The radical otherness that heals

The Radical Otherness That Heals proposes an interesting theoretical advance in various schools of local and regional, and national and transnational analysis. It is based on a multilocal ethnography and a detailed sociological and political reading of the interactions between institutions and social and cultural representations of otherness. The original theoretical proposal consists of reading the reconfiguration of shamanisms stemming from processes of ethnicization and patrimonialization, and skillfully reconstructing the national ideological space and the most recent effects of multiculturalism through representations of otherness Anne-Marie Losonczy, Director of Studies at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris “The concept of the yagecero field serves as the axis of this innovative research that intertwines a multi-sited ethnography with a biographical approach to the actors. An extensive review of the literature on indigenous shamanisms, their networks, national politics, inter-ethnic relations and representations of the radical alterity that heals makes it possible for the reader to draw near, based on the close proximity of neo-shamanic practices, to perceive the national and transnational influences that are an integral part of the ongoing dynamics of this phenomenon. The analysis of neo-shamanism and the practices of the taita yageceros in Colombia contributes to deepening current debates on contemporary shamanisms and the broader issue of new religiosities, the transformations of indigenous groups and their politics of identify. This book provides a valuable input to the characterization of New Age spirituality from its understanding as a localized practice. It opens a space to compare the aforementioned manifestations in Colombia with similar ones in different countries.” Esther Jean Langdon, Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Content

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Shamanism and its overflows

Some methodological considerations

Contexts

The shamanic networks of the north-western Amazon

Shaman and curandero networks

Shamanic power: Learning and acquiring power

The auca and the power of difference

The Indian as Other: Representations of Otherness

“The path of the Indians”: A neoyagecero initiation

“Building bridges”: Javier Lasso

“Weavibg alliances”: Kajuyali Tsamani

“Think beautiful”: Orlando Gaitán

“Summoning the bloodline”: Florentino Ágreda

New taita yageceros

Initiation ang legitimation of the new taita yageceros

Neoshamanisms in action

Yagé sessions

The malocas

The neoyageceros

Preparations

The ritual prescriptions

“Health and good pintas”: A ritual device of Yagé sessions

Ritual adaptations

Malocas and the path of yagé

Contamination and purification

The path of yage

Communities: Orders and hierarchies

The altar at Cruz del Sur

The altar at Sol Nacie nte (Carare comunity)

Ritual gatherings

Authenticity and shmanic power

Reinventing tradition: Taita Pacho Piaguaje

The power of the city

Medcalisation of yage sessions

Heritagisation of ritual yage consumption

Yacegeros and Indian authenticity

From shamanism as a cure and the Indian as a remedy

Who are the urban yageceros?

The radical otherness that heals

The healing

The sacred

Indianness

The New Age

Brujería as the reverse side

The new horizons of yagecero shamanism in Colombia

Bibliography