question

What is the goal of Bourguignon's article?

answer

To provide a clear and unbiased psychological and sociological analysis of possession.

question

What questions are bourginon's article addressing, and what problems does she identify in answering them?

answer

Bourginon's article asks whether or not spirit possession can be understood in terms of psychological, sociological, and dissociational states. The main "problem" she faces is that this subject has never been extensively studied or recognized in Academia.

question

What do we call possession-trance behavior without social significance? In other words, what social institution do we have in which people act out possession-trance like behavior without believing in it themselves?

answer

Theater and film are the most obvious ones, but I would also argue that music and concerts provide similar outlets for this behavior.

question

What social institutions does our society reserve for uninhibited self-expression?

answer

I don't think there is such a thing as "unhibited self-expression" and the term itself is an oxymoron, but if there had to be one I would consider an artists commune or a concert as one such place.

question

What are the major differences between multiple personality disorder and possession trance?

answer

Multiple personality disorder is created through some form of trauma and almost always involves acting out some personality, whereas possession trance does not necessarily involve acting out a "personality" and is not necessarily a traumatic experience either. You can be "possessed" for an hour and then be completely normal the next.

question

What is the difference between trance, spirit possession, and dissociational states? Is there any overlap? (B pg 40-41)

answer

Trance: a sleeplike state marked by reduced sensitivity to stimuli and knowledge of "what is happening", and increased sense of flow. Dissociational states: a state where a split off version of one's personality takes over the entire field of one's consciousness. Spirit possession: a culturally conditioned form of dissociation, with spiritual context and narrative.

question

Describe the variety of dissociational states worldwide and the variety of ways of interpreting and controlling them. What do societies without possession-belief have in compensation?

answer

Western paradigm: mental-illness like schizophrenia, PTSD (multiple personality disorder) and BPD. LSD and raves as well. Haiti, S. America, India, Africa: Spirit possession, deity possession, demon possession. Judeo-Christian: demon possession.

question

Is possession normal or pathological? Why is it difficult to decide?

answer

Depends on the cultural context. In cultures like the Haitian one Bourginon analyzes, it is clearly a normal part of life. In our Western Judeo-Christian and scientific materialist paradigms it is pathological. It's difficult because there's not one answer.

question

Describe the major features of Haitian Voodoo.

answer

Starting in ones youth, a deity comes to "ride" a person, with the person as their horse. They "become" the deity and speak as it's representative. They usually claim to have no memory of what they said as the deity as well.

question

Why do the very young and the very old seldom become possessed? How do children learn to become possessed? Does this make it less real? How does this relate to the initiation ceremony?

answer

Young: not made clear in the article, but it seems it may be because they have to "learn" the role. Old: they are "too worn out" and have already gotten most of the esoteric lessons out of it, though B. suggests this may be because their sense of self has become too strong to inhabit another self. Less "real": Yes and no. Yes because it shows that possession does discriminate possibly based on one's ability to "play the part". No because they all seem to regard it as plenty real in their cultures. Initiation ceremony: Implies there is a lot of narrative and cultural structure behind the practice, so the young not learning it quite yet makes sense as does the old "growing out of it".

question

Explain "dissociation in the service of the self". Does Bourguignon believe in possession?

answer

Dissociation in the service of the self implies a kind of "fake-dissociation" to act out one's inner desires or dreams. An example is when AC wanted to marry a guy and got "possessed" to pressure him. B. likely does not believe in it, though she doesn't belittle it and acknowledges that more research that needs to be done.

question

The Bhuta Tantra on the origin of demons.

answer

Demons come from different body parts of the lord Shiva. Divine from Shiva's limbs, womb-born from the womb, karma-born from their own karma, and the non-divine demons from lesser powers.

question

Conditions under which possession can occur?

answer

Basically any situation out of the ordinary, such as when one is angry, terrified, over-excited, etc. A whole extra 18 for women.

question

Sign of deity possession?

answer

Not angry or excited, doesn't eat or drink, no peeing/pooping, not cleaning oneself yet seems very clean, face the color of a lotus petal. Does not speak, can not sleep.

question

Sign of celestial musician possession?

answer

Excited, sings and dances, has a lot of sex. Takes delight in garlic and milk.

question

Sign of an epilepsy demon possession?

answer

Falls to the ground, becomes unconscious, loses control of the limbs, saliva comes out of the mouth.

question

What goes into a typical exorcism ritual in the Bhuta Tantras? How is it similar or different from modern Indian exorcisms?

answer

It is not really clear, but it seems as though the ritual is performed by a doctor and involves mantras and prayers/worship. Different in that in modern exorcisms usually involve an interrogation of a demon and then telling it to go away.

question

Explain two types of deity possession in India.

answer

Garuda or bhairava possession for a tantric snakebite doctor, "God" possession where one stops eating drinking bathing etc.

question

What is the importance of plants in tantric ritual?

answer

They are used to make the dhoop, ointments, and fragrances.

question

What is the importance of plant imagery in Tantric ritual?

answer

The mantra is referred to as a "seed", and plant imagery is used in visualizations such as those with the petals of the lotus flower.

question

How big of a problem is snakebite in India?

answer

Not a big problem but not a small one either. Around 3% of deaths annually.

question

Why is the effectiveness of snakebite remedies so hard to judge?

answer

Because a lot of deaths/cures are not reported in rural regions, and also the degree of envenomation varies with each bite so it is difficult to measure.

question

What are the two types of venom and how do they kill?

answer

Hemotoxic: coagulates the blood, destroys tissue, causes swelling. Neurotoxic: paralyzes the nervous system.

question

Why was Tantric medicine previously not recognized by historians of medicine?

answer

Because it was considered magico-religious as opposed to medical.

question

How would you respond to a critic that said "Tantric medicine is just saying superstitious magical spells and hoping it works"?

answer

I would say first of all, it's not "superstitious" because it has worked in certain cases, it's not all "magical spells" because there is an emphasis on ointments and dhoops and such, and that biomedicine has plenty of ritualistic and "unscientific" elements as well.

question

What is envenomation?

answer

The act of being poisoned with venom.

question

Explain the five-syllables of the vipati mantra, what they represent, and how they are "installed" in the body.

answer

Ksi Pa Om Sva Ha, representing the five elements Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Aether. They are visualized and installed through visualization.

question

How does a practitioner "deploy" the vipati mantra to cure a case of snakebite?

answer

Visualizes it, and is "possessed" by Garuda, and then, performs the healing gesture on the patient.

question

Explain the logic of the Garuda Tantra procedure to protect the life-force of a snakebite victim.

answer

Garuda is considered a protective deity and foe of snakes, and also is pretty high up in the pantheon of Hindu gods. So being "possessed" by Garuda should help in protecting a snakebite victim.

question

Who is Nilakantha?

answer

Nilakantha is Shiva, after he drank a horrible poison that turned his throat blue. The literal translation is "blue-throated".

question

How are Nilakantha's three syllables installed on the hand used to cure poison?

answer

One visualizes the hand as a trident and visualizes the three syllables of the mantra being "installed". Then touches the patient.

question

Who was Kurukulla?

answer

A snakebite goddess who protects the home. Popular with Buddhists as well as Hindus.

question

How was Kurukulla invoked and to what end?

answer

Invoked through a mantra and inscription on the door of a house people both of which people would primarily use to ward off snakes.

question

Who was Tvarita? Why was she important/popular?

answer

Tvarita: goddess specifically associated with snakebite, not generally "protecting the home". Important: for curing the broad malady of snakebite. Popular: a tribal woman, easier to relate to than many other gods and goddesses.

question

How did Tvarita's vidya(mantra) orginate?

answer

She was enraged to hear Shiva was engaged in sexual rituals, and said the Tvarita mantra which transformed her into the goddess Tvarita.

question

Has science proven that the herbal antidotes for snakebite in traditional Indian medicine are effective treatments?

answer

By and large no, and antivenom remains the main treatment for snakebite. It has worked before however, so this may be changing.

question

Why is Wujastyk outraged by the Kashyapa Samhita's etiology of miscarriage?

answer

Because it states a miscarriage is usually a moral failure of the woman.

question

According to biomedical perspectives, what actually causes miscarriage?

answer

Bad health, genetics, chance, ingesting substances, falling.

question

How might Wujastyk's perspective be broadened by consideration of Kinsley's ideas of medicine and morality, and patient narratives?

answer

Patient narratives: a woman might gain some solace in the knowledge that she does in fact have SOME responsibility for her pregnancy; like good diet, avoiding intoxicants etc. Medicine and morality: Modern science also has a sort of morality inherent in that it determines certain behavior a sickness such as homosexuality or alcoholism rather than a habit or part of life.

question

Do people still believe in childhood demonic possession in South Asia? How do you know, and what do they do to prevent it?

answer

Yes. This was made evident in the religious symbolism shown in the Matrika film, such as the banglets/amulets dais would wear and the ritual of covering the face and banging the pan.

question

How are exorcisms of childhood possession different from adult exorcisms?

answer

Adult ones could involve violence such as burning, beating, and piercing. Child exorcisms are usually handled by women and are more peaceful, involving "feeding" the demon and trying to appease it.

question

umbilical cord

answer

the cord connecting the fetus to the placenta.

question

cervix

answer

tissue connecting the vagina and the uterus.

question

placenta

answer

the organ that feeds and nourishes the fetus.

question

antenatal care

answer

care of a pregnant woman before birth.

question

anemia

answer

iron deficiency

question

post-partum

answer

post-pregnancy

question

hemorrhage

answer

internal bleeding

question

perineum

answer

area between the anus and the scrotum/vulva. in the show weeds lupita the maid calls it "the coffee table"

question

maternal mortality rate

answer

rate of death for mothers during childbirth

question

infant mortality rate

answer

rate of death of infants under one year old.

question

obstetrician

answer

doctor concerning pregnancy, labor, and birth

question

midwife

answer

person (usually a woman) who helps the wife through the labor period.

question

lay midwife

answer

midwife that is not trained in nursing. may be certified as a CPM, but not a CNM.

question

certified nurse midwife

answer

Usually begins as a nurse, then trains as a midwife and gets a certification through a specific organization.

question

professional midwife

answer

a midwife that has gone through the traditional american certification process.

question

dai

answer

a rural and traditional Indian midwife. mostly from the untouchable caste.

question

How do the dais fit into the medical scene in India?

answer

They are crucial for birth support in rural areas. Some are certified and supported by the gov most are not.

question

What are some advantages and disadvantages of the dais?

answer

Advantages: there's a lot of them, they have some great general knowledge of labor and pregnancy, they help people. Disadvantages: they lack basic medical knowledge, and often literacy as well.

question

Why is it difficult to understand the experiences of women from Ayurvedic texts?

answer

Because they were all written by men, and almost never tried to offer a narrative from a woman's point of view either.

question

Why does Selby think classical Ayurveda has no coherent idea of gynecology?

answer

Because they equate things like breastmilk with semen, and eggs with blood, and use terms like "worm" to describe stretch marks.

question

Why are women associated with red and men with white?

answer

Red is the color of menstrual blood, which is the same level of "refinement" as the man's semen, which is white. It is also a "luscious" color associated with some vibrancy and blushing/maternity.

question

Why does the association of women with red and men with white degrade women in the Brahmanical discourse?

answer

Because white is considered a color of purity and enlightenment, while red is lower energy and not as spiritual.

question

Explain the birth experience narrative and how Selby analyzes it.

answer

It involves being surrounded by fellow women, being anointed with oils and some prayers and such, and then finally pushing out the baby. It is a spiritual experience of sorts. Selby kind of seemed to think this part was beautiful actually, especially the "sorority" of women making it happen.

question

What are Selby's main critiques of the popular publications, products, and ideas about Ayurveda in the United States?

answer

That they are simplistic, commercialized, and don't emphasize Indian values. Her suggestion of an "Indian ideal" was wrong too, notably.

question

How "accurate" are online quizzes to find your dosha? How well do they represent traditional Indian Ayurveda?

answer

They ask some relevant questions, but the basic premise that each person is identified with a single or mixture of doshas is wrong. Also they incorporate racial features like skin color, which have nothing to do with traditional Indian Ayurveda. The actual system states we all have doshas, and some are predominant at certain times but they are always moving and fluctuating.

question

Describe in detail the range of health care choices available to South Asian women in Canada.

answer

Biomedicine, but also healers, naturopaths, ayurvedic/traditional doctors, gurus, and temples.

question

Describe, using examples, the state of biomedicines attitude towards desi ways.

answer

Most of it is dismissive, some of it is accepting and more along the lines of "well, it can't hurt!"

question

What barriers prevent more women from using desi ways?

answer

Families prioritizing biomedicine, regional barriers, sociocultural assimilation related ones.

question

"The South Asian women understood health in terms of well-being and physical and mental happiness. Viewed holistically as part of everyday life and being in balance, health was not compartmentalized into mental, spiritual, and physical components". DesiWays article says some things to the contrary, explain.

answer

The desi ways actually were compartmentalized; you would see a guru for one type of problem, visit a temple for another, an ayurvedic doctor for a different one, etc.

question

Are desi ways only used for mild illnesses?

answer

Mostly, but not always.

question

Do all South Asian women prefer desi ways? Why or why not?

answer

No, because some have assimilated into the broader culture or been obstructed by barriers including regional and familial ones.

question

What does locale have to do with the effectiveness of desi medicine?

answer

If you are in an area with many S. Asian immigrants you are more likely to have access to desi ways. Common sense.

question

Is breastmilk from the first two-days after birth harmful? Do most Indian women believe it is?

answer

No. Only 20-30% do.

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