Embedded and borrowed subjectivity in the shamanic practices among Quechua from the Central Andes, Peru

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The article explores the concept of “shared subjectivity” in the shamanic practices of the Quechua people in the central Andes of Peru. It reveals the interconnection between humans and non-humans in Quechua shamanic practices, where various ritual objects (stones, coca leaves, guinea pigs, and eggs) play active roles in rituals and in the process of synergistic becoming and building subjectivity. The analysis of these practices allowed for the identification of two different types of shared subjectivity: (1) borrowedsubjectivity (where a person’s essence temporarily transfers to ritual objects for diagnosis and healing); and (2) embedded subjectivity (where non-human agency permanently resides in objects such as power stones). These practices emphasize the fluid boundaries between humans and non-humans, as a foundation for Andean ontology, which can be defined as relational and fluid.