Chapter 5Altered states of

consciousness

Altered states of consciousness are mental states that are different from normal states

Frequently used in religious ritualsThe definition of this is subjective and varies by

culture

introduction

Altered states of thinking: changes in concentration, attention, or memory

Disturbed time: acceleration or slowing of timeLoss of control: feeling helpless, give control up to

spiritsChange of emotions: sudden changes of emotional

extremes

characteristics

Change in body image: blurring of body and mind; parts of the body swell or shrink; out of body experience

Perceptual distortions: hallucinations, heightened senses

Change in meaning: increased significance in experiences

Sense of ineffable: cannot communicate to someone not in the same state

Rejuvenation: sense of hope, rebirth; confidence in religious specialists

characteristics

Reduction of stimulation or repetitive stimulation: Solitary confinement, sleep

Sensory overload or strenuous activity: Spirit possession, trances

Factors that cause asc

Increased and sustained mental alertness: Prolonged concentration on a specific task

Decreased alertness or passive mind: Meditation, daydreaming, relaxation

Alterations in body chemistry: Fasting, dehydration, sleep deprivation, drugs

Sweat lodge

Involves abstaining from food and/or drink or other activities (sex)

Alters body chemistryUsually only for short period of time or parts of

each dayCan be seen as a:

Form of disciplineForm of trainingCleansing ritual

fasting

Old and New Testaments:Moses and Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights

Jewish practice of Yom Kippur:Day of Atonement, fast from sunset to sunset next day

Catholic and Orthodox Churches:Fasting from certain foods

Islamic practice of Ramadan:Abstain from food, drink, sex, smoking from sunup to sundown for one month

fasting

Pain can also lead to ASCPain may be

Punishment (Eve, Hindu bad karma)Purifying (Monks who whip themselves)A weapon (Christ’s pain on cross)Source of supernatural power (exorcism)

Sacred pain

Pain can happen during a trance or without an altered state

Sacred pain

People often share religious pain, but it can be individualistic

Example is stigmata, or marks on the body that correspond to Jesus’ wounds

Sacred pain

Sacred pain

Other examples of inflicting religious pain:Piercing tongue, face, genitalsPulling string with thorns through these wounds

Can also be associated with rites of passageRemember the ant initiation?Tattooing, scarification, piercing, circumcision all show that the person can withstand intense pain

Intense prolonged pain can lead to euphoria or as healing

Sacred pain

Video Log: Sacred Painhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu6Nnh-FYAs

Sacred pain

What is occurring in the brain during ASC?Some scientists believe that religious visions are

really hallucinations from migraines Nun Hildegard in the 1100s

Studies have shown that fast rhythmic behavior affects the sympathetic system and may shut the brain down

One specific part, orientation association structure, blurs the boundaries of the body and other objects, leading to a unitary state

Biological Basis

Biological Basis

Are these visions biological or spiritual? Can they be both? How do you tell them apart?

Many cultures use drugs to achieve ASCAn example is the use of peyote in the Native

American ChurchThese drugs help the people contact supernatural

powers

Drug-induced Altered States

Category Examples Effects

Euphoria Morphine, Heroin Reduces brain activity and leads to euphoric feeling

Phantastica Marijuana, Peyote Causes hallucinations, delirium, visions

Inebriantia Alcohol Intoxicates, brings about cerebral excitation followed by depression

Hypnotica Xanax Sedates, kills pain

Excitania Coffee, Tobacco, Cocaine

Stimulates

Tranquilizer Valium Reduces anxiety and produces mental calm

Drug-induced Altered States

The ritual setting is important

There is a difference between recreational and ritual drug use

Ritual drug use is done at certain times and with certain rules; addiction usually does not follow

Drug-induced altered states

Native American healing

Traditional healing in tribal societies is often described as shamanism

"fully 90% of the world's cultures make use of one or more institutionalized altered states of consciousness, and in traditional societies these are, almost without exception, sacred states" (Walsh, 1996, p. 101).

Spirit travel (or soul journeys) by the healer while in an altered state of consciousness

Native American healing

Examples:

MeditationPrayerFastingSensory deprivationPain

Native American healing

Salish Spirit Dancing:

Among the Salish Indians of the Pacific Coast of North America, Spirit Dancing is practiced as an initiation process for young people who are seen as suffering from spirit illness due to alienation from traditional Indian ways

The healer's job is to "kill" the initiates' faulty and diseased old selves, to let them awaken with a potential for change

"shock treatment"

Also used to treat mental illness

Native American healing

Initiates are secluded in a dark cubicle or "smokehouse tent." Then several people seize the initiates, restrain them,

blindfold them, and hit, bite, and tickle them. The person is lifted up and dropped, carried around, and

whirled aboutAcoustic stimulation (loud rapid drumming, rattling, singing,

and howling). This process is repeated four times until the initiate is weak,

pale, rigid, and appears lifeless on the ground. The initiates are blindfolded for the whole four days, must lie

still, cannot talk or move, and have to fast (although they are teased and tested by people holding tasty bits of salmon held close to their mouths).

Native American healing

The second part of the process is physical training. There are long daily runs, often barefoot in snow, daily swimming in ice-cold waters, and frequent rounds of dancing to the drums, until the initiates are exhausted.

Sometime during the process the guardian spirit is expected to appear in a dream or vision.

The third part of the process is indoctrination. This includes the direct teaching of the rules and sanctions of the tribe and the recounting of traditional tribal lore.

Finally, the initiates take off their old clothes and get new clothes to signify their new life after the cure of the spirit illness. The old personality is shed and the young person is presented to the public as an adult (Amoss, 1978).

Native American healing

This is a healing ceremony, but what other type of ritual is it?

Native American healing

1. Holiness ChurchesIndependent churches in Appalachia (West

Virginia)Use concentrated, intense prayer and music to

enter into ASC (no drugs)Speak in tongues, enter trancesInterpret this as being filled with Holy SpiritHandle snakes and drink poison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwBVcsWYJd8

Ethnographic examples

2. San Healing Rituals!Kung (Kalahari Desert, South Africa)Believe that an energy (n/um), given to them by

the gods, lives in their spineAs they experience !kia the energy moves up the

spine to the brainBring this state about by dancing to singersWhen they are in this state they can heal others

(pull sickness out of person)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyLF3y1YJKA

Ethnographic examples

RastafariansAfro-Caribbean religions that sees former emperor

of Ethiopia as messiahConnect with Israelites in the Old TestamentWant to repatriate black people to AfricaReject Western consumerism and want healthy

lifestyle No chemicals, don’t cut hair (dreadlocks), herbal

remediesSmoke ganga, or marijuana, as “holy herb”

Cite references from Bible

Ethnographic examples

Read article “Trance and Possession”Answer the questions in groups

assignment