Qeios
February 15, 2024
Zhilong Yan, Aixin Zhang
2 citations
Totemic mysticism, often dismissed as a primitive belief system, actually functions as a crucial cognitive and emotional framework. By combining religious studies, anthropology, and philosophy, and drawing on indigenous narratives and historical texts, the work shows that totemic symbols and the unique spiritual experiences they enable have genuine transformative potential. The argument challenges Western, Abrahamic-centered paradigms that have marginalized or pathologized such experiences, and calls for their reevaluation within mystical studies. This perspective aligns with postcolonial, postorientalist, and posthumanist critiques, enriching existing paradigms by highlighting the cognitive and emotional valence of totemic symbols.
Qeios
February 14, 2024
Zhilong Yan, Aixin Zhang
1 citation
Totemic mysticism, often dismissed as a primitive belief system, is actually a vital framework for understanding cognitive and emotional experiences. By blending religious studies, anthropology, and psychoanalysis, the work examines scholarly literature, indigenous narratives, and historical documentation to reveal the profound connection between totemic symbols and extraordinary spiritual occurrences. These symbols have the capacity to facilitate spiritual transformation. The findings challenge established views rooted in Abrahamic traditions that have marginalized or misinterpreted such experiences, prompting a reconsideration of their role in mysticism and echoing postcolonial, postorientalist, and posthumanist thought.
Qeios
October 25, 2023
Zhilong Yan, Aixin Zhang
1 citation
Totemic spiritual practices produce distinct mystical experiences that mainstream frameworks often marginalize or pathologize. A cross-disciplinary synthesis of religious studies, anthropology, and psychoanalytic theory, drawing on scholarly literature, indigenous accounts, and historical documents, shows that totemic belief systems function as essential cognitive and emotional tools rather than being 'primitive.' The work clarifies a mutualistic relationship between totemic symbols and individual mystical experiences, advocating for their spiritual and transformative significance. It augments existing models and aligns with postcolonial, postorientalist, and posthumanist critiques, prompting reexamination of underexplored spiritual experiences in mysticism research.