HALLUCINOGENS Anth Ritual, religion & magic

Levels of Consciousness

Different consciousness levels are accessed through shamanistic practices in traditional societies.

Yage Tea

A hallucinogenic drink made from various plants used by the Jabarro shaman for spiritual communication.

Ayahuasca

A brew that induces visions and purging for spiritual communication and healing, also known as 'the vine of the dead.'

Peyote

A hallucinogenic cactus used in broader religious practices known as Peyote Way or Peyote Road.

Non-Hallucinogenic Altered States

States of consciousness achieved without the use of psychoactive substances, often through natural methods such as fasting, meditation, and dance.

Fasting

A method to achieve altered states by abstaining from food, which can induce physical and mental changes conducive to spiritual experiences.

Meditation

A practice aimed at achieving mental clarity and altered states of consciousness, often used in religious and therapeutic contexts for personal transformation.

Repetitive Stimulation

Techniques such as drumming and chanting that create rhythmic patterns to facilitate altered states of consciousness during rituals.

Pain as an Altered State

The use of physical pain or discomfort to induce altered states, allowing individuals to transcend ordinary consciousness during healing rituals.

Group Dynamics in Healing

The collective participation in rituals which enhances the experience of altered states and promotes a sense of belonging and support within the community.

Embodied Experience

The concept that physical and bodily sensations contribute to spiritual experiences, linking mind and body in the pursuit of altered states.

Healing Transformations

The process through which individuals achieve personal change and healing via non-hallucinogenic altered states during spiritual practices.

Jabarro Shaman

Shamans from the Jabarro group in the Ecuadorian Amazon, known for using Yage to enter altered states of consciousness.

Mescaline

The hallucinogenic compound found in peyote responsible for its psychoactive effects.

Ebene

A form of hallucinogenic snuff derived from the Anadenanthera peregrina and Virola trees, utilized by the Yanomami and Senema in shamanistic rituals.

Hekura Spirits

Spirits that are believed to reside in natural elements like mountains and trees, called upon during shamanistic healing rituals.

Trance State

An altered state of awareness accessed during rituals, enabling participants to connect with spiritual realms for healing purposes.

Peyote Buttons

The flowering tops of the peyote cactus, which are consumed in ceremonies to invoke hallucinogenic experiences.

Native American Church

An organized religious group that formalizes the practices and beliefs surrounding peyote use within Native American culture.

Pan-Indian Movement

A cultural movement that unites various Indigenous tribes through shared practices, particularly centered on peyote spirituality.