Online Library
The Takiwasi Center has a library specialized in traditional medicines, which holds a fund of more than 6,000 books, 2,000 articles and 300 audio-visual elements mainly related to the fields of ethnomedicine, indigenous spirituality, psychology, anthropology, drug addictions and botany. It is a unique resource for national and international researchers who have free access to it. Takiwasi's resident patients also benefit from its contents.
Takiwasi also has a collection of digital documents which includes a wide variety of books and articles related to medicinal plants, spirituality and psychology, among other topics. These contents, accessible through our website, are organized according to three classification groups: Articles produced by Takiwasi, Documents of general interest and Theses and research works carried out by national and international students and researchers.
The Center also develops its own editorial line that has several magazines, documentaries and books that are available for sale in our Store, whether in physical or digital format.
Featured Article
Ayahuasca ceremonies, relationality, and inner-outer transformations to sustainability. Evidence from Takiwasi Center in Peru
Author: David Manuel-Navarrete, Serena DeLuca, Fabio Friso & Matteo Politi.
Published in Ecosystems and People Volume 20, Issue 1, April 2024.
Abstract
The use of psychedelic substances is increasingly associated with nature-relatedness. We explore whether entheogenic uses of ayahuasca in settings co-produced between Indigenous and Western knowledges may also foster relationality and sustainability transformations across ontology, praxis, and epistemology. A survey with 74 English-speaking individuals who attended Amazonian healing ceremonies at the Takiwasi Center in Peru, along with 11 semi-structured interviews and a discussion circle revealed unexpected personal shifts towards relationality. Beyond the expected increase in nature-relatedness, participants also reported boundary dissolution and changes in their perceptions of self, leading them to experience nature and non-human beings as having spiritual or human-like agency. The blurring of perceived boundaries between themselves and nature also challenged the materialist ontologies in which they had been educated and socialized. In terms of both epistemologies and praxis, co-produced ayahuasca ceremonies enhanced relational thinking and embodiment of relationality. Inner-outer transformations ensued from the post-ceremonial integration of the ‘plant’s teachings’ into participants’ daily lives. We discuss our findings’ contributions to the emerging field of inner transformations and the relational turn in sustainability. Potential sustainability benefits of scaling plant-based ceremonies need to be measured against their impacts on the Amazon rainforest and its biocultures.
Links of Interest
Further documents of interest can be found on the following websites:
- CISEI, Inter-American Council on Indigenous Spirituality - Chapter Argentina.
- Virtual Health Library, of the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Network.
- Natura & Psique, non-profit cultural association whose activities are directed to the recovery of the deep soul through animistic participation to Nature.
- Asociación GASS , to recover, with freedom, all that has been useful and important for the health care and the environment through science, art and human spirituality.
- NEIP , Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies, to promote joint reflection on the topic.
- Amerindia, Catholic network of religious persons with an ecumenical spirit and open to dialogue and interreligious cooperation with other institutions.
- Prodiversitas Colombia , NGO committed to the defense and ecological interconnection of biological, social and cultural diversity.
- Revista Cultura y Droga, presents scientific articles and information on research and experiences concerning the cultural applications of entheogens and other psychoactive substances.
- El Orejiverde, newspaper of the indigenous peoples, Argentina.
- Periódico Pukara, culture, society and politics of the original peoples, Bolivia.
- Revista Peripheria, projects of art and culture for sustainability, Peru.
- Visión Chamánica, magazine on health and shamanism, Colombia.
- Amazônia Real, pethical and investigative journalism, dedicated to the issues of the Amazon.
- IBC Documentation Center, source of specialized information on the environment, the Amazon and indigenous peoples.
- Digital library Caribbean, Amazonia, plateau of Guyanas.
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