Embedded and borrowed subjectivity in the shamanic practices among Quechua from the Central Andes, Peru
Etnografia. Praktyki, Teorie, Doświadczenia December 16, 2024 Anna Przytomska
Quechua shamanic practices in the central Andes of Peru involve a concept of “shared subjectivity” where humans and non-humans are interconnected. Ritual objects such as stones, coca leaves, guinea pigs, and eggs actively participate in ceremonies, contributing to a synergistic process of becoming and building subjectivity. Two types of shared subjectivity are identified: borrowed subjectivity, where a person’s essence temporarily transfers to objects for diagnosis and healing, and embedded subjectivity, where non-human agency permanently resides in objects like power stones. These practices reveal fluid boundaries between humans and non-humans, forming the basis of a relational and fluid Andean ontology.