The Seen and the Unseen: Shamanism, Mediumship and Possession in Borneo (Monograph Series)

The Borneo Research Council was established in 1958 to promote scientific research in the social, biological, and medical sciences in Borneo. This monograph series is part of the publication program of the Council. This second monograph deals with spirituality - with its psychological roots, its social organization and uses and its symbolic elaboration and performance. Traditions of shamanism, mediumship and possession in Borneo are rich, complex and diverse. The essays which comprise this volume document and analyze a much wider range of ethnographic instances than has previously been assembled. Together they show both the enduring vitality of Bornean spirituality as practice, belief and role and the evolving development of these in the present world. To Converse With The Gods : Rungus Spirit Mediums / George N. Appell And Laura W.r. Appell -- To Do Battle With The Spirits : Bulusu ́spirit Mediums / Laura W.r. Appell And George N. Appell -- Shamanism Among The Oya Melanau / H.s. Morris -- From Shamans To Priests : Towards The Professionalization Of Religious Specialists Among The Kayan / Jérôme Rousseau -- Canoes For The Spirits : Two Types Of Spirit Mediumship In Central Kalimantan / Sian E. Jay -- The Shaman's Destiny : Symptoms, Affliction, And The Re-interpretation Of Illness Among The Taman / Jay Bernstein -- Spirit Possession As Exculpation : The Chinese Of Sarawak / Richard C. Fidler -- Performance, Effectiveness And The Iban Manang / Robert J. Barrett -- Shaman And Fool: Representatin Of The Shaman In Iban Comic Fables / Clifford Sather. Edited By Robert L. Winzeler. Includes Bibliographical References. Shaman, priest, and spirit medium / Robert L. Winzeler To converse with the gods / George N. Appell and Laura W.R. Appell To do battle with the spirits / Laura W.R. Appell and George N. Appell Shamanism among the Oya Melanau / H.S. Morris From shamans to priests / Jérôme Rousseau Canoes for the spirits / Sian E. Jay The shaman's destiny / Jay Bernstein Spirit possession as exculpation / Richard C. Fidler Performance, effectiveness and the Iban Manang / Robert J. Barrett Shaman and fool / Clifford Sather. The essays in this book describe and analyze Bornean ritual practitioners, individuals who all deal in one way or another with supernatural power.