The Santo Daime Feitio in the Centro Ayahuasqueiro Flor de Jasmim: A Photoetnographic Narrative.

Abstract

The essay seeks to describe - through photographs obtained during field researches - the ritual of making Santo Daime tea in Terreiro of the Centro Ayahuasqueiro Flor de Jasmim (CAFJ); a religious brotherhood located in Japaratinga (AL) and guided by the “Umbandaime Espiritual Line”. The group is led by Janaína and her followers, who reforested the local woods, cultivated gardens - and “sacred plants” - and built the little church of Terreiro in 2007.

So, they develop Feitio rituals in the months destined to the Saints and Orixás: Iemanjá (February), Ogum (April), St. Michael Archangel (September) and Iansã (December). The product of the ceremonial - approximately two or three liters of Santo Daime- is offered to entities through “vegetable sacrifice” of Jagube vines (Banisteriopsis caapi) and Queen´s leaves (Psychotria viridis).

Before decoction, the plants are carefully extracted from woods, representing a moment for concentration and respect. In this logic, vines and leaves are "extracted rationally". During the ritual, the participants develop essential activities, such as maceration of Jagubes, the treatment of leaves and the cooking of pans on the campfire.

The pans are left to cook for three days until the Santo Daime is obtained, being considered a “golden tea", because conserves energies of  Saints and Orixás praised in the Feitios. When the pans cool, the sacrament is stored in bottles to be served in future ceremonies.