Yanantin and Masintin in the Andean World: Complementary Dualism in Modern Peru Hot

This book illuminates some ancient cultural-spiritual beliefs that paradoxically are at the leading edge of today's scientific and metaphysical explorations. Putting aside the conventional methodologies of cultural anthropology the author plunges into a direct experience of the phenomenon of Yanantin that she had come to study. At the urging of the shamans she was studying with, Hillary Webb overcame her reluctance and joined them in ceremony with their traditional entheogens, or plant extracts that induce an altered state.

They insisted that the concept of complementary duality needed to be downloaded from the cosmos. Because this was her doctoral research, Hillary meticulously recorded her conversations, her experiences and her interpretations, and included the requisite number of academic references and citations.

Her conversations with the shamans are particularly fascinating. Their cosmology and practices have been handed down through the centuries and preserved underground during the time of the zealous conversions by the Spanish conquerors, often creating a rich blend with the imposed religion. What is so interesting is that leading edge philosophers and scientists are expressing ideas that are incredibly similar to Yanantin and Masintin. In a nutshell, they are talking about understanding the underlying connection among things that appear to be opposites, and that it is at the interface between these complementary polarities - Yanantin - that the game of life - Masintin - is played. What a delightful and fertile field for contemplation!