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ABSTRACT
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive substance from the Amazon which is traditionally used for healing, divination and other shamanic purposes. Since 20 years ayahuasca rituals have spread around the globe attracting Western users, concurrent with religious churches (Santo Daime, Uniao do Vegetal, etc.) using ayahuasca as a sacrament in their ceremonies. Nearly all kinds of ayahuasca rituals were considered as 'healing rituals' by participants of ayahuasca ceremonies. 'Healing' is not limited to the cure of physical and mental diseases but expand to a lot of psychological and even spiritual problems. This paper discusses the different kind of ayahuasca rituals in Europe and deals with four myths about this legendary vine.
INTRODUCTION
Shortly after having drunk the potion, a hyper-excitation is felt in the body, which produces a pleasant agitation in the epiderm and livens the kinesthetic sense, giving one the imagined state of being suspended in air. Once the narcotic is fully activated, various mental reactions and activities, or merely phantasmagoric, supervene.
One under the control of the narcotic sees unroll before him quite a spectacle: most lovely landscapes, monstrous animals, vipers which approach and wind down his body or are entwined like rolls of thick cable, at a few centimeters distance; as well, one sees who are true friends and those who betray him or who have done him ill; he observes the cause of the illness which he sustains, at the same time being presented with the most advantageous remedy; he takes part in fantastic hunts; the things which he most dearly loves or abhors acquire in these moments extraordinary vividness and colour, and the scenes in which his life normally develop adopt the most beautiful and emotional expression (Villarejo 1953, p. 190- 191).
Ayahuasca a Quechuan word meaning 'vine of the souls or spirits' or 'vine of the dead' is quite famous for its properties (medical and religious purposes, mind-altering effects orpsychoactivity) and its use is accompanied by many myths. The myths about this unique substance are not only legendary to indigenous tribes in South America but also to people in North America or Europe.
Ayahuasca is known under different names like yagé, caapi, natem, mihi, dapa, daime or hoasca. It is a psychoactive beverage from the Amazon and Orinoco...