Luz que veio de Aruanda: mediunidade e sincretismo na Umbanda

Abstract

The object of our research is the mediumship phenomenon in Umbanda, focusing the syncretism as one of its central elements. As theoretical and practical reference we used the analytical psychology developed by the physician, psychiatrist and psychologist Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961), for the depth and interdisciplinary amplitude of his studies on the religious phenomenon and its psychological approach of the religious experience. Semi-structural interviews were done with mediums in the state of trance, asking about the category Aruanda, in three terreiros of Umbanda in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Our hypothesis is that the descriptions of Aruanda, when interpreted from a symbolic point of view, can indicate the direction and finality of Umbanda’s Weltanschauung – its psychological attitude in life. To accomplish our research we studied the birth of modern psychology, revealing the historical importance of mediumship and trance researches in the formulation of this new science. We also studied the background history of Umbanda to better understand our object. Many parallels were found between the analytical psychology and Umbanda. Both came to be in the turn of the nineteen to the twenty century, acting as compensation movements against the occidental hegemonic attitude – analytical psychology in Europe, Umbanda in Brazil. With the data collected from both bibliographic and field research, it was possible to demonstrate how the symbolical content, that emerge in trance, helps to give form to numerous umbandas. Fluid and constantly in construction, Umbanda’s psychological attitude don’t fit in general systematizations. In spite of all the differences, it was possible to find in the descriptions given in trance common elements that point in the same direction: a revalorization of body experience, emotions and instincts, in direct opposition of Christian asceticism and modern rationalism.