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The rainforest is the Achuars' nourishing mother, and within this living web of forest trails, streams and rivers, they know virtually every plant, tree and animal. Here, they fish, hunt, and grow their crops as they have always done. The Achuar believe in multiple spirits that give them the guide lines for a harmonic relationship with the rain forest and its creatures. Magic and healing powers are used by the shaman (uwishin), who gets his force by means of hallucinogenic plants like natem (Banisteriopsis sp.).
The Achuar maintain a remarkable and intimate relation with nature and its processes. Primarily based in astronomical calculations and biological cycles, the Achuar have created a model of representation of annual cycles in the rain forest which is much more precise than any other developed by biologists or weather scientists.
Since the Achuar did not have a written language before the arrival of missionaries, the use of myths has been extremely important in keeping the traditions alive. The trajectory of the constellations and its relationship with terrestrial phenomena is accurately displayed in this myth:
The seven orphans, called Musach, lived with their adoptive parents, and, as generally occur among the Achuar, they felt unhappy and decided to flee by secretly building a raft. The Musach chose a day when the floods had begun and when their parents had gone into the forest to then board their raft and drift downstream.
The adoptive father, Ankuaji, coming back from his hike, recognized the raft floating down the river and decided to catch them in his canoe in order to bring them back. The pursuit lasted many days but the orphans always managed to elude him. Finally they reached the place where the river meets the sky. The Musach found some bamboo, climbed rapidly, and reached the sky. Soon after, Ankuaji followed them.
Today the Musach are the Pleiades, their raft is the Orion constellation, while Ankuaji morning's eye still moves in the sky in the form of the Aldebaran star and still demonstrates his vain persecution of the seven orphans.
The Achuar base their calendar on the movement of the constellation Musach or Pleiades, which is visible to them between July and April.
Another star, called Ankuam, the star of Scorpion, appears in mid January, signaling the beginning of the rainy season.
The Achuar understand the universe as a hemisphere of sky and earth, which is surrounded by water. For the Achuar the upper river (yaki)/down river (tsumu) axis is much more important than the east/west axis.
Some of the most feared creatures such as anacondas, dolphins and ants, dwell in the underworld.
In April the Pleiades disappears upriver and the floods begin.
The Achuar Calendar: Rainforest Seasons.
January
Kuyuktin - water level in rivers and lakes decrease.
Uwi juarmau - chonta palm fruit time.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
Esat amamu - end of the dry season.
Uwi week - breeding time for leaf cutting ants, 2nd period.
Tanku takiamu - hatchlings.
February
Kuyuktin - water level in rivers and lakes decrease.
Puach utsantai - breeding time for frogs and toads; rainy season and heavy winds begin.
Esat amamu - end of the dry season.
Uwi juarmau - chonta palm fruit time.
Yurantin - wild fruit time.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
Tanku takiamu - fledglings.
March
Uwi juarmau - chonta palm fruit time.
Yurantin - wild fruit time.
Chuu machari - fatting time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
Tanku achitiai - fledglings.
April
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Tampaai - flood, main rivers have small waves.
Jinmau - fledglings leave their nests.
Yurantin - wild fruit time.
Chuu machari - fatting time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
May
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Tampaai - flood, main rivers have small waves.
Yurantin - wild fruit time.
Chuu machari - fatting time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
June
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Shiñuktint - fatting time for terrestrial birds.
Tampaai - flood, main rivers have small waves.
Yurantin - wild fruit time.
Chuu machari - fatting time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
July
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Charap jureti - river turties lay eggs, 1st period.
Shiñuktint - fatting time for terrestrial birds.
Namaktin - migration of fishes upstream during their matting season.
Chuu machari - fatting time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
Uyumcha - masses of cold air from Antarctica, decline in temperature and rain.
August
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Charap jureti - river turties lay eggs, 1sr period.
Namaktin - migration of fishes upstream during their matting season.
Tserempushtin - guava tree fruit season.
Wampuash week - breeding time for the leaf cutting ants, 1st period.
Waá iwiarmau - nesting time.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
Arak - flame trees bloom; sawing season begins.
September
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Charapa nujintri - milky way becomes visible.
Shiñuktint - fatting time for terrestrial birds.
Wampuash week - breeding time for the leaf cutting ants, 1st period.
Namaktin - migration of fishes upstream during their matting season.
Tserempushtin - guava tree fruit season.
Kuyuktin - water level in rivers and lakes decrease.
Esat juarmau - dry season begins.
Tsenkush uchirmati - breeding time for the marmo-sets.
Uwi kakramu - thunder and lighting-flashes without rain; chonta palm bloom.
Waá iwiarmau - nesting time.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
October
Wampuash - kapok trees bloom.
Charapa nujintri - milky way becomes visible.
Shiñuktint - fatting time for terrestrial birds.
Tserempushtin - guava tree fruit season.
Charap junetai - river turties lay eggs, 2nd period.
Kuyuktin - water level in rivers and lakes decrease.
Esat amamu - dry season ends.
Tsenkush uchirmati - breeding time for the marmo-sets.
Uwi kakramu - thunder and lighting-flashes without rain; chonta palm bloom.
Eteetin - migration of fishes downstream after their matting season.
Tanku takiamu - hatchlings.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
November
Charapa nujintri - milky way becomes visible.
Tserempushtin - guava tree fruit season.
Charap junetai - river turties lay eggs, 2nd period.
Tsenkush uchirmati - breeding time for the marmo-sets.
Uwi kakramu - thunder and lighting-flashes without rain; chonta palm bloom.
Tampaai - flood, main rivers have small waves.
Tanku takiamu - hatchlings.
Macha sacamau - famine time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
December
Charap jureti - river turties lay eggs, 1st period.
Charapa nujintri - milky way becomes visible.
Kuyuktin - water level in rivers and lakes decrease.
Esat juarmau - dry season begins.
Tsenkush uchirmati - breeding time for the marmo-sets.
Uwi kakramu - thunder and lighting-flashes without rain; chonta palm bloom.
Tanku takiamu - hatchlings.
Chuu machari - fatting time for monkeys and other frugivorous.
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