AbstractThis chapter explores the city of Iquitos, Peru, as a dramaturgical setting for ayahuasca ‘shamanism’ tourism. It examines how foreign tourists and local actors co-construct narrative meanings around ayahuasca experiences through cultural, economic, and symbolic exchange. The chapter critiques motivational typologies in previous studies, arguing for a more nuanced, narrative-based...
AbstractThis chapter provides a critical overview of the ayahuasca phenomenon within the context of global psychedelic tourism. It begins by exploring the terminological and psychopharmacological details of ayahuasca, then surveys key interdisciplinary literature on its use in both indigenous and Western contexts. The chapter critiques the problematic application of the term ‘shamanism’,...
This chapter critically examines the commodification of psychedelic drug use within the context of New Age spirituality, focusing on the online platform ‘Spiritual Sage’ as a digital manifestation of the ‘spiritual supermarket’. Through a detailed analysis of product descriptions, retreat marketing language, and consumer narratives, the chapter explores how psychedelic experiences are...