Shamanic elements in Slovenian folklore are hard to separate from concepts like spirit possession or ecstasy, according to an analysis of Slovenian data and comparative literature. The author argues that these terms overlap in practice and cannot be clearly distinguished. The study also explores the original meanings of the folk figures kresnik and vedomec, offering explanations for their names.
The táltos, a Hungarian magical practitioner, shows connections with both historical magical specialists and recent ethnographic materials. This article examines the táltos's role in Hungarian religion, magic, and folkloric practices, its links with neighboring South Slavic, Romanian, and western magical traditions, and its relation to linguistic, symbolic, and bodily expression in Hungarian traditional culture. The analysis focuses on body symbolism, mythical horse symbolism, and possible altered states of consciousness.