Possession and the Soul in the Context of New Shamanism

Abstract

Abstract New Shamanism provides healing with the help of spirits that function as authorities and shape our understanding of human existence in the natural world. “Possession” with its idea of total external control proves particularly fascinating for those socialized in secular societies. Rituals give these states a spatial and temporal framework, and their treatment of mental disorders has been shown to have clearly positive effects. According to shamanic thought, loss of soul is a cause of trauma and leaves the individual vulnerable to becoming host to a spirit, although the term “possession” is now generally avoided. The person carrying out the treatment must have a high level of expertise in shamanic practice and a healthy relationship with his or her own spirits, which function as mediators between worlds. Due to different cultural receptions of “possession,” there is a certain tension between practice and public relations, even as demand for treatment increases.