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Unusual Spiritual Experiences in the context of Occulture
Horská, Kateřina ; Nešpor, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Pokorný, Vít (referee) ; Václavík, David (referee)
This work studies the environment of contemporary alternative spirituality in the Czech Republic, specifically unusual spiritual experiences and techniques for inducing them. It is based on long-term field research utilizing the method of participant observation carried out primarily in the environment of neo-shamanism, but also the use of psychedelics, dark therapy, and other movements and practices. I perceive and analyze these practices both as psychotechnologies - i.e. techniques through which their users strive to alter their thinking - as well as spiritual techniques aimed at establishing and cultivating a relationship with the spiritual world. The focus of this study is a comparison of neo-shamanism and other practices in three main aspects: the induction of experiences, the connection between spiritual experiences and the actor's life as a whole, and the changes in the perception of reality brought about by long- term practicing. I point out that in all these areas, techniques traditionally thought of as closely related exhibit fundamental differences. A non-negligible part of this study consists of methodological and theoretical considerations. I show that the field of alternative spirituality has many specifics compared to other religious environments, and that mainstream methodological...
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Present czech neo-shamanism and it's impact on practitioner's lives
Ekinovičová, Hana ; Spalová, Barbora (advisor) ; Tesárek, Jan (referee)
This work is devoted to neo-shamanism, the people who deal with it and its impact on their daily life. I focused on the "unprofessional shamans", i.e. such people who shamanism use for their needs or for the needs of their family and friends, but do not offer their services to the public, do not lead shamanic workshops, etc. In the context of my research, I attended several shamanic seminars and for data collection I used in-depth interviews with the people that these seminars also attending or have in the past attended. From these interviews emerged five categories that summarize my findings and which have the task to bring the readers perception of the world of these people. I focused on the circumstances that people to shamanism brought to what is on it intrigued, the largest share of the analytical section is devoted to some aspects of the current lives of my respondents and the role in them shamanism plays. One of the outputs is dedicated to nature, with which respondents receive information, which they at initial shamanic seminar received and at the end I added a few lines about the doubts that people sometimes feel towards it, what in the context of shamanic journeys they experience. Key words: Shamanism, neo-shamanism, everydayness, secularisation
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Kambo and its many faces
Civišová, Dagmar ; Kuřík, Bohuslav (advisor) ; Heřmanová, Marie (referee)
This dissertation applies anthropology analysis to study a specie of a tree frog, living in the northern Amazonia, called Kambo. The wax-like substance, which the frog releases upon irritation, is used for its healing potential around the world. A basic conceptual framework is used to analyse the frog from the perspective of modernity, globalisation, and diffusion of cultural dimensions. The dissertation anticipates their influences on multiple parties. The geographical scope of the dissertation is limited on Amazonia and the Czech Republic. Kambo is a host of numerous biochemical interactions; in addition, it is used in socio-material context; in rituals; for gaining, or circulation of experience; or it is part of various techniques of understanding oneself, as described in later works of Michel Foucault. Due to Kambo's alleged participation on creation of human's subjective thinking, the dissertation answers the question on the extent to which Kambo could be responsible, through ethnographic lens. The results show that for those respondents who were experienced Kambo users; using the substance as a potion for treating physiological and mental issues and who were subsequently influenced by New Age movement; Kambo stands as a milestone in their life trajectories. Through the ethnographic research,...
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