Shamanism and Spirit Possession

Shamanism and Spirit Possession Order Description Ayahuasca, which has been dubbed “the vin" rel="nofollow">ine of souls”, is a brew comprised of the plant Banisteriopsis Caapi along with several other psychoactive in" rel="nofollow">ingredients. The brew has been used all throughout South America among in" rel="nofollow">indigenous tribes for healin" rel="nofollow">ing and ceremonial purposes. The “vin" rel="nofollow">ine of souls” gets its name from its extremely high dimethyltryptamin" rel="nofollow">ine content, which causes users to have vivid and powerful psychedelic experiences. These experiences typically in" rel="nofollow">include hallucin" rel="nofollow">inations of ancestors, serpents, jaguars, bright colors, and flight-like experiences. The brew is also used to help rid patients sufferin" rel="nofollow">ing from “soul loss” or feelin" rel="nofollow">ings of in" rel="nofollow">intense jealousy or hatred. It is believed that Andean Shamans commonly use the drug to assist in" rel="nofollow">in freein" rel="nofollow">ing the Shamans soul for “spirit flight” so he/she may in" rel="nofollow">interact within" rel="nofollow">in the spiritual world. However, a proper trance is impossible without the traditional acoustics. Apparently, without the traditional accompanyin" rel="nofollow">ing whistles and rattles the patient and/or Shaman would have a terrible experience and only envision serpents. Across different Andean shamanistic cultures, different in" rel="nofollow">instruments capable of makin" rel="nofollow">ing similar high frequency noises have been found. These “whistles” are currently used to drive or guide the Ayahuasca ‘trips’. “Whistlin" rel="nofollow">ing bottles” from 500 BC, which are similar to in" rel="nofollow">instruments still used in" rel="nofollow">in Ayahuasca ceremonies today, were found on the Peruvian coast. Similar bottles have been found scattered throughout different parts of South America and all of them produce almost identical sounds. What is the effect that these in" rel="nofollow">instruments have on not only the Ayahuasca trip, but on the brain" rel="nofollow">in as well. Do different sounds trigger different neurological reactions? What effects do music and sounds have on consciousness and emotion both in" rel="nofollow">in/and out of the trance? Why does the absence of whistlin" rel="nofollow">ing lead to horrible hallucin" rel="nofollow">inations of snakes?