Anthropologist

Teacher

Writer

I am an ethnographer of religion. I research and teach on magic, alternative spiritualities, new religious movements, and non-rational ways of knowing.

About my work

“A counter to the hegemonic ‘linearity bias’ in scholarly research, Parmigiani’s important and skilful ethnography on time and historicity adds a vital dimension to the study of magic, one that will certainly have wide-ranging consequences for how we understand the human mind, more-than-human worlds, consciousness, and knowledge itself.”
— Susan Greenwood, author of The Anthropology of Magic and Magic, Witchcraft, and the Otherworld
“By linking ethnographic narrative to a profound philosophical reflection on time and the nature of being, Parmigiani has produced a book that has soul, a text that will be read, debated and appreciated for many years to come.”
— Paul Stoller, Author of Wisdom from the Edge: Writing Ethnography in Turbulent Times
“This book is ground-breaking and should be read by all scholars of contemporary Paganism, women’s spirituality, religion, anthropology and all who are interested in phenomenology.”
— Helen Berger, author of Solitary Pagans: Contemporary Witches, Wiccans, and Others Who Practice Alone
“Giovanna Parmigiani’s beautifully written and ingeniously theorized ethnography of paganism in Southern Italy carries the reader into a lifeworld where the boundaries of past, present, and future are expanded through music, magic, and dance, and bodily, spiritual, and communal well-being enhanced.”
— Michael Jackson, author of Coincidences: Synchronicity, Verisimilitude, and Storytelling
“In this deeply researched yet wonderfully accessible ethnography Giovanna Parmigiani carries the reader along with her into the expanded present cultivated by her circle of South Italian sisters (known to some as ‘witches’) as they dance to pizzica music and perform practices familiar in global neo-paganism. Their expanded present folds history and destiny into a novel historicity that, to paraphrase Walter Benjamin, explodes homogeneous, empty time and fills it with meaning.”
— Charles Stewart, University College London
“Dr. Parmigiani has written a book rich in both ethnography and theory — a rare combination.”
— Professor Sabina Magliocco, University of British Columbia

I offer classes in the anthropology of magic, the anthropology of spirituality, sensory ethnographic methods, and religion and healing.

I design individualized learning paths for students of all ages and backgrounds.

  • What is magic? Is it different from religion? Is magic a way of knowing? In this course, we look at magic from an anthropological perspective. We focus, in particular, on contemporary magic in Europe and North America, addressing for example contemporary Paganisms, Wicca, chaos magic, new age spirituality, and contemporary esotericism. By engaging with ethnographic works, students become acquainted with or deepen their knowledge of the main issues, traditions, debates, and research in the field of the anthropology of religion and of magic. Students analyze contemporary magic vis-á-vis popular culture, feminism, globalization, medicine, social media, history, and well-being. They do so through ethnographic readings, films, music, arts, discussions, and independent research.

  • What is the role of the senses in academic research on religion? What and how can we know by engaging with bodies and materiality? How can acknowledging emotions and affects be useful in the study of spirituality? In this course, students explore some spiritual and religious experiences in dialogue with recent studies in sensory anthropology, the anthropology of consciousness, affect theory, and material studies. Through multi- media ethnographic works, class discussions, creative works, and independent readings, students are able to reflect on the theory and practice of body-centered engagements with the study of religion.

  • What is the relationship between religion and healing? How is this important for scholars of religion, health workers, and for chaplains? In this course, we look at the intersections and entanglements between religion and healing
    in the contemporary world, in particular (but not only) in North America. After unpacking some of the meanings of “religion,” “healing,” and “disease,” we
    concentrate on issues regarding, e.g., the nature of healing, the role of individual and collective agency in healing processes, the sites of healing, healing from structural violence, and the gendering of suffering and healing.
    We do so through ethnographic readings, films, music, arts, discussions, and independent research.

  • What is spirituality? How is it different from religion? How is spirituality linked to well-being? In this course, we address some of the most widespread ideas and practices within contemporary spiritualities with an anthropological lens. We read scholarly work, for example, on astrology, Tarot, and divination; Reiki and energy healing; mediumship and near-death experiences; unidentified flying objects; and conspirituality. We discuss their relation to neoliberalism and material culture; their role in healing and in popular culture; and their connections with politics, time, environmentalism, the senses, and non-rational ways of knowing. We do so through ethnographic readings, films, music, arts, discussions, and independent research. By engaging with ethnographic works, students become acquainted with or deepen their knowledge of the main issues, traditions, debates, and research in the field of the anthropology of religion and spirituality.

What students say about me

  • Prof. Parmigiani is a fantastic educator. She is extremely knowledgeable, accessible, supportive, creative, and kind. Her way of teaching is community-oriented and participatory.

    Graduate student, Harvard University (Magic, today)

  • Professor Parmigiani was a delight to learn from, sharing a fantastic mix of her own experiences as well as other academic works that illuminated the material and course objectives.

    Graduate student, Harvard Extension School (We Are One)

  • Professor Parmigiani is an accomplished expert in her field, an ethical facilitator, and an incredible thought-partner to students. Learning from her is a gift.

    Graduate student, Harvard University (Religion and Healing)

  • Professor Parmigiani is easily one of the best teachers I have ever had. She is thoughtful and supportive while also encouraging her students to push their own boundaries. She is able to facilitate spaces of trust that make for incredibly generative conversations and learning environments.

    Graduate student, Harvard University (Religion and Healing)

  • Dr. Parmigiani's dedication to teaching and her passion for the subject matter created a rich and engaging learning experience that was both intellectually stimulating and deeply meaningful.

    Graduate Student, Harvard University (Magic, today)

  • Professor Parmigiani is a skillful professor and guide, and teaches on subjects that I have not found many other professors teach. She is also incredibly personable, and invested in her students... She is a wonderful advisor and guide, and her care for her students is palpable, deeply felt, and appreciated.

    Graduate Student, Harvard University (Religion, Materiality, and the Senses)