Observations placeholder
Reichel-Dolmatoff - South American shaman initiation
Identifier
010046
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
G. Reichel-Dolmatoff - Drug Induced optical sensations and their relationship to applied art among the Colombian Indians [1978 from ‘Art In Society’]
I found myself taken up by a long road in a deep forest until I came to a barrier of black iron.. In the distance beyond the barrier it was very bright, I could see many colours in the air but …. Could not pass. Suddenly my father descended from above in the form of a bird. He gave to me then my eboka name, Onwan Misengue, and enabled me to fly after him over the barrier of iron. As we proceeded the bird who was my father changed from black to white – first his tail feathers, then all his plumage. We then came to a river of blood in the midst of which was a great snake of three colours – blue, black and red …. On the other side there was a crowd of people all in white. We passed through them and they shouted at us words of recognition until we arrived at another river – all white. This we crossed by means of a giant chain of gold. On the other side there were no trees but only a grassy upland. On the top of the hill was a round house made entirely of glass and built upon one post only. Within I saw a man, the hair on his head piled up in the form of a Bishop’s hat. He had a star on his breast but on coming closer I saw that it was his heart in his chest beating …..
The source of the experience
South American shamanismConcepts, symbols and science items
Symbols
BirdBlack
Black and White
Blood
Bridge
Celestial pole
Chain
Crystal
Forest
Gold
Hair
Hill
Iron
Palace
Path or road
Rivers and streams
Snake