Encountering Supai: An Ecology of Spiritual Perception in the Ecuadorian Amazon

In this article I set out to draw an “ecology” of spiritual perception among the Runa of the Ecuadorian Amazon. In particular, I look at the ways in which supai beings—forest spirits—are perceived by the Runa through two main sensory modalities: smelling and dreaming. Inspired by recent advances in the anthropology of religious learning, I then explore how certain Runa people—those who have undertaken a bodily training known as sasi—are more likely than others to encounter supai beings. This ritual training is conceived as corporeal learning. I conclude by suggesting that attention and self-attention developed during such corporeal practices play a central role in the perception of forest spirits.