GLOBAL AYAHUASCA: WONDROUS VISIONS AND MODERN WORLDS. By Alex K.Gearin. Spiritual Phenomena. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2024. Pp. xiv + 280. Hardback, $90.00; Paperback, $22.50.
Elena Popov
Religious Studies Review December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1111/rsr.17484 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Vision Theology Anthropology |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca is adapted differently across Indigenous Peruvian, Australian New Age, and Chinese corporate settings, reflecting varied spiritual and therapeutic goals. |
Abstract
Gearin, an Australian medical anthropologist, specializes in the globalization of psychedelics and intercultural ethics in medical tourism. He earned his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Queensland in 2015 and has conducted fieldwork in Australia, Peru, and China. Global Ayahuasca represents a culmination of his ethnographic research, offering a comparative analysis of ayahuasca's transformation as it moves beyond its Indigenous Amazonian origins into diverse global contexts. Gearin's work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and global health, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between cultural adaptation and spiritual practice. Structured across six chapters, Global Ayahuasca explores the cultural and spiritual dimensions of ayahuasca used in three primary settings: Indigenous communities in Peru, New Age spirituality in Australia, and corporate therapeutic contexts in China. Gearin begins by tracing the colonial and postcolonial roots of ayahuasca use, contextualizing its spread into global shamanic tourism. Through rich ethnographic detail, he examines the interplay of Indigenous traditions and Western consumerism, highlighting how ayahuasca rituals are adapted to meet the spiritual and therapeutic demands of international participants. In subsequent chapters, Gearin delves into the integration of ayahuasca into modern therapeutic practices, exploring its role in addressing mental health, professional development, and cultural disconnection. He illustrates how corporate users in China approach ayahuasca as a tool for personal growth and workplace success, contrasting sharply with Australian retreats that emphasize environmental spirituality and reconnection with nature. Global Ayahuasca is a significant contribution to religious studies, anthropology, and psychedelic research. Gearin's interdisciplinary analysis and emphasis on the socio-cultural dynamics of ayahuasca use make this book an essential reading for scholars and practitioners interested in the globalization of Indigenous practices, the ethics of spiritual commodification, and the evolving role of psychedelics in modern society.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The antipodes Of the mind Indigenous people, shamans, members of different religious sects using Ayahuasca, and... | 2002 | Qualitative study | |
| Drug Tourism or Spiritual Healing? Ayahuasca Seekers in Amazonia Westerners participating in an ayahuasca retreat in Amazonia | 2005 | Qualitative study | |
| Therapeutic Effects of Ritual Ayahuasca Use in the Treatment of Substance Dependence—Qualitative Results Therapists, expert researchers, and individuals who underwent ayahuasca-assisted... | 2014 | Qualitative study | n = 29 |
| Nourishing the Spirit: Exploratory Research on Ayahuasca Experiences along the Continuum of Recovery from Eating Disorders Individuals previously diagnosed with an eating disorder | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 16 |
| Exploring ayahuasca‐assisted therapy for addiction: A qualitative analysis of preliminary findings among an Indigenous community in Canada Indigenous adults in Canada who participated in ayahuasca-assisted ceremonial retreats | 2019 | Qualitative study | n = 11 |