1986 - Vegetalismo - Shamanism Among the Mestizo Population of the Peruvian Amazon.pdf

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ACTA UNIVERSITATIS STOCKHOLMIENSIS
STOCKHOLM STUDIES IN COMPARATIVE RELIGION
27
VEGETALISMO
SHAMANISM AMONG
THE MESTIZO POPULATION
OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
BY
LUIS EDUARDO LUNA
ALMQVIST & WIKSELL INTERNATIONAL
STOCKHOLM/SWEDEN
VEGETALISMO
SHAMANISM AMONG THE MESTIZO POPULATION
OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
Doctoral dissertation
for the doctor's degree in humanities
at the University of Stockholm,
to be publicly examined in English
in room 7, house D, Frescati
on Thursday, June 5, 1986 at 10 a.m.
by
Luis Eduardo Luna
Department of Comparative Religion, Stockholm 1986
ISBN 91-22-00819-5
ABSTRACT
In the Amazonian provinces of Peru indigenous shamanistic
practices are preserved among the mestizo population. Prac-
titioners who call themselves
vegetalistas
(from which the
term
Vegetalismo
may be formed) believe that certain plants,
which they call
doctores
(plant-teachers) have spirits from
which knowledge about this and other worlds may be gained,
if these plants are ingested under certain conditions invol-
ving sexual segregation and a diet that may extend from six
months to several years. Several of these plants have pycho-
tropic properties, or contain important biodynamic compounds.
Two of these plants,
Banisteriopsis caapi
(Spruce ex Griseb.)
Morton and
Psychotria viridis
Ruiz & Pavon, are used in the
preparation of
ayahuasca,
a psychotropic brew with the aid of
which
vegetalistas
contact the spirit world in order to
diagnose and cure illnesses. Other plant-teachers may also be
added to the basic
ayahuasca
preparation.
This book presents information about shamanic initiation,
and of the spirit world of
vegetalistas.
Shamanic knowledge
and power transmitted to the neophytes have two principal
manifestations: 1) magic melodies or
icaros
which are learned
from the spirits and used to perform various shamanic tasks,
and 2) a magic substance received from the spirits and
carried by
vegetalistas
in their chests, and which is used in
the extraction of magic darts or
virotes,
shot by evil sor-
cerers, and which are believed to be one of the causes of
illness. This book also provides information about
ayahuasca
sessions and the ideas held in the Peruvian Amazon about ill-
ness and its treatment.
ACTA UNIVERSITATIS STOCKHOLMIENSIS
STOCKHOLM STUDIES IN COMPARATIVE RELIGION
27
V E G E T A L I S M O
SHAMANISM AMONG THE MESTIZO POPULATION
OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
BY
LUIS EDUARDO LUNA
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
MAP
PREFACE
Chapter 1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
1.4.
1.5.
1.6.
1.7.
Scope
Shamanism
The term "mestizo"
Ayahuasca
and the plant-teachers
Methodological considerations
A survey of the scientific literature
Organization of the material
5
8
9
13
13
15
15
16
18
23
Chapter 2.
VEGETALISMO IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON
2.1. The Peruvian Amazon area.................................
2.2. Iquitos and Pucallpa. Historical and
socio-economic considerations
2.3. Religious background of the area
2.4. Tribal Amazonian shamanism: main characteristics
2.5.
Vegetalismo
and
vegetalistas:
Amazonian
mestizo shamanism
2.6. The informants
Chapter 3.
SHAMANIC INITIATION AND THE PLANT-TEACHERS
3.1. Shamanic initiation
3.1.1.
3.1.2.
3.1.3.
3.1.4.
Don Emilio's account
Don Jose's account
Learning from an ant spirit
Commentaries on the accounts
43
44
46
47
50
25
27
29
30
31
36

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