Visione, possessione, estasi: sulla teoria della trance rituale

The ritual trances are the expression of the institutionalization of modified states of consciousness. This essay identifies and proposes three major paradigms of institutionalization – vision, possession and ecstasy – and proceeds then to the analysis of the modes and modalities of ritualization and institutionalization of modified states of consciousness – initiation, therapy, liturgy and divination – which lead to a thematization of the structure of trance. Beginning with the discussion of the preceding ethnographies which contribute to the elaboration of a new general theory of trance and are at the same time the result of this same theory of trance – certainly not wholly formulated although much has been done – the author examines the ethnographic material on the zar cults of Ethiopia on the basis of his many years fieldwork in Ethiopia and in other ethnic, social, political and cultural contexts, always concentrated on ritual trances of vision, possession and ecstasy.