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ACTA UNVERSITATIS STOCKHOLMENISIS STOCKHOLM STUDIES IN COMPERATIVE RELIGION
XXXIII
THE ATTRACTION OF PEYOTE An Inquiry into the Basic Conditions for the Diffusion of the Peyote Religion in North America
Åke Hultkrantz
ALMQVIST & WIKSELL INTERNATIONAL STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Åke Hultkrantz THE ATTRACTION OF PEYOTE
Acta Universitatis Stockholmiensis STOCKHOLM STUDIES IN COMPARATIVE RELIGION XXXIII
Åke Hultkrantz
THE ATTRACTION OF PEYOTE An Inquiry into the Basic Conditions for the Diffusion of the Peyote Religion in North America
ALMQVIST & WIKSELL INTERNATIONAL STOCKHOLM/SWEDEN 1997
This work has been published with a grant from The Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
© Åke Hultkrantz ISBN 91-22-01712-7 Norstedts Tryckeri, Stockholm 1997
ABSTRACT Hultkrantz, Åke The Attraction of Peyote: An Inquiry into the Basic Conditions for the Diffusion of the Peyote Religion in North America. Institute of Comparative Religion, University of Stockholm.
The American Indian Peyote Religion is the dominating new religion on North American Indian reservations since the end of the nineteenth century. It is based on the consumption of a small type of cactus, peyote (Lophophora williamsii) which, after being consumed, causes hallucinations. Researchers, in particular anthropologists, have tried to reveal the social, economical and political prerequisites of this movement. How this religion was formed, how it came about on the basis of extant local religions ideas, new ideas from other Indian tribes and Christian Missionary influences are all problems that have scarcely been dealt with. The following work is an effort to evaluate the anthropological achievements in this connection and to construct a collected contribution to an understanding of the forming of Peyote Religion from religio-historical perspectives. Stockholm 1997, 233 pages, monograph ISBN 91-22-01712-7
Shoshoni Painting of a Peyote Session. Photo: the author. -5-
Peyote Water Drum
Peyote Button Pouch Peyote Rattle
Peyote Paraphernalia from the Plains Indian Museum, Cody, Wyoming. Photos by Geraldine Hultkrantz. -6-
PREFACE During the past decades the use of psychoactive and narcotic drugs has swept over the industrialized world and caused both unrest and painful-joyful addiction in many circles. Occasionally we have even heard of the forming of religious groups, "cults", inspired by the common drug experiences. The expertise is unanimous that while the consummation of the drug facilitates and accentuates religious experiences the motivations for the use of the drug in a religious context must be sought in many quarters. Even where the use of the drug is the centre of religious ritual there are many underlying factors which have paved the way for its cultic realization. At the same time, the role of the religious factor as the main drive must not be overlooked. Drugs in different forms have served as stimulants for ecstasy in shamanism since archaic times. Shamanic trance has certainly been looked upon mostly as a purely psychogenic process, but a closer study of shamanic séances often discloses an admixture of psychoactive ingredients as well. In particular has this been the case in Native America where, to quote Weston La Barre, a variety of narcotic and other drugs have been employed without comparison in other parts of the world. In some cases where hallucinogenic drugs are used the drug, or its source, the marvellous plant, is the object of veneration and divinization. We might say that the shamanic power manifested in auxiliary spirits has receded in these cases - for the additional power inherent in certain plants and drugs. Some examples of such divinized potencies are the Ayahuasca of the Amazonas and the Peyote of No