Observations placeholder
R C Mayne - Native American Indians - Healing by chanting
Identifier
001181
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
This example shows how chanting is used to invoke a trance state. The trance is induced in the patient – not the healer, the patient to a certain extent cures themselves by being open to healing. The doctor is providing the means by which trance state is obtained – they are a facilitator. In the quote below, the ‘oil’ or ‘incense’ is also helping induce the trance state. The patient was cured.
A description of the experience
Four Years in British Columbia and Vancouver Island – R C Mayne 1862
Towards night the doctor came bringing with him his own and another family to assist in the ceremony. After they had eaten supper, the centre of the lodge was cleared and fresh sand strewed upon it. A bright fire of dry wood was then kindled and a brilliant light kept up by occasionally throwing oil upon it. I considered this a species of incense offered, as the same light would have been produced if desired by a quantity of pitch knots which were lying in a corner.
The patient, well wrapped up in blankets, was laid on her back, with her head a little elevated and her hands crossed on her breast. The doctor knelt at her feet and commenced singing a song, the subject of which was an address to the dead……… the rest of the people then sung the chorus in a low mournful chant, keeping time by knocking on the roof with long wands they held………
The source of the experience
Native American IndiansConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
Smoke inhalationSuppressions
Listening to beating soundsSinging spells
Suppression of learning