What's happened
Indigenous shamans in Peru and Bolivia performed a ceremony predicting political upheavals, including the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and ongoing conflicts like Ukraine. They forecast natural disasters and global tensions, with mixed accuracy in past predictions. The event highlights the cultural role of indigenous rituals in forecasting the future.
What's behind the headline?
The predictions by these shamans reflect a deep cultural tradition rather than a scientific forecast. Their forecasts about Maduro's removal and ongoing conflicts like Ukraine are rooted in spiritual practices involving hallucinogenic plants, which are believed to grant them foresight. While their accuracy has been inconsistent, their predictions often align with political tensions and regional instability, suggesting that these rituals serve more as cultural expressions than reliable indicators of future events. The emphasis on natural disasters and conflicts underscores the ongoing global anxieties and the importance of indigenous rituals in providing community cohesion and spiritual guidance. The timing of this year's predictions, coinciding with heightened geopolitical tensions, may also serve to reinforce cultural identity amid global uncertainty.
What the papers say
The articles from NY Post, Reuters, and The Independent all describe the annual ritual performed by shamans in Peru and Bolivia, emphasizing their predictions for 2026. The NY Post highlights their forecast of Maduro's removal and ongoing conflicts, noting their mixed record with past predictions. Reuters and The Independent provide similar details, with additional focus on the use of hallucinogenic plants and the ceremonial setting. While all sources agree on the ritual's cultural significance and the specific predictions, Reuters and The Independent also mention previous accurate forecasts, such as Fujimori's death, adding context to their credibility. The articles collectively portray these predictions as culturally meaningful, though not scientifically validated, reflecting regional traditions and global anxieties.
How we got here
The shamans' predictions are part of an annual ritual on San Cristobal hill, where they use hallucinogenic plants like Ayahuasca and San Pedro cactus to foresee future events. Their forecasts often include political changes, conflicts, and natural disasters, blending spiritual practices with cultural traditions. Past predictions have had mixed accuracy, with some notable successes such as predicting the death of Peruvian ex-president Alberto Fujimori.
Go deeper
Common question
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What Do Indigenous Shamans Predict About Global Power Shifts?
Indigenous shamans in South America perform ancient rituals that some believe forecast major world events, including political upheavals and natural disasters. While their predictions are rooted in cultural traditions and spiritual practices, many wonder how accurate they are and what influence they might have on global affairs. Below, we explore what these shamans forecast, their historical accuracy, and the significance of their rituals in shaping perceptions of the future.
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Alberto Kenya Fujimori Inomoto is a former Peruvian engineer and politician who served as the President of Peru from 28 July 1990 until his downfall on 22 November 2000.
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Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.