Relating with More-than-Humans: Interbeing Rituality in a Living World

This edited volume explores how humans interact with non-human entities in various cultural contexts, focusing on ritual processes and creativity. It includes nine case studies from West Africa, Buryatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Mexico, Nepal, Sweden, and Wales, examining cooperative interactions, kinship relations, senses of belonging, traditional healing techniques, legal personality attribution, transformative experiences, and phenomenological relationalities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Within the realm of social sciences, the notion of other-than-human agency has frequently been disregarded, and the intricate web of interbeings relationships has yet to receive the thorough exploration it merits. Nevertheless, a profound shift is underway, driven by a multitude of indigenous worldviews and Western contemporary spiritual practices. These practices are forging a distinct reality, where diverse initiatives emerge to establish connections with non-human beings, whether they be animate or inanimate, thereby cultivating forms of relationships with the living.

This edited volume serves as a comprehensive documentation of the diverse ways in which humans engage with non-human entities across a wide range of cultural contexts. It specifically delves into the realm of ritual processes and the mobilization of ritual creativity to forge novel pathways of interconnection with more-than-humans. Comprising nine in-depth case studies, the volume is organized into three main sections, each addressing distinct aspects of human-non-human interactions.

The first section explores the daily encounters and interactions between humans and non-human entities. It examines cooperative behaviors, kinship relations, senses of belonging, traditional healing techniques, the attribution of legal personality to non-human beings, transformative experiences, and phenomenological relationalities. These chapters take readers to various locations, including West Africa, Buryatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Mexico, the Nepalese Himalayas, Sweden, and Wales. Through these case studies, readers gain insights into the diverse ways in which humans navigate and cultivate relationships with non-human beings in their daily lives.

The second section delves into the political implications and ramifications of human-non-human relationships. It explores how these interactions shape societal structures, power dynamics, and cultural norms. The chapters examine how rituals and spiritual practices contribute to the assertion of rights and the protection of natural environments, highlighting the role of interbeings ceremonies and alternative spiritualities in global rights of nature networks.

The third section focuses on spiritual engagements and the profound connections that humans can establish with non-human entities. It explores the role of ritual creativity in shaping spiritual practices and beliefs, highlighting the ways in which humans seek to transcend the boundaries of human consciousness and connect with the broader tapestry of life. The chapters explore various forms of animism, shamanism, and other spiritual traditions that incorporate non-human beings as essential components of their cosmologies and practices.

In conclusion, this edited volume offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of human-non-human relationships. It sheds light on the ways in which diverse cultural contexts shape these interactions, highlighting the importance of recognizing and valuing the agency of other-than-human beings. By documenting the experiences and practices of individuals and communities across the globe, the volume contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex web of interbeings and the potential for harmonious coexistence with the natural world.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 219 x 156 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031102936
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022