Ayahuasca from Peru to Uruguay: Ritual Design and Redesign through a Distributed Cognition Approach
Anthropology of Consciousness – March 01, 2015
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca, traditionally used by Amazonian tribes, has gained traction in Western spirituality, particularly in Uruguay. This shift involves four distinct groups, with one holistic center drawing on Peruvian shamanic practices to conduct ceremonies. A compelling finding reveals that participants experience enhanced cognitive and social engagement through these rituals. By applying a "distributed cognition" model, the study highlights how communal activities during ayahuasca sessions shape identity and social representations, offering insights into the intersection of psychology, anthropology, and cognitive science.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive substance from the Amazon rainforest regions of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. Although its use originated among indigenous tribes in the Amazon basin, it has become increasingly popularized in Western society through the transnational markets of spirituality and religiosity driven by globalization, Postmodernity, and new forms of religious practice. In this paper, we will overview the arrival of ayahuasca in Uruguay by way of four different groups. We will then focus on one of these groups, a holistic alternative therapies center, influenced by Peruvian shamanic traditions in the design of its ceremonies. Last we will introduce a "distributed cognition" model to explain ayahuasca rituals as a system of activity.