Abstract

Contemporary shamans come to shamanism following diverse paths. Central to this diversity are reconstructions of what is seen as tradition, which allows shamans to be authentic and also part of historically complex social contexts. Along with traditions, romanticized ideas about geographical places and the relevance of their culture are also reassembled. Meanwhile, what and who a shaman is, as both a process of identity construction and one of social negotiation and recognition, are in great part happening online. In this lecture, based on empirical material, we will explore the complex intertwining of virtual, imaginary and real localities, pointing out the contours of an increasingly complex cosmology of the sacred.

About the researcher

Carolina Ivanescu is a university lecturer in the sociology and anthropology of religion at the University of Amsterdam.

Registration

If you wish to attend, please write to the secretary of Religious Studies, Antoinette Rutten, secr-religiewetenschappen-fgw@uva.nl. For further information, write to: g.a.wiegers@uva.nl.