Archetype symbols in shamanic rituals significantly influence participants' conscious state, leading to a conscious dissolution of the self. A survey of 75 participants found that these symbols have different effects across stages of consciousness change, with the strongest impact during the "Visionary Restructuralization" stage. Patterns, masks, totems, and music brought consciousness to a peak and caused significant changes. The metaphoric function of archetype symbols connects individuals to the collective unconscious through visual and symbolic imagery, prompting emotional resonances that transcend personal experience and alter consciousness.
A randomized experiment with 30 participants tested whether symbolic imagery in a shamanic ritual affects supernatural beliefs, emotions, and consciousness. The experimental group showed significantly increased supernatural belief scores after the ritual and notable decreases in negative emotions such as tension, anger, and fatigue. Both groups experienced changes in consciousness, but the experimental group's changes were more pronounced. These results suggest that shamanic symbolic imagery can promote consciousness transformation and influence emotion regulation and belief formation through visual perception and symbolic psychological mechanisms.