Psychedelic trance on the web: exploring digital parties at second life

Abstract

This chapter proposes an approach about Psychedelic Trance tribe behaviours and manifestations in digital environments, and cyber ritual dynamics beyond the virtual parties in Second Life. Many spatial communities are simultaneously digital communities, and both became complements and extensions of one another. Psychedelic Trance movements and manifestations have been happening through all kinds of physical spaces, now also extended to digital spaces. Psytrance neonomads are now techno-nomads, moving to, from, and through the web, redefining themselves, their practices and their gatherings. In this scenario, Psychedelic Trance branches emerges everywhere, especially in social networks and three-dimensional immersive environments like Second Life. This digital migration is not only making the tribe growing, is also enhancing boundaries and increasing the individual and collective consciousness of its members. Nevertheless, even if the Trancers became simultaneously physical and virtual natives, the digital parties do not seems to replace their outside experiences.