Global Ayahuasca: Wondrous Visions and Modern Worlds. By Alex K. Gearin
Indigenous Religious Traditions October 14, 2025 DOI: 10.1558/irt.33129 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe book explores how ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian brew, has been transformed from an indigenous ritual substance into a global phenomenon. It examines the ways modern practitioners—including spiritual seekers, artists, and scientists—interpret ayahuasca visions as sources of personal insight, healing, and creativity. The work argues that these wondrous visions are shaped by contemporary cultural and technological contexts, reflecting modern anxieties and desires. Through ethnographic research, the author shows how ayahuasca ceremonies in urban settings blend traditional practices with new age and scientific frameworks, creating a complex global culture around the brew.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Vision Art history |
| Key finding | Ayahuasca visions are shaped by modern cultural contexts, blending indigenous traditions with contemporary spiritual, artistic, and scientific frameworks. |
Abstract
Global Ayahuasca: Wondrous Visions and Modern Worlds. By Alex K. Gearin. Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, 2024. 296pp. $30 (paperback or e- book), $120 (hardcover).