XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Becoming a Master: Materializing Esoteric Wisdom in Brazil’s Valley of the Dawn

• In Event: Religion, Cults, and Society in Brazil

Abstract

One of the largest alternative religions in Brazil is the Valley of the Dawn (Vale do Amanhecer). It was founded in the 1960s by a charismatic medium known as Aunt Neiva (Neiva Chaves Zelaya, 1925-1985), and today claims affiliated temples throughout Brazil, the United States, and Europe. Its doctrine blends elements of diverse origins with an esoteric metaphysics that emphasizes the hidden connections behind the world of appearances, promising adherents a path to spiritual evolution. The movement is best known for its colorful temples, elaborate healing rituals, and the spectacular vestments worn by initiates.

My paper analyses the historical origins of the Valley’s metaphysics and its connection to the group’s material culture. It traces the intellectual genealogy of Aunt Neiva’s claim to esoteric wisdom and explores how this originating claim was institutionalized and eventually materialized in the complex aesthetic and ritual culture for which the group is known today.

Author

• Kelly Hayes, Indiana University