Priests of candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian spirit possession cult, increasingly demand recognition as a full-fledged religion to assert their voice in the public sphere of Salvador, Bahia, countering appropriation of their myths, symbols, and aesthetics by cultural entrepreneurs and tourists. While candomblé has been successful in these efforts, the demand comes at a price: 'religion' is a thoroughly Christian format, requiring all creeds that claim it to refashion themselves along that model.
This article describes the form and practice of a specific ritual and its consequences for social relations among participants. The group, based in Alkmaar, adheres to the Santo Daime religion, an Ayahuasca religion originating from Brazil. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive preparation used ritually to generate spiritual and social experiences. The approach contributes to the debate on ritual as a communicative and dynamic event, arguing that the ritual plays an essential role in maintaining and shaping social relations among participants.