Observations placeholder
A P Elkin - Aboriginal men of high degree - Ta-ta-thi medicine men
Identifier
003872
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
This describes an initiation process
A description of the experience
From Aboriginal Men of High degree - A P Elkin
We have no information about the making of the Ta-ta-thi medicine men, but we are told that some of them obtained a special privilege of being carried aloft by the ghost of a woman. A medicine man invoked her powers by chewing a piece of skin that he had cut from her stomach after death and cured in the smoke of his campfire. He was thus able to visit the world of the sky, that being a solid vault, with a window that was guarded by a ghost.
Beveridge says that a medicine man of the Laitulaitu tribe was made by sleeping for a month in the hut built over the grave of a medicine man. He adds that it was usually the greatest scamp who was the candidate.
The source of the experience
Australian aboriginalConcepts, symbols and science items
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
DehydrationNutritional deprivation
Overwhelming fear and terror