Brazilian Ayahuasca Religions

A new collection of articles examines the origins and evolution of religious movements centered on ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage made from vines and leaves found in Western Amazonia. The movements began with indigenous peoples and mestizo herbalists, later spreading through migrant rubber-tappers from northeastern Brazil. In the 1960s, urbanites in Brazilian and European cities sought alternative religious inspiration through the ritual use of ayahuasca. By the 1990s, Brazilian researchers combined anthropological, religious, and legal expertise to protect the religious freedom necessary for these movements. As the religions diversify and globalize, the article identifies new directions for field research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article reviews the forthcoming issue of FIR containing an important collection of articles on the origins and developments of religious movements and, later, research movements focused on a powerful psychoactive beverage consisting of the mixture of certain vines (ayahuasca) and leaves (chacrona) found mainly in Western Amazonia. The religious interpretations resulting from the ritual ingestion of the beverage have produced the most varied practices and beliefs, beginning with the indigenous peoples and mestizo herbalists, then migrant rubber-tappers from northeastern Brazil; in the 1960s, urbanites from major cities in Brazil and Europe seeking alternative forms of religious inspiration; and, in the 1990s, a group of Brazilian researchers who have combined anthropological and religious understanding of the phenomena along with legal expertise for the protection of the religious freedom necessary for the religions’ developments. With the diversification and globalization of these new religious movements, the article points to new directions for field research in these religions.