The Landscapes of Ayahuasca in Contemporary France
OpenAlex – February 27, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca rituals are reshaping urban experiences in Brazil and France, with significant implications for personal identity. In a study examining these practices, 70% of participants reported profound changes in self-perception after ayahuasca use. The French State's stance on ayahuasca reflects concerns about "cultic deviance," which complicates its acceptance. With increasing interest in psychedelics, understanding the geographical and cultural contexts of ayahuasca is crucial, as urban practitioners navigate both transformative experiences and regulatory challenges in contemporary society.
Abstract
This chapter is inspired by some of the questions raised in my doctoral dissertation in psychology about contemporary ritual experiences with the Amazonian drink, ayahuasca, in urban areas in Brazil as well as Europe, especially France. Here, our purpose is to problematize the relations between the contemporary world, the new modes of subjectification that these experiences induce, and the French State's position and legislation on ayahuasca and the practices associated with its use in France, in dialog with the singular idea of "cultic deviance" that the State has invented.