Form of transcendence in sports. Suggestion from Hollywood
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) April 10, 2026 Nicola Strizzolo, Nico Bortoletto
Lifestyle sport practitioners experience forms of transcendence, altered perception, and connection with nature that can be meaningfully interpreted through concepts associated with shamanic practice. Drawing on Roger Caillois' taxonomy, the paper identifies experiential and symbolic parallels between sport and shamanism, focusing on fandom, vertigo-oriented practices, and spiritualized imagery in extreme sports. An exploratory quantitative survey of master's students in shamanic studies investigates perceived overlaps between shamanic experience and sporting activity, particularly regarding transcendence, flow-like states, inner transformation, and embodied engagement with natural environments. The work proposes a new line of inquiry into how transcendence, ritualization, and ecological attunement shape contemporary sports practices.