Trance San religion

to enter spirit world, trance has initiated shaman through hunting of tutelary spirit or power animal. eland serves power animal. fat of eland used symbolically in many rituals including initiations , rites of passage. other animals such giraffe, kudu , hartebeest can serve function.

one of important rituals in san religion great dance, or trance dance. dance typically takes circular form, women clapping , singing , men dancing rhythmically. although there no evidence kalahari san use hallucinogens regularly, student shaman may use hallucinogens go trance first time.

psychologists have investigated hallucinations , altered states of consciousness in neuropsychology. found entoptic phenomena can occur through rhythmic dancing, music, sensory deprivation, hyperventilation, prolonged , intense concentration , migraines. psychological approach explains rock art through 3 trance phases. in first phase of trance altered state of consciousness come about. people experience geometric shapes commonly known entoptic phenomena. these include zigzags, chevrons, dots, flecks, grids, vortices , u-shapes. these shapes can found in rock engravings of southern africa.

during second phase of trance people try make sense of entoptic phenomena. elaborate shape had seen until had created looked familiar them. shamans experiencing second phase of trance incorporate natural world entoptic phenomena, visualising honeycombs or other familiar shapes.

in third phase radical transformation occurs in mental imagery. noticeable change shaman becomes part of experience. subjects under laboratory conditions have found experience sliding down rotating tunnel, entering caves or holes in ground. people in third phase begin lose grip on reality , hallucinate monsters , animals of strong emotional content. in phase, therianthropes in rock painting can explained heightened sensory awareness gives 1 feeling have undergone physical transformation.

a san trance dance featuring san of ghanzi, botswana appeared in bbc television s around world in 80 faiths on 16 january 2009.