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Hildegard of Bingen: Saint, Nun and Healer
HLÁSKOVÁ, Lenka
The topic of this work is a look at the treatment procedures and medical ideas of a medieval healer known as Hildegard of Bingen. This woman became well known even during her lifetime not only as a healer, composer, writer and visionary, but also because she was an abbess and founder of two monasteries. She wrote many works of mystical, religious and medical nature and among her endeavours there are also musical compositions. An extensive collection of her correspondence has been preserved, which documents regular exchange of letters with powerful people of her time, for example the cistercian monk Bernard of Clairvaux, popes Eugene III. and Alexander III., emperor Frederick I. Barbarossa, bishop Daniel of Prague and archbishop Kristián Buch of Mainz. The aim of my work is an attempt to understand the sources of Hildegard's healing abilities and explore the assumed conflict of the knowledge acquired through study and practice, and the sources originating in her visions.
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Dance with a Million Knots. A return to craft techniques and artistic work with textiles in the context of contemporary artistic practice
Gryboś, Julia ; Klodová, Lenka (referee) ; Janečková,, Zuzana (referee) ; Rathouský, Luděk (advisor)
Dissertation entitled Dance with a Million Knots. A return to craft techniques and artistic work with textiles in the context of contemporary artistic practice maps the tendency of the return to craft techniques and handwork in the field of contemporary art. The tendency is reflected in the text through the definition of its relevant terms, examples of several domestic and international exhibition projects, the handwork-oriented practice of contemporary artists, and through a reflection on my own artistic practice. Following the assumption that the process of production and creation itself is now more central to artistic concerns, the dissertation asks for the causes and reasons for this turn, while also anchoring it in a broader social context. The reflection on the topic is presented in the thesis through an experience formulated from the position of a long-standing collaborative artistic practice with Barbora Zentkova, offering an associative reflection on the form and scope of the tendency in contemporary art, as well as on its possible sources and causes.
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"To cure is no challenge, the goal is to understand." Ethnographic study of Ayurveda
Wolfová, Alžběta ; Novotná, Hedvika (advisor) ; Spalová, Barbora (referee)
My diploma thesis mainly deals with monitoring Ayurveda and description of this phenomena in specific situations and contexts. Ayurveda is understood as an entity based on the actor network theory and the symmetrical anthropology which has been constructed in a process of mutual relationships of actors alleging of various natures (material, social, discursive). The main focus is on the ways of setting and redefining of boundaries of Ayurveda as such which have been realized through identification of significant parts related to this process. It was decided to define the key actors as the Teacher, the Doctrine, the Ayurveda Institution, approaches to human body by alimentation, yoga and breath exercise and Ayurvedic medicines. Each chapter is dedicated to both elements and practices influencing these key actors and different ways of their realization. Ayurveda in its entirety is intervened by members of the community, canonical Ayurvedic texts, biomedicine, national and EUs legislative, climate, politics of Institution, individual daily routines and collective scope of interpretation. 1
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Light in the palm: An anthropological study of the Reiki phenomenon
Proboštová, Jana ; Spalová, Barbora (advisor) ; Grygar, Jakub (referee)
The interest of anthropology of religion often focuses on the view of life and values of practitioners of a religion or spiritual system and the following text is put into the same context. This master thesis deals with the Reiki phenomenon - originally eastern spiritual technique that was, just like other similar philosophical-spiritual systems, spread out in America and Europe in the second half of twentieth century. Reiki has another distinct feature, besides spirituality. It is its affiliation to so called healing systems because of which I do not consider it purely spiritual system, but rather specific spiritual praxis with healing aspect that is historically connected with medical environment. I base my theory not only on anthropology of religion, but I also think in terms of medical anthropology and the theory of embodiment. Through explaining of basic Reiki principles, I am showing that the world of Reiki practitioners is to a certain extent divided. The evolution of the teaching led to many significantly different modifications and to current state, where these modifications coexist and make one single definition of the teaching very difficult. The perspective of embodiment allows me to focus more in detail on the healing praxis itself and its most important aspect - the body, which I see...
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Messengers of the Light: Angelic Spirituality in Czech Context
Tesárek, Jan ; Spalová, Barbora (advisor) ; Uherek, Zdeněk (referee)
This thesis addresses non-traditional angelic spirituality experienced outside of traditional churches. This spirituality is specific for its everyday communication and contact with angelic beings. The present research examines contemporary angelic spirituality using a lens of relational ontology and semiotic analysis, focusing on how recurrent communication acts allow the emergence of specific subjectivities and identifies the main processes behind this phenomenon - recognition, interpretation and reaction. Research documents specific techniques allowing the formation of angelic subjectivities and redefinition of human subjectivities; prayer, reading cards, guided meditation, different types of clairvoyance and interpretation of signs. Deliberately using these techniques leads to re/definition of subjectivity of a practitioner (through clairvoyant insights into the past lives) and transforms him into human/incarnated soul. These communication acts further form a subjectivity of deceased souls, with which practitioners of angelic spirituality are often in contact, together with the subjectivity of dark beings, which cannot interact with a person without invitation it first and a subjectivity of angelic beings, which are defined by their unconditional support of their charges. Emergent "ecology of...
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Light in the palm: An anthropological study of the Reiki phenomenon
Proboštová, Jana ; Spalová, Barbora (advisor) ; Grygar, Jakub (referee)
The interest of anthropology of religion often focuses on the view of life and values of practitioners of a religion or spiritual system and the following text is put into the same context. This master thesis deals with the Reiki phenomenon - originally eastern spiritual technique that was, just like other similar philosophical-spiritual systems, spread out in America and Europe in the second half of twentieth century. Reiki has another distinct feature, besides spirituality. It is its affiliation to so called healing systems because of which I do not consider it purely spiritual system, but rather specific spiritual praxis with healing aspect that is historically connected with medical environment. I base my theory not only on anthropology of religion, but I also think in terms of medical anthropology and the theory of embodiment. Through explaining of basic Reiki principles, I am showing that the world of Reiki practitioners is to a certain extent divided. The evolution of the teaching led to many significantly different modifications and to current state, where these modifications coexist and make one single definition of the teaching very difficult. The perspective of embodiment allows me to focus more in detail on the healing praxis itself and its most important aspect - the body, which I see...
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Folk medicine in Moravian-Silesian Beskids
Lichý, Kateřina Charlotte ; Štěpánová, Irena (advisor) ; Janeček, Petr (referee)
(in English) This bachelor's thesis deals with the topic of folk medicine in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. The aim of the thesis is to present the current state of folk medicine and its methods and meanings, focusing on phytotheraphy and medical treatment of the most common diseases in the studied area. Traditional folk healers who mainly worked in the 20th century, their lives, methods of healing, and the potential transformation of healing practice at the beginning of the 21st century are also introduced. The thesis tries to capture not only the present state of folk medicine in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, but also its recent history and possible future development. Attention is paid to the status of folk medicine and its reflection in local folklore. The methodological basis of the thesis is grounded in the methodology of historical and anthropological sciences and in the classical concept of ethnological fieldwork; with ethnographic interview as a data collection technique. The results of the fieldwork show that folk medicine is still a significant part of people's lives in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and that folk healing methods and practices are still used by the population of the area. Although folk magic and invocation used for healing of both people and animals have largely been...
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"To cure is no challenge, the goal is to understand." Ethnographic study of Ayurveda
Wolfová, Alžběta ; Novotná, Hedvika (advisor) ; Spalová, Barbora (referee)
My diploma thesis mainly deals with monitoring Ayurveda and description of this phenomena in specific situations and contexts. Ayurveda is understood as an entity based on the actor network theory and the symmetrical anthropology which has been constructed in a process of mutual relationships of actors alleging of various natures (material, social, discursive). The main focus is on the ways of setting and redefining of boundaries of Ayurveda as such which have been realized through identification of significant parts related to this process. It was decided to define the key actors as the Teacher, the Doctrine, the Ayurveda Institution, approaches to human body by alimentation, yoga and breath exercise and Ayurvedic medicines. Each chapter is dedicated to both elements and practices influencing these key actors and different ways of their realization. Ayurveda in its entirety is intervened by members of the community, canonical Ayurvedic texts, biomedicine, national and EUs legislative, climate, politics of Institution, individual daily routines and collective scope of interpretation. 1
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