TECHNOLOGIES OF THE INVISIBLE: THE USE OF THE BODY AND THE SENSES IN THE RITUAL COMMUNICATION OF THE XERENTE

Abstract

This work analyzes the ritual practices of the Xerente, focusing on the use of the body and the senses as instruments of invisible communication in contexts of celebration and healing. With a qualitative and bibliographic approach, the study investigated how corporeality and the senses function as ancestral technologies capable of translating and perpetuating knowledge and cosmologies. The research revealed that elements such as body paintings, ritualistic gestures and sensory stimuli (visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory) play a central role in the connection with cosmological dimensions and in the reaffirmation of cultural identity. In addition, the importance of these practices for cultural resistance and the strengthening of collective memory was highlighted. The results presented for a deeper understanding of the interrelations between bodies, senses and cultural practices, promoting reflections for both academia and society. Despite the methodological limitations, the work points out ways for future ethnographic and interdisciplinary investigations, which can expand the understanding of the richness and complexity of indigenous traditions in Brazil.