The new urban yajeceros: An approach to the ritual consumption of yaje in Colombia

For several years, many Columbian cities have witnessed a rise of ritual practices linked to the ingestion of ayahuasca or yaje. The traditional use of this psychoactive substance is related to shamanic healing and initiation, as performed by the indigenous and mixed-blood peasants of the Amazonian foothills. Today, these practices also concern middle and high class individuals, motivated by therapeutic and spiritual motives predominantly. Presented under the label of 'traditional medicine', the ritual intake of yaje is promoted as a legitimate and legal practice. A new class of experts (the new taitas yajeceros) articulate the traditional indigenous uses of this psychoactive substance and the expectations of an urban audience. This article explores some new places of yajes consumption in Columbia and discusses some of their particularities through the case study of a new taita yajecero and of his foundation. Adapted from the source document.