Amparo Lugmana, an Ecuadorean curandera, performed a ritual energy cleansing on a dog named Copito at the San Francisco market in Quito [1, 2, 3].
The practice highlights the intersection of traditional indigenous healing and pet care in South America, where spiritual wellness is often extended to animals.
Lugmana targeted the animal's chakras to remove negative energy [1, 2, 3]. During the ritual, she blew undiluted alcohol and rubbed petals, an egg, and various herbs over the dog [1, 2, 3]. Copito is a four-year-old mongrel [2].
Lugmana said the ritual was necessary because the dog had been feeling down. She said the process was designed to clear negative energy and improve the animal's overall mood [1, 2, 3].
The San Francisco market serves as a hub for such traditional practices in the capital city. Curanderas in the region often combine natural elements with spiritual beliefs to treat both humans and pets, a practice rooted in the belief that animals are susceptible to the same energetic imbalances as people [1, 3].
This specific cleansing method involves a sequence of sensory elements, moving from the sharp scent of alcohol to the tactile application of organic materials like eggs and petals [1, 2]. Lugmana said these tools help shift the animal's emotional state [1, 2, 3].
“Lugmana said the ritual is to clear negative energy and improve Copito’s mood.”
The use of curanderismo for pets reflects a cultural worldview in Ecuador where the boundary between human and animal spiritual health is fluid. By applying chakra cleansing to animals, practitioners integrate ancient Andean healing traditions into modern urban settings, treating pets as sentient beings with complex emotional and energetic needs.
