Category: Spiritual Journeys
+ Africa, Benin, Blog, Ethnographic, Focus, Geographical Location, Religion & Spirituality, Rituals & Masquerades, Spiritual Journeys, West Africa
Benin Beyond the Festival: Where Rituals Whisper and Ancestors Endure
by KIKE CALVO
Benin is portrayed as a deep cultural revelation rather than a mere tourist destination. The Voodoo Festival highlights the spiritual heartbeat of the region, where Voodoo transcends folklore to shape medicine, law, and community. Each ethnic group adds a unique thread to the rich tapestry of traditions, exemplified through scarification that tells ancestral stories. The floating city of Ganvié symbolizes resistance, while ongoing ceremonies and performances not only celebrate culture but also navigate existence. An ethnographic journey planned for September 2026 aims to connect with the region’s history and spirituality, emphasizing the importance of quiet reflection and meaningful engagement over spectacle.
+ anthropology, Art & Consciousness, Blog, Cultural Tourism, Focus, Geographical Location, Japan, Spiritual Journeys
Exploring Consciousness in Japan: From Buddhist Rituals to Digital Art Experiences
by KIKE CALVO
When Art Becomes a Portal to the Sacred In her groundbreaking doctoral dissertation Exploring Consciousness Through Ritual Media, Colombian artist and researcher Silvana Malaver Turbay proposes a fascinating new concept—ritual media—as both a framework for artistic creation and a method for exploring consciousness. Her work, carried out at Keio University in Japan, bridges art, spirituality, and technology, inviting us to reimagine how we understand … Read More Exploring Consciousness in Japan: From Buddhist Rituals to Digital Art Experiences