LIMA – On Monday, a collective of shamans convened on a revered hill that overlooks Peru’s bustling capital to conduct their yearly ritual, during which they forecast the events of the forthcoming year.

Adorned in traditional Andean attire, complete with vibrant ponchos and ornate headdresses, these shamans performed their ceremonial rites atop the barren San Cristobal hill. They offered insights and predictions on global diplomatic relations, active conflicts, and the futures of prominent world leaders.

This year, the shamans prophesied the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from office and anticipated the persistence of international conflicts, notably the war in Ukraine.

“We have petitioned for Maduro’s departure, for his retirement, envisioning that President Donald Trump of the United States will play a role in his removal, and we foresee this happening in the coming year,” declared shaman Ana María Simeón.

Historically, the group’s predictions have had varied outcomes.

In the previous year, they had forewarned of a potential “nuclear war” between Israel and Gaza, a scenario that has not materialized due to the current ceasefire in place.

But in December 2023, the group correctly predicted that former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who had been imprisoned for human rights abuses, would perish within twelve months.

Fujimori died from cancer in September 2024 at the age of 86.

Before Monday’s ceremony, the shamans met to drink hallucinogenic concoctions derived from native plants — including Ayahuasca and the San Pedro cactus — which are believed to give them the power to predict the future.

During the ceremony, they placed blankets with yellow flowers, coca leaves, swords and other objects on San Cristobal hill, asking for positive energy for the new year.

After dancing in circles and playing ancestral instruments, the shamans asked for peace in the Middle East, an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the fall of President Maduro.

The prayers to the gods, performed amid flowers and incense, as well as dances, are intended to encourage leaders to make good decisions.

The shamans also predicted natural disasters, such as earthquakes and climatic phenomena.