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WORLD ANTHROPOLOGICAL UNION

CONGRESS 2024​

Paper

All the magic of the south. Spiritual holism, subjectivation and lifestyle migration in scenic Puerto Varas

presenters

    Ricardo Greene

    Nationality: Chile

    Residence: Chile

    Universidad San Sebastián

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

    Nicolás Viotti

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, expediting the phenomenon of reverse migration, characterized by the departure of individuals from urban centers to embrace rural and "natural" settings in pursuit of life reinvention. In this process, southern Chile —produced as a paradisiacal landscape by the tourism and real estate industries— became a privileged destination, leading cities such as Puerto Varas to increase their population by 40% in less than five years. Similar phenomena such as suburbanisation, neo-ruralism and amenity migration have usually been attributed to naïve representations of "green", whereas the motives that drive people are rather based on a complex existential network that links a specific region with cosmised forms of wellbeing and subjectivation. This article revolves around the unique ways in which localized holistic principles governing the interplay between body, soul, and mind reshape both the physical terrain and the collective subjectivities of the migrating populace. By scrutinizing these processes, we aim to unravel the mechanisms through which individuals reimagine territories and redefine their personal narratives, transcending conventional analyses of migration patterns and offering insights into the profound symbiosis between human consciousness and the environments. Central to our investigation is the recognition that these migrations signify more than mere geographic relocation; they represent a profound existential quest for healing, meaning and fulfillment. As such, understanding the intricate interplay between individual aspirations and the socio-cultural contexts of destination areas becomes paramount in deciphering the complexities of contemporary migration phenomena. Through this lens, we endeavor to shed light on the transformative potential inherent in the intersection of human agency and the landscapes we inhabit.

Keywords:

alternative therapies, neo-ruralism, reverse migration