The Siberian Shaman’s technique of ecstasy
Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis January 16, 2019 Anna-Leena Siikala 21 citations
Shamanic ecstasy is characterized by changes in body image, attenuated grasp of reality, and reduced self-control, which can lead to identification with supranormal authority. Basic elements of shamanic tradition can be explained by typical features of altered states of consciousness, such as depersonalization and transcendence, which may drive cosmic journey fantasies. The shamanic technique of ecstasy differs from other ecstatic practices through its emphasis on ritual role-taking aimed at spirit-helpers. The shaman's generalized reality orientation is cut off by extinguishing lights and intensified drumming, replaced by a special orientation shaped by shamanic tradition and fantasies of supranormal beings. The shaman actualizes one spirit role after another according to a set pattern.