Sorecery and Shamanism: Curanderos and Clients in Northern Peru
Anthropology of Consciousness June 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1525/ac.1996.7.2.30
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn northern Peru, curanderos (healers) blend sorcery and shamanism to treat clients, using rituals, psychoactive plants, and spiritual cleansing. The book examines the social roles of these healers, their relationships with clients, and the cultural logic behind their practices. It argues that curanderismo addresses physical and psychological ailments by mediating between the human and spirit worlds, reflecting broader Andean beliefs. Case studies show how healing sessions reinforce community ties and personal identity.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Curanderos and clients in northern Peru |
| Key finding | Curanderismo in northern Peru integrates sorcery and shamanism to treat ailments through rituals and psychoactive plants, reinforcing social and spiritual bonds. |
Abstract
Sorcery and Shamanism: Curanderos and Clients in Northern Peru. Donald Joralemon and Douglas Sharon. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1993. 306 pp. $35.00 (cloth).