THE AMBIGUOUS MEANING OF TRANCE: PRODUCTION OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES IN ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE CONTEXT OF NEO-SHAMANISM
Abstract
The paper draws upon an anthropological field study exploring new religious movements - in particular neo-shamanism - which I am currently undertaking. The research employs the participant observation method and deals with a typical feature of many of these movements: the intentional bringing about of altered states of consciousness and subsequent unusual experiences (visions) to use as part of spiritual practice.
According to neo-shamans, their spiritual "journeys" take place in a trance. However, as I discovered during my field research, the meaning of the word "trance" in the neo-shamanic context differs significantly from its more common general understanding.
The expressions trance, altered state of consciousness, vision, etc. are popular terms which are used regularly, but their exact meaning is seldom clarified and discussed, even in scholarly texts. In order to open up such a discussion and map the meaning and significance assigned to the word trance in the neo-shamanic context, I begin by analyzing the usage of those terms in fundamental neo-shamanic texts - specifically popular books by Michael Harner.
Then, leveraging my field data, I describe how the neo-shamanic movement deals with altered states of consciousness and the effects of the discrepancy of meaning between the conventional usage of the word trance and the conception of trance in neo-shamanism. These discrepancies, and the tensions they bring about, become evident, for example, in the sharing sessions after shamanic "journeys" when newcomers "learn" how to express and interpret their experiences.
Findings of the research thus indicate that the experience of trance in neo-shamanism is strongly influenced by the social context of neo-shamanic groups, and it presents as an acquirable pattern.