Jan 29 / Bioenergetic Exchange - Kardec's Mediumship

 Unit: Indigenous Dance

Theme: Bioenergetic Exchange - Kardec's Mediumship


I

  Introduction

The bioenergetic exchange that takes place during the performance of  Cordon dance may explain the trance or shamanic state of consciousness. Today we will listen to Michael Harner (1929 - 2018) an American anthropologist, educator and author. His 1980 book, The Way of the Shaman: a Guide to Power and Healing, has turned core shamanism into a path for personal growth and development. Davidji is the founder of The Meditation Academy. Using Davidji's guided meditation, we will explore connecting with the metaphoric aspect of a shamanic state of consciousness.

 

 II

 Learning Objectives

  • Understand the meaning of bioenergetic exchange
  •  Explain the importance of bioenergetic exchange within the context of Cordon dance
  • Gain an awareness of the connection between chanting, dancing and journeying  when visiting the spirits' realm
  • Experience the metaphoric connection with the realm of spirits using mindful meditation
  • Reflect on the work done in class


 III

 Main Lesson


1

 

Journal Article

From Areyto to Cordon

Jorge L. Morejon


Mysteries of Paris | Episode 1: Allan Kardec & Spiritism | Free Documentary History



 2

 


 https://youtu.be/Awz1cJdtP6c?si=UoA7hbBoBMaNTljS

 Liminal Rites

 

 3

Caracaracol, the first medium?
 

 

4

 From Areyto to Cordon

https://scholarship.miami.edu/esploro/outputs/991031787120302976


Cordon Dance
 
(12:49 - 19:20)
 
 

5

The Shaman


Question 1
 
According to Laura Kendall, what is a shaman? 
 
  • The word shaman comes Siberia.
  • A shaman is a master of the spirits.
  • The shaman travels into the spirit realms.
  • The costume is important. For instance the metals attached to the costume are conductors of magic energy.


6

 (A)

(2:41 - 9:20)

Shamanic Healing with Michael Harner - The Foundation for Shamanic Studies

https://youtu.be/fbGbp-QEjCk?si=F0DnpEf_LO7KPUTU

Harner on Shamanic Healing

  • Trance is referred to by him as a shamanic state of consciousness.
  • What we see as reality to them was a false reality. 
  • The true world is the realm of the spirits.


 Question2

Video A: What are the ethics of shamanism according to Michael Harner? What does he mean by "spiritual democracy"? 

Notes

  • The ethics of shamanism is survival. 
  • Everybody has the ability to access their spiritual roots to retain and recover his/her right to contact the spiritual realm themselves and get into the spiritual reality by themselves.

 

 (B)


 
(00:00 - 14:50 - 17:00) 

Harner on the Transcedence of Time in Shamanic Practice
 
 Notes
 
The use of the drum is necessary to experience journeying.
Sonic driving which happens with the sound of the drum.
It can even done inside of the head with the sound of the mouth harp.

Question 2

Video B: Which are the 3 experiences mentioned by Harner? What is the purpose of going out of time?

3 Types of Experiences are:

Type 1- (Compression of time; journeying into the past; going forward into the future)

Type 2 - (Simultaneous experiences [experiencing dream time and ordinary time at the same time], like the kind experienced by Australian aborigines); and merging (combining oneself with another entity (a deity or powerful spirit) that helps the person heal by accessing the true reality that can be trusted, as opposed to ordinary reality which is deceiving)

Type 3 - Ecstatic cosmic union

Nathan Hill (2004) refers to this as experiencing "the universe at the atomic level" and experiencing "the eternal ecstatic cosmic union of Siva and Shakti."

Link: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Already_Awake/9AzoCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ecstatic+cosmic+union&pg=PT17&printsec=frontcover

 

George and Bloch (2003) further underline the "cosmic rhythm of the whole" to "enter into the 'one mind'.” They add that "while this state may last only for a moment, it provides the partners with a true experience of ecstatic bliss, cosmic union, and personal transcendence."

Link:https://www.google.com/books/edition/Asteroid_Goddesses/LGThprOnsR0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ecstatic+cosmic+union&pg=PP272&printsec=frontcover

 

Ariel (2006) explains how the "ecstatic Kabbalists sought union with Malkhut or Tiferet while the more radical Kabbalists sought annihilation of their own self within The Infinite." "They seek to become 'absorbed,' 'integrated' or 'one' with God to obliterate their sense of self and lose themselves within the ocean of divine being." absor.. cosmic action results in a " unity " ( yihhud ) . This is an indirect form of mystical unionto grasp the divine.

Link:  https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kabbalah/SEDMBtWDSNIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ecstatic+cosmic+union&pg=PA208&printsec=frontcover


Mosher 2022 says that once we achieve the "ecstatic moment of cosmic union, what remains for humans to do is to nurture and grow the incipient moral sprouts of humaneness, of which the feeling of commiseration is an example) within human nature." 

Link:https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Georgetown_Companion_to_Interreligio/tiZZEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ecstatic+cosmic+union&pg=PA305&printsec=frontcover

The purpose or going out of time is not the experience itself, but to acquire the knowledge to bring back the powers needed to heal others. All of the above experiences happen via sonic drumming.

 7

Ethical Considerations in Shamanic Healing By Susan Mokelke, J.D. 

 https://www.shamanism.org/ethical-considerations-in-shamanic-healing/

 

Question 3

According to this article, what is the main purpose of the shaman?

 

 

8

Spirituality and Human Nature by Donald Evans 

(Page 80)

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Spirituality_and_Human_Nature/HnBqvNUt7VoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=bioenergetic+transfer+in+spiritist+practice&pg=PA80&printsec=frontcover

 

9

Activity

 Davidji is a globally recognized mind-body health & wellness expert, mindful performance trainer, meditation teacher & author. He is credited with creating the 21-day meditation process, which spawned hundreds of 21-day meditation experiences & challenges around the world.


(00:00 - 3:55)

Question 4

Describe your experience when doing the above mindful meditation.
 

IV

 

A Note to Remember

 The motions used in their dances were basic, everyday movements, which were simple enough that everyone could join in. Men at the time also used dance as a way to prepare for battle. They would perform war dances to build teamwork and work themselves up for battles. The shaman's roll was to mediate by communicating  with the spirits on behalf of the community, including the spirits of the deceased. to alleviate unrest, unsettled issues, and to deliver gifts to the spirits. So far we have seen the bison, the lion and today the deer as a part animal of a human. The shaman, as the zoomorphic human, transforms into an animal by means of casting spells, using the animal spirit to help.



V

 Case Studies

 

Book Link:

Dance Appreciation by Julie Dawn Loring

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dance_Appreciation/LyP_DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=dancers+imitate+animal+movement&pg=PT21&printsec=frontcover

Dance as Imitation

(Page 11)

Question 5

Who were the dancers imitating and why?

 

Book link:

 Yaqui Myths and Legends

Pages 9 - 11 

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yaqui_Myths_and_Legends/LZkwEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Yaqui&printsec=frontcover

Question 6

Why are the Yaqui people and important reference when trying to understand Paleo-Indians?

 

Videos 

1

Shamanic Deer Dance

 

 2

Deer Dance / Ballet Folklorico



Question 7

What is your overall response to these videos, specifically to the role of the shaman in the Paleolithic? Compare and contrast both dance performances.

 

VI


ACTIVITY 1

 

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Trauma Release




Question 8

What animal did you identify with during the meditation?

ACTIVITY 2

Create a shamanic dance. Choose 8 moves that represent an animal of your choice. Perform the dance with intention.  Experience the drumming.



VII
 
Students' Work
 

 
VIII

JOURNALING


Write a brief reflection about your experience in class today and post it on Discussion Board. Find two posts you would like to interact with. 
 
 
IX

Glossary

1. sonic driving

2. Type one experiences or simple experiences:

  • Compression of time
  • Journey into the past
  • Journey into the after death-future

3.  Type two experiences or simultaneous experiences:

  • Dream time & ordinary time (example: Australian Aborigines)
  • Merging (example: All shamans)

4. Type three experiences:

  • Static cosmic union (Done with sonic driving) 

5. Shamanic state of consciousness

6. Mencius (Mengzi): Mencius (372 0 289 BC) was a fourth-century BCE Chinese thinker whose importance in the Confucian tradition is second only to that of Confucius himself.

 

X

Sources

Korisettar, Ravi (1998). Early Human Behaviour in Global Context. Routledge.

McBrearty, Sally; Brooks, Allison (2000). "The revolution that wasn't: a new interpretation of the origin of modern human behavior". Journal of Human Evolution. 39 (5): 453–563.

Henshilwood, Christopher; Marean, Curtis (2003). "The Origin of Modern Human Behavior: Critique of the Models and Their Test Implications". Current Anthropology. 44 (5): 627–651.

Hill, Kim; et al. (2009). "The Emergence of Human Uniqueness: Characters Underlying Behavioral Modernity". Evolutionary Anthropology. 18 (5): 187–200. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.469.5702.

Trinu Ojamaa. THE SHAMAN AS THE ZOOMORPHIC HUMAN. https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol4/triinu.htm

 Hill, Nathan (2004). Already Awake: Dialogues with Nathan Hill. New Harbinger Publications

Demetra George and Douglas Bloch (). Asteroid Goddesses: The Mythology, Psychology and Astrology of the Emerging Feminine. Nicolas-Hayes Inc.

Ariel, David S. (200). Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism. Rowman and Littlefield (page 208)

Song, Bin (2022). Ideal and Reality: An Interreligious Reading of the Gospel of John and the Mengzi. The Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies. (Editor Lucinda Mosher). Georgetown University Press. Page 305)


XI

Students' Work

 

 
 

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