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Process of Initiation Using Dreams

Bibliographic Data

ID20148555
AuthorsRyo Inoue (0000-0002-0106-9777, Osaka Shoin Women's University, corresponding author)
Year1993
Volume1993
Issue42
Pages27-43
Publication date1993-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0065-4140 • E-ISSN: 1884-5533
PublisherJapan Association for African Studies (PUBLISHER • JP)
DOI10.11619/africa1964.1993.27
OpenAlexW2328338450
LanguageEN
References cited7

This paper which is based on original field-work carried out between August 1989 and July 1990 in the Province of Adamawa, Cameroon, presents a typology of medicine men. It offers a description of the initiation by way of dreams, a process which I underwent myself. The initiation by way of dreams is discussed from a psychological perspective. I explore the possibility of reframing the prevailing paradigm of psychotherapy by making use of indigenous African practices.The initiation by way of dreams includes several stages: the induction of dreams, the overcoming of fear in dreams, the induction of a pathological dream state, and dream control. A medicine-man receives his calling by falling ill according to a culturally defined syndrome. The initiation is a tool to reproduce this creative illness.During the process the initiate is made to achieve a state of lucid dreams, of ‘being awake while dreaming’. I argue that the concept of ‘lucid dreams’ provides us with an important clue in the study of ecstasy and possession. It also has great potential in training programs for psychotherapists treating borderline or psychotic patients

Art · Cognitive reframing · Dream · Indigenous · Lucid dream · Perspective (graphical) · Possession (linguistics) · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Sociology · Trance · Typology · Visual arts · Anthropology · Medicine · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Sleep and Wakefulness Research

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Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo

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