Beyond the visible

Understood as an instrument of well-being, self-knowledge and transformation, neo-shamanic activities offer a "work of connection" where the place of the body, emotion and affectivity is preponderant. Integrated and adapted to the individualistic values, social and economic structures of our society, neo-shamanic practices propose a paradoxical discourse of inverted apology of modernity and urban lifestyles: a sacralized representation of nature emerges, associated with a healing power, in opposition to the techno-scientific exploitation of the current world perceived as inhibiting the potential of the human being. The individual is then considered in his unity and his divine nature. It is thus a question of awakening all the resources of the person, of "finding one's true nature, one's essence" outside of any socio-cultural conditioning. Neo-shamanic practices propose to the individual to become an actor of his health again, to find an autonomy with regard to the biomedical system, by the promotion of a health model mainly centered on the stimulation of the capacities of self-healing.

Autorentext

Master in scienze sociali presso l'Università di Losanna (UNIL). Ex assistente di antropologia sanitaria all'Università di Losanna (UNIL). Attualmente è ricercatore presso il Servizio di Psichiatria di Comunità (PCO) del CHUV.