Orixás e guias espirituais como médicos do espaço: rituais e experiências de cura na Comunidade Espiritualista Alvorada (Juiz de Fora – Minas Gerais)

Abstract

This research aims to study the rituals of healing and care of mediums of the Comunidade Espiritualista Alvorada, located in the city of Juiz de Fora / Minas Gerais, in order to understand the meaning attributed by individuals to such experiences within the Terreiro and in their everyday relations. I observe the healing conceptions and care within the Community and I try to interpret the plot of symbolic elements involving both the manipulation of nature as a therapeutic source as the understanding of the existence of a spiritual universe that intervenes in the lives of individuals. In this sense, the belongs to the Comunidade Espiritualista Alvorada requires the observation of rules and values, since accession to the continuous experience, in a perception from which health and disease, balance and imbalance are closely linked to the relationship established between individuals, family of saint, spiritual guides and deities. The disease to the adepts is perceived not only as a body part that needs to be treated or cared for, but also as an indication that there is a disorder caused by both spiritual factors, as by actions, behaviors and individual thoughts. I developed, over two and a half years, a qualitative methodology, participant observation, records in field diary, and eight semi-structured interviews. From this methodological framework, I exposed that religion is a therapeutic choice that overlaps the conventional health systems, seeing that the second does not consider the narrative, pain, controversies and life stories of those who seek the solution to various problems and / or face thereof, in search of a higher order: a cure.