Positive and Negative Possession in the Television Series Supernatural

When most western people think about Native American or African religions there is a certain stigma that comes with the topic. This is in part because there is a lot of misinformation in the world about Native American and African religions. When most westerners think of African religions they think of voodoo and black magic. Likewise, the view of Native American religions is still looked at through the lens of the pilgrims who wrote about Native Americans as being savages and less than human. These stereotypes were all formed from a lack of accurate information. African and Native American religions are very similar. It is difficult to find a lot of accurate information on African and Native American indigenous religions because of the lack of written history but there is a lot of oral history that has been passed down from generation to generation. From this information, it is clear that Native American and African religions have many more similarities than they do differences. Three of these similarities will be discussed in this paper. The first topic of discussion is the similarity between African and Native American people when it comes to their perception of the spirit world. Following this topic are the similarities between Native American and African views on the afterlife and finally, the diversity of beliefs within African and Native American religions.

For instance, the principles of Hoodoo are based almost solely on the betterment of one’s own life whereas the main goals of Voodoo are to improve one’s life but to also uphold withstanding connections within the realm of spirits and with other Voodooists (Haas, 2011). Not to mention in a sense of irony, it is Hoodoo culture that finds more use in voodoo dolls and doll magic to curse specific people or influence minds and hearts of individuals as opposed to Voodoo (Raven, n.d.). Furthermore, Voodooism is a mixture of monotheism and polytheism and requires official priests or priestesses to ordain rituals (Haas, 2011). Correspondingly, Voodoo is much akin to other religions in the sense that there are deviations of the practice; indeed, just as there are Protestants, Baptists, and Catholics when referring to the Christian faith, there are variants made in Voodoo, such as Haitian Voudon or Louisiana Voodoo (Voodoo, 2015). Hoodooism’s emphasis on individual power makes it a practice that is available to persons of any faith as it does not require a “formally designated minister” (Hoodoo (folk magic),

Lwa are the many different spirits of family members and the spirits of major forces of the universe, including good, evil, reproduction, health, and all aspects of daily life. Lwa communicate with people on earth by mounting them now and again during religious ceremonies and give messages while doing so. They even cause various good and bad things to happen to people, depending on how they feel. Mounting, when referring to lwa, is the instance when a loa comes and takes over a person’s body from time to time. This is usually done in religious ceremonies or when a lwa is trying to communicate with a person. When the lwa enters the body, the person is gone. The body is the body of the individual person, but it is really the lwa. For instance, if a male lwa enters the body of a female person, he is referred to as a he and not as a she, only during the mounting. The souls of the deceased act as intermediaries between God and the living. The voodoo faithfully serve these spirits, which have great powers. To disobey them puts one at

This process is said to be reciprocal, and follower must look after Lwa by performing these rituals, which can sometimes come in in the form of animal sacrifice. In the other hand some Voodooist ritual allow followers to thank the spirit for their protection, blessings or good fortune. To maintain a good relationship with the Lwa, or stay in good terms followers must all conduct themselves properly according to the customs of the community and the religion. In this way one can see how Voodoo can influence a persons day by day decision, activities, and decision making. Part of voodoo belief is that the Lwa communicate with followers through possession. The Lwa takes place of the host, and temporarily displaces its soul. According to this belief the medium cannot feel pain or become injured while he is in trans. The lwa speaks through the host giving intructions, advices or prophecies of future events. In some cases the Lwa can rebuke the host for failing to perform their duties. This idea of being possessed unites two different types Voodoo practitioners. One of them primarly existing in northern, and central portion of West African coast. This type of voodoo is the oldest known Voodoo and goes back to 6000 years ago from to Fon and Kongo. The other is practiced primarly in Haiti as well as in parts of north and sourth America.

The Hmong cultural/religious belief in shamanistic animism claim that wicked spirits are continually searching human souls, mostly those of defenseless or unappreciated children. For Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as qaug dab peg which means, "the spirit catches you and you fall down" in English (Fadiman 1997), which epileptic invasions are seen as affirmation of the epileptic's capability to enter and stay temporarily into the spirit world (unconsciousness). In Hmong

A violent spirit is more typically know as a poltergeist and is has been shown in one study that they impact sixty-two percent of teens under eighteen, living away from home. Also, poltergeist activity tends to be person centered, however it can be associated with a house. One such case of it be house centered was the Amityville Horror house. This house had supposedly such bad activity that the owners, sold the house and immediately left. Since then the story of the house was turn in books and even movies. Scientist try to explain poltergeist activity with ground setting, which can cause objects to slide, fall from shelves or walls, appear to be thrown and furniture can even jump. Many things that are associated with ground settling are also report in the supposed poltergeist

religions, Voodoo does not have world authority. Due to the fact that it was once

On the other hand, the healing powers that sorcerers possess are respected in other communities. Witch doctors, although not real witches, are trusted to concoct remedies to protect others against witchcraft. Furthermore, Shamans are believed to be endowed with the power to both cure and kill. The Shaman has the ability to go into a trance to interact with the spirit world on behalf of the community. Although there are varying opinions on the practicing of witchcraft, it still continues today whether it is accepted or not.

Lyn Di Iorio and Laura Restrepo in their respective novels have managed to provide an overview that how supernatural and mystical powers and entities can change the life and perspective of individuals. Both of the novels entitled as Outside the Bones and Delirium are having a similar theme of conventionality and ghostliness.

The Hmong cultural/religious belief in shamanism animism claims that wicked spirits are continually searching human souls, mostly those of defenseless or unappreciated children. For the Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as qaug dab peg which means, "the spirit catches you and you fall down" in English (Fadiman, 1997, p.3, 4). Epileptic episodes are seen as affirmation of the epileptic's capability to enter and

The Devil could still be the cause because many believe that he works through nature, like God, and thus causing the disease and symptoms of possession.

And while it is possible to summon evil spirits, it is the summoning of benign spirits, elements, entities and deities that form the basis for invoking within the Wiccan faith. It is calling them within yourself to work with the combined energy. In the Wiccan practice, the process of invocation is a powerful tool and is a form of voluntary possession. You are temporarily replacing

           The patient M. is a 26 year old married female who was brought to the ER by her husband after increased anxiety and depression worsened after a “spiritual attack” that lasted for over four days.  While in the ER the patient admitted to hearing multiple distant male and female voices all around her head and outside of her head.  She states not being able to make out the message but interprets them to be negative in nature. She told the ER Doc she felt people were trying to harm her and that “people in her life have used things against her.”  She felt her extended family may have used witchcraft and “chakra dolls” to cast spells on her.  She is cognizant of the strangeness of her claims but believes them to be real

When the term exorcism is mentioned, many people think of the devil-possessed head spinning, lead character in the 1973 movie The Exorcist. What is the actual definition of exorcism that Hollywood does not share with us? Exorcism as defined by the Catholic Encyclopedia is (1) the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice; (2) the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon, in the name of God, or any of the higher power in which he is subject (Toner). However, man people are far less versed in the Roman Catholic form

The consequences of this accusation by members of her husband’s family were that his mother suffered abuse. Another common myth related to the mother is that she slept with a tokolosh. Within many societies over Africa tokolosh is associated with a spirit related to witchcraft which can be called upon to cause trouble to other people. As a result of the spiritual meaning associated with albinism, more absurd myths came about which threatened the individual with the condition. There is a strong belief that the body of a person with albinism can be used by traditional witch doctors to produce magical spirits which makes a person rich or successful, there is also the belief that drinking the blood of the person with albinism will give one extra magical powers (Thuku, 2011). In Tanzania, body organs of people living with albinism are sold for lots of money. Killings of people with albinism are especially common during elections times as the politicians believe the magic powers will win them the elections. Small body portions of persons with albinism are worn around people’s necks as amulets (Uromi, 2014). The bodies of people with albinism are