Ayahuasca as Liquid Divinity: An Ontological Approach

Ayahuasca often yields transformative experiences that merge familiar categories. However, Western and indigenous discourses interpret these experiences differently. André van der Braak reimagines ayahuasca as liquid divinity, shifting the focus from ayahuasca experiences to ayahuasca-based ritual practices that cultivate relationships with more-than-human powers. He describes Santo Daime practices as a contemporary form of "theurgy," aiming to draw down divine action through ritual procedures and engage in communal transformative ecodelic practices to practice solidarity with all sentient beings.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

Ayahuasca, a powerful plant medicine, has the ability to induce transformative experiences that blur the boundaries between the sacred and the secular, transcendence and immanence, subject and object, and the human and the nonhuman. These profound encounters are interpreted differently by Western and indigenous discourses, adding depth and complexity to the understanding of this ancient practice.

In his book, "Ayahuasca as Liquid Divinity: An Ontological Approach," André van der Braak takes us on a thought-provoking journey to reimagine ayahuasca as liquid divinity. He challenges traditional perspectives by asking fundamental ontological questions that shed light on the nature of this powerful substance. By shifting the focus from ayahuasca experiences to ayahuasca-based ritual practices, van der Braak proposes a new way of understanding the role of ayahuasca in contemporary spirituality.

According to van der Braak, Santo Daime practices represent a contemporary form of "theurgy," a term coined by the third-century Platonic philosopher and mystagogue Iamblichus. Theurgy is a spiritual practice that seeks to draw down divine action through ritual procedures, employing the imagination as an active faculty. In the context of ayahuasca, theurgical practices aim to cultivate relationships with more-than-human powers, which are described by Bruno Latour as beings of transformation and religion.

Van der Braak argues that ayahuasca religiosity goes beyond individual recreation or healing. It is about engaging in communal transformative ecodelic practices that allow us to work as companions of the gods and practice solidarity with all sentient beings. By tapping into the power of ayahuasca, we can transcend our egos and connect with a higher consciousness, fostering a sense of unity and interconnectedness with the world around us.

Through his book, van der Braak invites us to explore the depths of ayahuasca as a liquid divinity and its potential for personal and collective transformation. He challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world and embrace a more holistic and interconnected perspective on spirituality. "Ayahuasca as Liquid Divinity" is a thought-provoking and inspiring work that offers a fresh perspective on this ancient practice and its relevance in the modern world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666906448