Spirit possession

Spirit possession is a state in which a spirit is believed to inhabit or control a person. It can be understood as involuntary, sought through ritual, or interpreted differently across religious traditions.

Possession trance: An altered state in which a person is understood to be inhabited or controlled by a spirit. It describes a common experiential form attributed to spirit possession.
Zār: A spirit-possession tradition found in parts of Northeast Africa and the Middle East, often involving healing ceremonies. It shows how possession can be addressed through communal music and ritual.
Possession trance disorder: A dissociative disorder involving involuntary possession-like states that cause distress or impairment. It is a clinical diagnosis, unlike a culturally accepted religious possession state.
Ancient Greek religion: The religious practices and beliefs of ancient Greek communities, including worship of gods, heroes, and spirits. Ancient Greek sources describe divine influence and altered states that resemble possession.
Exorcism: A ritual intended to expel a spirit or other supernatural influence from a person or place. It is a response to possession understood as unwanted or harmful.
Vodou: A religion originating in Haiti that combines African-derived traditions with Catholic influences. Some Vodou ceremonies include spirits mounting devotees as a form of presence.
Dissociative identity disorder: A mental disorder involving distinct identity states and recurrent gaps in memory. It can resemble possession accounts but is defined through clinical criteria.
Spirit possession in Africa: A diverse set of African beliefs and practices concerning spirits entering or influencing people. It highlights traditions that cannot be reduced to a single universal model.
Mediumship: The practice of communicating with spirits, often understood to occur through a human intermediary. It can involve spirit presence without the same claim of control over the person.
Sufi whirling: A meditative practice in some Sufi orders involving repeated turning as a form of devotional worship. It illustrates how unusual movement in worship need not imply possession.

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