Sensory Dimensions of Spirit Possession
Wisdom from the Edge August 15, 2023 Paul Stoller
Spirit possession is a dramatic religious experience where humans encounter the supernatural or deities, and smell, sound, and vision are essential ingredients in recipes for possession. The chapter argues that including sensorial descriptions of performances enriches anthropological understanding and the existential dimensions of the human condition. It draws on functionalism, psychoanalysis, physiology, symbolism, and theatrical frameworks to explain key concepts of spirit possession.