Subtle Energies in Ayahuasca Healing

The chapter traces how the concept of 'subtle energies' emerged in Western esoteric and therapeutic contexts from the 19th century onward, showing that these ideas were shaped by debates about vitalism, electricity, and magnetism in medicine and science. It argues that subtle energies were not merely fringe beliefs but were central to the development of modern holistic therapies, spiritual movements, and political ideologies. The authors examine key figures and networks that bridged occultism, alternative medicine, and mainstream culture, demonstrating that the boundary between legitimate science and esoteric speculation was often blurred. The account emphasizes the historical contingency of what counts as 'energy' in therapeutic and spiritual practice.

Study at a glance

Abstract

in: Julian Strube, Marleen Thaler & Dominic Zöhrer (eds.), Subtle Energies in Therapy, Spirituality, Arts & Politics: 1800-Present, Brill: Leiden / Boston 2026, 187-206.