HOW AYAHUASCA-CEREMONIES CHANGE PERCEPTIONS OF NATURAL VALUES IN PARTICIPANTS : THE LINKS TO NATURE AND THE ROLE OF SHAMANIC RITUALS

Abstract: The South American psychedelic brew ayahuasca has seen a surge of popularity among western users in the past decade, both in the Amazon and in the Western World. This has caused interest in the field of psychiatric research, as some psychedelics have been approved in some countries for clinical trials in treating mental illnesses. The traditional use of psychedelics, however, has its roots in shamanism and indigenous cultures. The shamanic ritual contains many complex elements that are often overlooked by researchers. Most important is the intimate connection to nature and the differences in the human-nature relationship between western and indigenous societies, where westerners generally see themselves as separate from nature, while indigenous people see themselves as one with nature. Participants in ayahuasca ceremonies report not only an increased connection to nature, but a shift in human-nature relationships which becomes much closer to that of the indigenous view. There are also economics and political issues regarding the use of ayahuasca, as the internationalization of this practice has led to controversy regarding commercialization and its effect on cultural landscape in the Amazon. Integrating ayahuasca into the western world and decolonizing psychedelic science thus requires an integration of these two widely different perspectives.