Loving this conversation around facilitatorship, ayahuasqueros, & curanderismo
I appreciate the perspective that the medicine is the teacher, the ayahuasquero is a facilitator of and space holder for the medicine, and that the ayahuasquero/curandero brings a special set of skills (icaros, perfuma, dietas, etc.) to potentiate and "work" the medicine for healing within the ceremonial context. The way I have heard it explained is that curanderismo can include the practice of ayahuasca healing, and that anyone who represents themselves as an ayahuasquero "should" be a healer or at least aligned with healing principles and intent as a facilitator of the medicine. Otherwise, dark things like various forms of exploitation (sexual, financial, spiritual, etc.) have an open doorway into that vulnerable space. The real healer is, of course, the inner healer, and the medicine just helps to remind us of and connect us to that power that resides within us already.
That said, it makes a lot of sense to vet any ceremonial space as much as is practical, and trust your gut if something feels off