The crystal forest: on the ontology of Amazonian spirits

Abstract

This article is a reflection on the
ontology of spirits in the indigenous Amazon re-
gion. A narrative by David Kopenawa (yanomami
thinker and political leader) about the xapiripë (ani-
mal ancestors or shamanic spirits that interact with
their shamans) is the central inspiration for a broad-
er discussion on the cosmology and shamanism in
the Amazon region. In this discussion the amazonic
concept of “spirits” do not define a specific class
or type of being, but rather a disjunctive synthe-
sis between the human and the non-human. The
theme of the characteristic intense light associated
with spirits is interpreted as a non-representative
emphasis in the view of the perception and knowl-
edge model in indigenous cultures in the Ameri-
can continent. Kopenawa states that the Yanomami
shamans know that their forest belongs to xapiripë
and it is formed by “mirrors”, that is, bright crystals.
Therefore the crystal forest does not reflect or pro-
duces images, but rather glares, shines and radiates.