Význam šamanismu v postmoderní době na příkladu oblasti peruánské Amazonie / The Purpose of Shamanism in the Postmodern Age Demonstrated on the Peruvian Amazon District

Abstract

This article considers the purpose of shamanism in the postmodern age. It explores why Western tourists travel to the shamans of the Amazon to participate in the shamanic ritual with ayahuasca. The field research focuses mainly on a description of Amazon shamanism from the perspective of both the shamans and the tourists. The practical work focuses primarily on the motives of passengers travelling to the area regarding their needs for treatment, to seek extraordinary experiences, and to learn shamanic knowledge.

Keywords

• shamanism
• religion
• postmodern age
• amazonia
• tourism
• qualitative research