Abstract
In southern Bénin, Vodún practitioners engage with diverse environmental objects—from chimpanzee hands to lightning-struck wood—each imbued with significant occult power. However, contemporary sorcerers are increasingly incorporating modern artifacts into their practices, reflecting new global realities. Indeed, objects such as small fragments from decommissioned airplanes are being added to magical recipes to influence people in distant cities like Paris or New York. As one sorcerer explained while holding a fragment of an airplane’s hull, “This small piece of metal remembers how to fly. It will help the spirits fly over the ocean and do what I’ve asked them to do.” Drawing upon ontological philosophy and new materialism, this paper proposes a post-symbolic approach to magic. This perspective reframes traditional anthropological concepts of “sorcery” or “magic” through an object- and space-driven analysis. By examining the ontological status of both established and emerging magico-religious objects within Vodún, I present the environment as a dynamic network of interwoven consciousnesses. Within this system, ritual specialists use ritual to amalgamate and create new beings and powers from environmentally informed elements. This study contributes to ongoing discussions about the intersections of spirituality, materiality, and the environment. By considering the perspectives of magical things and analyzing Vodún through this lens, we gain fresh insights into the complex relationships between humans, objects, the environment. This approach challenges traditional anthropological interpretations of magic and offers a more nuanced appreciation of how globalization, environment, and consciousness integrate into spiritual worldviews and practices.
Presenters
Timothy LandryAssociate Professor, Anthropology and Religious Studies, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Magic, Consciousness, Globalization, Environment, Space, Ontology, Materialism
