Peyote as Earth Medicine: Examining How Symbolic Meanings Shape Experiences With Psychedelics
Heith Copes,
Jared Ragland
Abstract:Narrative criminology prioritizes personal narratives for explaining past behaviours and shaping future decisions. Using this perspective, we rely on data from a photo-ethnography with people who use peyote in religious ceremonies to understand how their discourses about peyote shape their experiences with it. We find that participants define peyote as an ‘earth medicine’ that helps with healing (physical, spiritual and psychological) and thus should be respected. This narrative dictates how and when they use … Show more
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