In a striking annual ritual, a group of Peruvian shamans has forecast significant political upheaval for the coming year, predicting that former US President Donald Trump will remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power in 2026.
Ceremony on the Sacred Hill
Gathered on Monday 29 December 2025 atop the treeless San Cristobal hill overlooking Lima, the shamans, adorned in traditional Andean ponchos and headdresses, performed their yearly ceremony to divine the future. The event, which involved prayers for global peace and the offering of coca leaves, yellow flowers, and swords, is intended to channel positive energy and encourage world leaders to make sound decisions.
Prior to the ceremony, the participants consumed hallucinogenic brews made from native plants like Ayahuasca and the San Pedro cactus, substances traditionally believed to grant visionary powers.
Prophecies for a Turbulent World
The shamans' predictions for the upcoming year spanned international relations, ongoing wars, and the fates of prominent figures. A central and dramatic forecast concerned Venezuela. Shaman Ana María Simeón explicitly stated, "We have asked for Maduro to leave, to retire, for President Donald Trump of the United States to be able to remove him, and we have visualised that next year this will happen."
This prophecy arrives against a backdrop of heightened tension, following reports that Maduro has ordered the full deployment of the Venezuelan military, ostensibly to prepare for a potential confrontation with the US.
Beyond Venezuela, the seers indicated that protracted global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, are set to continue. They also prayed for peace in the Middle East and an end to the Russia-Ukraine war during their ritual dances and music. Furthermore, the group predicted the occurrence of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and extreme climatic phenomena.
A Track Record of Mixed Accuracy
The credibility of the group's annual pronouncements is historically uneven. In December 2024, they warned of a "nuclear war" erupting between Israel and Gaza, a conflict where a ceasefire is presently holding. However, in December 2023, they accurately prophesied the death within twelve months of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who was imprisoned for human rights abuses. Fujimori ultimately died from cancer in September 2024 at the age of 86.
While such mystical forecasts are viewed with scepticism by many, they capture the global anxiety surrounding key geopolitical flashpoints and leadership battles. The specific prediction regarding Trump and Maduro adds an unusual dimension to the ongoing discourse about Venezuela's future and America's role in the region.
