Prophecy and Ecstasy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martti Nissinen
Keyword(s):  
Altered State ◽  
Near Eastern ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness ◽  
Biblical Texts

The prophetic performance is typically associated with a specific state of mind variously called ecstasy, trance, or possession. This chapter demonstrates that an altered state of consciousness appears as a prerequisite of the prophetic performance in ancient Near Eastern, Greek, and biblical texts. One of the designations of Mesopotamian prophets, muḫḫûm/maḫḫû, implies an ecstatic performance, and many biblical prophets engage in ecstatic behavior, seeing visions, and making spirit journeys. In Greek sources, the divine possession of the Delphic Pythia is taken for granted, and also the prophets of Didyma, Dodona, and Claros are believed to have been influenced by the divine spirit. Neither the Greek nor the Near Eastern sources specify how the altered state of consciousness was reached. The essential thing was that they were divinely inspired, not how the inspiration manifested itself.

Deformation forms the course of literary history

2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Martindale
Keyword(s):  
Literary History ◽  
The State ◽  
Main Direction ◽  
Statistical Analyses ◽  
Altered State ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness ◽  
Literary Change ◽  
The Way

The Russian Formalists and Czech Structuralists argued that foregrounding devices such as deformation and deautomatization are central to literature. They saw that such devices build a pressure for novelty into literature. Literature must change constantly because readers gradually become used to and bored with initially novel and interesting deformations. Formalist and Structuralist theorists saw that literature should change but could not explain the direction in which it would change. They hypothesized that the direction of change is determined by extra-literary sociocultural forces. I argue that this hypothesis may be wrong. If we examine the way in which people think of novel word combinations in the first place, we can formulate a theory that explains the direction of literary change. Production of novelty often involves movement away from ordinary waking consciousness toward an altered state of consciousness. Within the confines of a given style, to produce something even more novel, poets must regress to an even more altered state of consciousness. The state of mind in which a poem is produced to some extent determines the words used in the poem. Given that the pressure for novelty is always present whereas other forces acting upon poets vary, we can predict the direction in which poetry tends to move from the alterations in consciousness required to produce ever more novel poetry. Statistical analyses of several poetic traditions show that this is, indeed, the main direction in which poetry evolves.

scholarly journals Meditation as an Alternative State of Consciousness

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Bani Narula
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Modern Psychology ◽  
Alternative State ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness ◽  
Managing Stress ◽  
Meditative Practices

This paper provides an analysis of meditation as a new way of managing stress, tension and crisis. Contemporary psychology of mediation has gained worldwide significance and acceptance to seek solace and solutions for modern problems. Originally mediation was meant to help deepen understanding of the mystical and sacred forces of life. But, these days, it is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction. Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment and enhance personal and spiritual growth. It is an altered state of consciousness or altered state of mind, which is a temporary change in one’s normal mental state without being considered unconscious. Meditation provides a way for personal empowerment to become more in control of one’s thinking, emotions and behaviour. Therefore, as per the perspective of modern psychology, meditative practices hold utmost significance in augmenting the understanding of mind-body relationship.

Ancient Ways

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Visual Art ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Field Recordings ◽  
Spirit World ◽  
Relevant Field ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function

This chapter discusses shamanism, explaining the ethos and mythology of several indigenous societies, and how these belief systems relate to the design of art and music. First, a general overview of shamanism is provided, which outlines the typical role and function of a shaman. An explanation of the shamanic visionary experience, a type of altered state of consciousness, is then provided. Following this, the chapter explores a variety of visual art from indigenous shamanic cultures, including examples from San, Native American, Huichol, Tukano, and Shipibo traditions. The sound and music of shamanic and trance cultures is also discussed, with reference to Vodou, Tukano, Mazatec, Kiowa, and Mayan examples, and relevant field recordings. Through the course of this discussion, the chapter establishes a view of how shamanic art and music invoke a sense of the spirit world, which informs the subsequent discourse of Inner Sound.

Prognostic Significance of EEG Triphasic Waves in Patients with Altered State of Consciousness

1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan E. Bahamon-Dussan ◽  
Gastone G. Celesia ◽  
Madeleine M. Grigg-Damberger
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness

scholarly journals Praise by animals in the Hebrew Bible

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 500-513
Author(s):  
Peter Joshua Atkins
Keyword(s):  
Hebrew Bible ◽  
Near East ◽  
Ancient Near East ◽  
Near Eastern ◽  
Biblical Texts

Among ancient Near Eastern societies was a widespread and particularly intriguing belief that animals were able to worship and praise deities. This study shows the Hebrew Bible evidences the idea that animals were capable of praising God too and proceeds to observe and document the presence of numerous examples of this in specific biblical texts. Through understanding the place of animals in the Hebrew Bible, and their perceived activity in the ancient Near East, this study suggests animals are distinct agents of praise in their own right in the biblical texts.

Ancient Near Eastern Literature and the Pentateuch

2021 ◽  
pp. 378-398
Author(s):  
David P. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Genetic Relationship ◽  
Historical Reconstruction ◽  
Near Eastern ◽  
Biblical Scholarship ◽  
Biblical Texts

Modern academic biblical scholarship has observed a range of correlations between biblical texts and other texts from the larger ancient Near Eastern world. The observed correspondences have been used phenomenologically and interpretively to raise questions for investigation and offer insights for understanding the biblical texts, especially by contrasts between the texts. A more dynamic and controversial mode of comparative analysis, the focus of this survey, is to ask whether similarities point to a genetic relationship between cultures with the goal of historical reconstruction and placing the Hebrew biblical texts and ideas in their Near Eastern context.

The Book Revealing the Future in a Religion without Books: the Apocalyptic Visions of Yezidi Seers

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Eszter Spät
Keyword(s):  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Personal Problems ◽  
Northern Iraq ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness

Abstract This article studies the “book,” or defter, of Yezidi seers in Northern Iraq. Following an oral religion in an Islamic environment where only “people of the Book” enjoyed legitimate status and social acceptance, Yezidis have developed various strategies to compensate for the absence of a written sacred book. The most unique among these is the phenomenon of “falling into book,” which refers to the altered state of consciousness experienced by some Yezidi seers. “Falling into book” provides the seer with a glimpse into both the past and the future, thus serving as a source of divination and prognostication, which ranges from addressing personal problems to foretelling the (usually apocalyptic) fate of the Yezidi community and the world. Thus the “book” of the seers is perceived to be a kind of “heavenly knowledge,” equal or even superior to the revealed texts of bookish religions.

Coscienza fluttuante, intestino sofferente

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-21
Author(s):  
Anna Agrusti ◽  
Federica Pederiva ◽  
Alessia Cerrina ◽  
Flora Maria Murru ◽  
Mariasole Conte
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Small Bowel ◽  
Intestinal Blood Flow ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Small Bowel Volvulus ◽  
Omphalomesenteric Duct ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness

Altered state of consciousness in infants can be the sole sign of a compromised intestinal blood flow. The article reports the case of an infant with inconsolable crying and lethargy with an omphalomesenteric duct remnant causing small bowel volvulus.

Hypnosis: An Altered State of Consciousness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayani Basu
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Altered State ◽  
Therapeutic Method ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness ◽  
The Brain

Hypnosis, an induced trance state, poses significant effects on the brain and this phenomenon is considered a viable, cost-effective and safe therapeutic method that boosts the quality of life.

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