tribes for millennia. Whether you're preparing for your first ceremony or refining your daily practice, proper technique ensures safety, efficacy, and respect for this sacred technology.

⚠️ Safety Note: Rapéh contains Nicotiana rustica (sacred Mapacho tobacco). While legal and safe when used ceremonially, it is potent. Start with half the dose you think you need.

What Exactly Is Rapéh? (30-Second Primer)

Before technique, context. Rapéh (pronounced ha-PAY) is a traditional Amazonian snuff made from:

  • Mapacho tobacco (Nicotiana rustica): 9-20x stronger than commercial tobacco, used for neurological reset

  • Sacred tree ashes: Tsunu, Murici, or Cumaru ashes that alkalize, potentiate, and ground the medicine

Unlike cigarettes, rapéh is administered nasally using specific tools, inducing immediate clarity, energetic cleansing, and meditative states.

[Related: Read our Journal guide on the history of Rapéh →] (Link to other journal post)

The Tools: Choosing Your Administration Method

The tool determines the relationship. Self-administration builds autonomy. Receiving from another builds trust. Both are valid—choose based on your ceremony context.

Option 1: The Kuripe (Self-Applicator)

Best for: Daily practice, solo meditation, travel, micro-dosing

The Kuripe is a V-shaped pipe traditionally carved from bamboo, bone, or hardwood. One end goes in your mouth, the other in your nostril. You blow sharply to propel the medicine into the nasal cavity.

Anatomy of a Quality Kuripe:

  • Angle: 45-60 degree V-shape (optimal airflow)

  • Material: Sacred woods (Palo Santo, Chonta) or bone (ethical sourcing)

  • Length: 4-6 inches (portable but functional)

  • Finish: Smooth interior (prevents medicine clumping)

    Option 2: The Tepi (Ceremonial Pipe)

Best for: Deep ceremony, receiving from a practitioner, energetic alignment

The Tepi is a long blowpipe (8-12 inches) used by a second person to administer rapéh to you. This creates a sacred circuit: The blower's intention combines with the medicine.

Why Tepi Hits Different:

  • The receiver can maintain complete relaxation (no self-blowing effort)

  • The administrator can control breath pressure precisely

  • Creates "munay" (unconditional love) exchange between giver/receiver

Munay Temple Pro Tip: Start with a Kuripe for daily practice. Experience Tepi when you visit us in Byron Bay or work with an experienced practitioner.

you can shop Tsunu Yawanawa in our shop & soon we will ave more Kuripes & tepis Availibles there too!

HERE: https://www.munaytemple.org/shop


you can also join our mailing list for more news about our Yawanawa Experience Retreat in the Amazon Jungle in Brazil 2026

HERE: https://www.munaytemple.org/yawanawa

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