Global Ayahuasca

Alex K. Gearin is Assistant Professor at the Medical Ethics and Humanities Unit, The University of Hong Kong. He is the co-editor of The World Ayahuasca Diaspora: Controversies and Reinventions.

"Ayahuasca drinking is generally a focus of bemused curiosity or earnest fascination and desire, but not proper anthropological understanding of its actual patterns and contextual conditions. This book will be the definitive social scientific work on the contemporary global ayahuasca scene" —Rupert Stasch, University of Cambridge "In this fascinating ethnographic study that follows ayahuasca into unexpected spaces, Alex Gearin takes readers on an engaging voyage from Indigenous Amazonia to corporate China. He is an expert guide through the surprising philosophical machinations of this new chapter in ayahuasca's globalizing story."—Erika Dyck, author of Psychedelics: A Visual Odyssey "In the psychedelic renaissance, Gearin's superb ethnography Global Ayahuasca makes a powerful counterpoint to the scientific pursuit of universal knowledge of mind-altering drugs and the mystical quest for unitive experiences. Gearin challenges the ubiquitous interpretation of visions in terms of trauma by attending to Indigenous futurism. The book reveals the rich tapestry of human experience shaped by this wondrous tea."—Nicolas Langlitz, author of Neuropsychedelia: The Revival of Hallucinogen Research since the Decade of the Brain "Global Ayahuasca is a significant contribution to religious studies, anthropology, and psychedelic research. Gearin's interdisciplinary analysis and emphasis on the socio-cultural dynamics of ayahuasca use make this book an essential reading for scholars and practitioners interested in the globalization of Indigenous practices, the ethics of spiritual commodification, and the evolving role of psychedelics in modern society."—Elena Popov, Religious Studies Review "Diverting from previous anthropological studies that attempt to universalize or use medical analyses about ayahuasca experiences, [Gearin] uses an intimate, grounded approach to portray participation and arrive at visionary meaningfulness.... Recommended."—G. R. Campbell, CHOICE "This book takes you on a cross-cultural journey to the far borderlands of consciousness (and the subconscious) under the influence of ayahuasca. In place of the conventional quest for universals or archetypes, it immerses you in widely differing cultural contexts: shamanic healing rituals in Amazonia, New Age (or "neoshamanic") sessions in Australia, executive retreats in China (to improve success at business). The details will dazzle you, and the insights into the cultural formation of the senses (including the sense of self) will amaze you. Alex Gearin's book exemplifies the practice of ethnography and the comparative study of cultures at their very best. It is suffused with all manner of revelations. It is wonder full."—David Howes, author of The Sensory Studies Manifesto

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Colonial and Postcolonial Roots2. Global Shamanic Tourism in Peru3. Wonder and Healing on Retreat4. Natural Medicine in Australia5. Becoming Modern in China6. Integration and SocietyConclusion: Visionary ContextsEpilogueReferencesIndex