Supernatural Beings Research Articles

«Сутра о восьми светоносных неба и земли» как источник по пантеону Тибета

Introduction. A Tibetan version of the apocryphal Sūtra of Eight Luminous of Heaven and Earth to have been included in Gzungs-′dus and Mdo-mangs collections of minor non-canonical texts is a ritual text containing lists of various supernatural beings of Tibetan religious system. Some of these cannot be found in Chinese or Indian traditions and obviously have Tibetan pre-Buddhist roots. This version of the Sūtra serves to neutralize supernatural beings mentioned in the text via reciting their names. It is also represented by an Oirat translation made by Jaya Paṇḍita Nam-mkha′ rgya-mtsho (1599–1662). Goals. The article aims to analyze lists of supernatural beings which supposedly have Tibetan origin and differ in Tibetan and Oirat versions. Two texts — the Tibetan version from Gzungs-′dus collection and the Oirat translation by Jaya Paṇḍita Nam-mkha′ rgya-mtsho — are used as main sources. A gter-ma text of incense (Tib. bsang) offering dedicated to this Sūtra and Chapter 31 of Vaidurya-dkar po containing materials on earth lords (Tib. sa-bdag) serve as complementary sources for comparative analysis. Results. The two abovementioned versions have differences in lists of nāgas, deities and earth lords belonging to pre-Buddhist religious system. It is proposed that Jaya Paṇḍita had used some other Tibetan text of the Sūtra (now extant) which differed from the version included in Gzungs-′dus. Correspondences between some names in the Oirat translation and the gter-ma text by Nyang-ral Nyi-ma ′od-zer (Eastern Tibet) make it possible to conclude that the extant Tibetan version used by Jaya Paṇḍita could have also been composed in the same region. All names from the additional list of earth lords’ names found only in the Tibetan version of the Sūtra and missing in Oirat text can be identified through Chapter 31 of Vaidurya-dkar po, therefore the paper proposes this composition authored by sde-srid Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho could have also been used by compilers after the mid-to-late 17th century during long editing processes experienced by the Tibetan text of the Sūtra.

ETNOGRAFI GAWAI DALAM PERKAWINAN SUKU TALANG MAMAK DI DESA TALANG SUNGAI LIMAU KECAMATAN RAKIT KULIM

This study discusses the meaning of Gawai in the marriage of the Talang Mamak tribe in the village of Talang Sungai Limau, Rakit Kulim sub-district, the Gawai Ritual is a series of marriage rituals for the indigenous Talang Mamak tribe which includes a series of traditional pre-wedding processions until the device is implemented. The process of getting to the gadget goes through quite complicated stages starting from visiting a woman's house (betandang). taking things from men as a symbol of the seriousness of the relationship (bebibitan). The woman's family goes to the man's family asking for the seriousness of the relationship (menyulu) pick-up, three days left at each bride's house (balek-balekan) until the procession of the marriage contract (sembah mertua), the Gawai ritual has a symbol of meaning contained in it. . This study uses an ethnographic approach to obtain data and interpret data, where the ritual of the gawai is the main focus of this study. There are sacralizations and symbols in gadgets, not only objects but also motion and speech. Gambling and fighting as a form of negotiation between humans and supernatural beings so as not to interfere with the running of the device.

Imagination is the Power of Myth, the Rest is Painted with a Touch of Science Fiction: A Study of Mythology and Science Fiction

ABSTRACT At the beginning of human existence, myths functioned as realizations of the fundamental mysteries of life. In the absence of scientific information of any kind, societies devised creation myths, resurrection myths, and complicated systems of supernatural beings, each with specific powers and stories regarding their actions. At its best, science fiction generally tries to free the imagination and also opens up new avenues of perception. Its validity lies in its efforts to convey an exhilarating and life-enhancing appreciation of the mystery of the universe, of existence. The first science fiction was very much utopian; the following concerned a heavenly body and celestial body travel. As an effect, the genre arose out of the intensifying tenets that typify science and as initiative, and resourcefulness comprises the spirit of science. Through this paper, I will show how mythology and science fiction amalgamate and interconnect together. In the beginning, the inspiration for science fiction came from mythology, which means imagination changes into the reality of life.

Anthroposophical Climate Science Denial

Climate science denial has a perhaps surprisingly strong standing in anthroposophy. Anthroposophical deniers of climate science usually do not contest the existence of global warming, but they ascribe it to “cosmic” processes that are largely described in astrological terms. Thoroughly refuted claims that ongoing global warming depends on variations in solar activity have been adopted by anthroposophists. This article proposes three major explanations for the persistence of climate science denial in the anthroposophical movement: Anthroposophists constantly look for guidance on scientific issues in the writings of their founder Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), who made claims far off from the mainstream science of his time. They consider the material world to be constantly influenced by “spiritual” factors, including astrological constellations and a host of supernatural beings. Finally, they cherish ideas on a predetermined, largely cyclic, cosmic plan, of which humanity is a part.

Ecotypes de genre(s) et sexuations variables pour les ontologies surnaturelles de la sauvagerie des imaginaires transalpins (Alpes, Himalaya, Atlas)

"Are the fantastic ontologies that inhabit human narrative imaginaries of one specific sex? We will examine the question of the variable sexuations of supernatural beings in the upland wildness, exploring the folklores of the Alps, the Himalayas and the Atlas Range. Wild beings, both feminine and masculine, intervene in the transmission of dairy and cereal techniques, thus breaking the classical boundary that separates an essentially cultural and anthropized universe from the world of wildness."

Relasi Magis, Agama dan Pengetahuan dengan Sistem Kepercayaan Tradisional pada Long Storage Kalimati

Related to the traditional belief in the Long Storage of Kalimati, this study aims to explain the relationship between various kinds of beliefs that exist in the residents of Leminggir Village, Mojosari District, Mojokerto Regency. The focus of this study is to determine the relationship between magic, religion and knowledge with the traditional belief system of society. This descriptive study was prepared using ethnographic methods and the use of J.G Frazer's theory of religious evolution because it is in accordance with the main concepts that discuss magic, religion, and science. The main object of this research is the Kalimati Long Storage. The main data source of this study was obtained based on the results of interviews with Mr. Turoikhan, an elder, a resident of Leminggir Village.The results of the discussion show that there is a belief in the people of Leminggir Village towards magic, religion and knowledge that go hand in hand. As shown by the public's belief in supernatural beings who are the cause of the drowning of children, so that in their search efforts use magic, as well as religious methods as well as the use of technological advances like a motorized boat. The benefit of this research is that it can be used as an educational medium about a culture of tolerance and mutual respect for the existence of various beliefs.
 Keywords: evolution religi; traditional belief system; Long Storage Kalimati

Dreams in the Narratives of the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms

The article presents a classification and analysis of references to dreams in the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk yusa)an extensive systematized collection of materials on the history of Korea from ancient times to the end of the 13th century, which was composed by the Korean Buddhist monk Iryeon (12061289). According to the functions of these references in the text and to the degree of their exposure to Buddhist influence, they are classified into two groups: figurative dreams, graphically and unambiguously predicting inevitable future events, and dreams-conversations, in which supernatural beings seek to influence the behavior of the hero. These two groups are further subdivided into several subgroups, among which special attention is paid to the stories about interactions between human beings and the characters of the Buddhist pantheon. On the basis of the Buddhist canon, it is suggested that the Buddhist concept of correlation between the way of such an interaction (in a dream or in reality) and the degree of spiritual maturity of the practitioner is superimposed here on the universal scheme of prophetic dreams.

Thyroid psychosis: a case report

IntroductionWe present the case of a patient who after a year of psychotic symptoms is diagnosed with thyroid cancer with hyperthyroidism.ObjectivesA brief review is made of the psychotic symptoms in a patient with hyperthyroidism secondary to cancer of the gland.MethodsWe present the case of a 52-year-old patient, a former injecting drug addict, who after a year with psychotic symptoms, is diagnosed with thyroid cancer with hyperthyroidism. The patient reported that a year ago, he suddenly had a painless and indurated lump in his neck, associated with weight loss and confusional symptoms. One month after the appearance of the tumor, the patient began to present visual, kinesthetic and haptic hallucinations, with the sensation that supernatural beings were passing through and possessing him. Likewise, he referred to being able to see and feel the atoms of matter, being able to communicate with a superior being whom he called “creator”.ResultsThe patient is admitted for psychotic symptoms. During it, the necessary complementary tests are carried out, objectifying a clinical situation of hyperthyroidism. The study is extended, observing a hyperfunctioning nodule, which corresponded to thyroid cancer.ConclusionsNeuropsychiatric symptoms in hyperthyroidism are relatively common. In most cases, the most frequent are cognitive alterations, attention problems and working memory problems. It can also lead to depressive episodes, and more rarely, psychotic symptoms.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

From Theism to Spirit Beliefs

I argue that arguments for the existence of God provide indirect support for the existence of other supernatural beings such as spirits. I defend three arguments: (i) the existence of spirits is more likely if there is a supernatural realm; (ii) an omnibenevolent God makes use of supernatural messengers; (iii) sacred scriptures attest to the existence of spirits. I defend all arguments and defend them against objections.

Medicine, black magic and supernatural beings: Cultural rituals as a significant threat to slender lorises in India

AbstractTrade of wildlife for use in traditional medicines, rituals, magical spells and cultural practices occurs globally and has been studied mostly in Africa and Asia.The grey slender lorisLoris lydekkerianusis used for both medicinal and ritual purposes, but little information is available on how the user is meant to extract their medicinal properties, or the potential impact these practices have on the species' populations.From 2014–2021, we used open‐ended interviews with 293 informants in three slender loris range states in Southern India to collect qualitative information on people's beliefs regarding the use of slender lorises in traditional medicine, black magic rituals and other cultural practices. To understand this further, we analysed data on 139 live slender loris rescues from three rescue and rehabilitation centres and one government organization in Bengaluru, India collected over an 18‐year period.We found that 116/139 live individuals had been involved in black magic rituals, including piercing, or burning the body and the eyes. These ritual practices occurred more often to female slender lorises and during the new moon. Data from 293 interviews revealed that astrologers regularly use live lorises for fortune‐telling or for warding off evil. Slender loris body parts are used to make traditional folk medicine, develop black magic potions that bring people harm, hypnotize people or to thwart evil.Habitat loss and anthropogenic pressures, coupled with the existing slender loris trade for cultural practices, are a cause for grave concern. Numerous deep‐rooted superstitious beliefs and rituals continue to thrive in modern India, and this is potentially one of the major threats to India's already imperilled slender loris population. More research into the prevalence of loris use for black magic is needed to assess the impact on species sustainability.Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.

A cosmopolitical education: Indigenous language revitalization among Tuxá people from Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT The Tuxá people from Rodelas, in the Brazilian state of Bahia, traditionally live at the São Francisco riverbanks. Because of their historical dwelling in the place, many more-than-human relations have been established, especially with their ancestors, supernatural beings known as encantados who continue to live in the land. Nowadays, Tuxá teachers, working on a specific school curriculum, are revitalizing Dzubukuá, a language that they currently master only to a certain extent and within ritual contexts. Strengthening the relations with the encantados due to their continuous political struggle to guarantee Indigenous rights, the Tuxá have been emboldening their engagement with Dzubukuá revitalization through both the ritual communication with encantados and the linguistic studies based on a colonial bilingual catechism written in Portuguese and Dzubukuá. Here I demonstrate how Tuxá’s understanding of territoriality, inhabited along with other cosmological entities, can offer a view of Indigenous knowledge, education, and resistance in Northeast Brazil.

Icelandic Folklore and the Cultural Memory of Religious Change

Icelandic Folklore and the Cultural Memory of Religious Change

Mantra Pelangkahan Masyarakat Desa Muara Musu Kecamatan Rambah Hilir Kabupaten Rokan Hulu Semiotic Analysis

This research is firm with a naturalistic point of view as well as with an interpretive understanding of human experience. The purpose of this study is to describe the semiotic forms of the stepping spell. So in this study, analyzing the semiotic form of the step spell using the theoretical concept of Charles Sandes Peirce. The method used in this study is a qualitative method. Qualitative research is interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary and sometimes counter-disciplinary. Qualitative research touches on the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. The results of Mantra's research are a traditional speech that grows and develops in the Rokan Hulu community, which contains values ??and customs that are still maintained and developed in that community. One of the mantras that exist in the Rokan Hulu community is the stepping spell. The stepping spell has its own function that is useful for protecting oneself from human enemies, spirits, animals, diseases and so on that occur while leaving the house. The meaning contained in this step spell is as follows. That the stepping spell contains the meaning of the harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and supernatural beings in the cosmological system of the people of Muara Musu Village. In addition, there is also wisdom about self-identity, cultural preservation, and the welfare of life

Gods and monsters: Greek mythology and Christian references in the neurosurgical lexicon.

Background: Myths and religion are belief systems centered around supernatural entities that attempt to explain the observed world and are of high importance to certain communities. The former is a collection of stories that belong to a cultural tradition and the latter are organized faiths that determine codes of ethics, rituals and philosophy. Deities or monstrous creatures in particular act as archetypes instructing an individual’s conduct. References to them in Greek mythology and Christianity are frequently manifested in the modern neurosurgical vernacular.Methods: A review of the medical literature was performed using the PubMed and MEDLINE bibliographic databases. Publications from 1875 to 2021 related to neurosurgery or neuroanatomy with the medical subject headings (MeSH) terms mythology, religion, Christianity and Catholicism were reviewed. References pertaining to supernatural beings were classified to either a deity or a monstrosity according to their conventional cultural context.Results: Twelve narratives associated with neurosurgery were identified, nine relating to Greek mythology and three associated with the Christian-Catholic faith. Eight accounts concerned deities and the remaining with monstrous creatures.Conclusion: This article explores the etymology of commonly utilized terms in daily neurosurgical practice in the context of mythology and religion. They reveal the ingenuity and creativity of early pioneers who strived to understand the brain.

Sahel:Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara

Sahel:Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara

Philip Pullman and Spiritual Quest

The polarized initial reception of Philip Pullman as a “new atheist” has gradually yielded to more nuanced scholarly positionings of his work as inspired by a heterodox, even “heretical,” Christianity. But in his new series, Pullman responds decisively to both “new atheist” and “heterodox Christian” interpretations, while widening the scope of his critical representations beyond Christian—indeed, beyond Abrahamic—religion. What emerges in the completed books of the incomplete new series, The Book of Dust, is a “secret commonwealth” of supernatural beings inhabiting multiple universes. These are all manifestations of Dust, the spiritual sentience of matter itself, which provides the basis for mystical visions and shamanistic beliefs, as well as religious orthodoxies. Rejecting the latter for the former, the second book in particular, The Secret Commonwealth, suggests an endorsement of spiritual quest. To motivate acceptance of this interpretation, we begin by reviewing the critical reception of His Dark Materials, especially in relation to its theological implications. After that, we turn to the representation of reductionist positions in The Book of Dust, especially the authors presented in The Secret Commonwealth, Gottfried Brande and Simon Talbot. Then, we investigate the representation of the Abrahamic religions in that work, intrigued less by the obvious parallels between Pullman’s imaginary religions and Christianity and Islam, than by his positive representation of mysticism. Finally, we examine his representations of shamanism and animism, soul belief and hermetic doctrines, and his allusions to Zoroastrianism, before summing up. Pullman is an a-theist in the sense of being without a god, not in the post-Enlightenment sense of a rejection of the supernatural/spiritual. His imaginary universe celebrates spiritual quest and ontological multiplicity, against all forms of speculative closure.

ANALISIS ASPEK LINGUAL MANTRA KESELAMETAN PANOLAK SANGKIL (Kajian Etnolinguistik)

This study examines the mantra used by the people of Dukuan Hamlet, Metatu Village, Benjeng District, Gresik Regency when doing a safar (trip). The Panolak Sangkil Safety Mantra is used by the surrounding community to fortify themselves from disturbance by supernatural beings, evil spirits and spirits during the trip. This study uses an ethnolinguistic approach and interviews and documentation. The research data is provided by the method of observing, recording, and recording and presenting the data with data reduction, translation, validation, analysis, and interpretation. The results of research on the lingual aspect of the mantra found (1) repetition consisting of grammatical, lexical and semantic repetition patterns, (2) semantic decomposition, (3) saroja words, (4) metaphors, (5) mention of mythological figures, and ( 6) mention of god. From the analysis, it is found that the language aspect of the mantra is related to the culture of the Gresik people.

REPRESENTATION OF HULI JING (FEMALE FOX SPIRIT) IN CHINESE LITERARY TEXTS

Chinese women are often depicted in mythological texts as supernatural beings, such as ghosts and spirits. Female supernatural beings are also described as having bad behavior and bringing disaster to men. One of the bad female supernatural creatures is the fox spirit (Huli Jing). The life of fox spirit can be found in literary texts from imperial to modern times, such as Fox Enchantment (1766) by Pu Songling and Dragon Springs Road (2017) by Janie Chang. This study tries to compare the representation of Huli Jing in imperial and modern texts. In analysing the problem of women’s representation through fox spirit, this study uses a descriptive anaylsis method combined with the semiotic concept of Roland Barthes. This study aims to reveal the transformation of Huli Jing’s representation, as well as the construction of women in Chinese mythology.KEYWORDS: fox spirit; representation; mythology

The Viking Immigrants: Icelandic North Americans by L. K. Bertram

Reviewed by: The Viking Immigrants: Icelandic North Americans by L. K. Bertram Kirsten Wolf The Viking Immigrants: Icelandic North Americans. By L. K. Bertram. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2020. ix + 228 pp. Illustrations, appendix, notes, bibliography, index. $26.96 paper. Research on North Americans of Icelandic descent has focused primarily—though not exclusively—on the language and literature of the immigrants along with the early history of their settlements in North America, primarily Canada. Accordingly, this book, which straddles history, ethnography, anthropology, folklore, and gender studies, is most welcome in that it "focuses on the unseen qualities—the immigrant habits, ideas, and traditions observed by so many Icelandic visitors and the distinctive, everyday popular culture that emerged in North American Icelandic communities" (5). The book is the result of extensive archival work in both Iceland and Canada, many interviews and interactions with descendants of the immigrants, and a critical assessment of previous historical research. In her lengthy introduction, Bertram provides among other things a brief history of the Western Icelanders, as they are typically called in Iceland. The story has been told many times, but Bertram tells it especially well, and what is novel about her story is that here and elsewhere she pays considerable attention to the Icelanders' relations and interactions with local Indigenous people. In the five chapters following the introduction, she turns to material culture, for "material culture, or the history of objects, offers a helpful alternative for understanding both everyday historical life and the complexity of historical populations" (19). The first chapter ("Dressing Up: Clothing and Upward Mobility in the Early Immigrant Community, 1870–1900") explores the role of clothing in the lives of the immigrants and the way in which they abandoned traditional Icelandic fashions in favor of North American garments. The second chapter ("The Coffee Pot and King Bacchus: Icelandic Drinking Cultures") examines the cultural and political history of drink—coffee and alcohol—in Icelandic North American society. As Bertram points out, the Icelandic immigrants were relatively united in their efforts to maintain their coffee culture on a continent where tea drinking was the norm. When it came to alcohol, they were very divided, and this resulted in the establishment of several temperance movements led mostly by women. In chapter 3 ("Unsettling Apparitions: Power, Ghost Stories, and Superstitious Belief"), Bertram turns to forms of culture less visible to outside eyes, that is, the belief in supernatural beings such as hidden people and ghosts. The focus of chapter 4 ("Main Street Vikings: Anglicization, Spectacle, and the Two World Wars") is the image of the Viking. During periods of anti-immigrant sentiment, the Icelandic immigrants emphasized their Viking heritage in literature, on roadside monuments, in parades, and so forth as a way in which to legitimize their settlement in the New World. The final chapter ("Icelandic Cake Fight: A Brief History of Vínarterta") discusses the vínarterta, a fruit torte considered a special Icelandic cake by North Americans of Icelandic descent, yet now virtually unknown in Iceland. As noted by Bertram, the cake remains a powerful symbol of Icelandic immigrant culture, yet it is also the subject of contention, as there are conflicting opinions about the correct or original recipe for the torte. [End Page 164] (In an appendix, Bertram prints a number of vínarterta recipes, including one from 1795.) A conclusion, notes, a bibliography, and a name and subject index round off the volume. The Viking Immigrants: Icelandic North Americans is a joy to read, and L. K. Bertram is to be congratulated on her fine work. There is much to be learned from this well-written and well-structured book. It is copiously illustrated with black-and-white photographs culled from individuals and archives. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Icelandic culture in North America. Kirsten Wolf Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic University of Wisconsin–Madison Copyright © 2022 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Nazwy istot nadprzyrodzonych we współczesnej polszczyźnie ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem dziedzictwa słowiańskiego (na materiale Wielkiego słownika języka polskiego PAN)

The topic of the article are the names of supernatural beings found in contemporary Polish. The research material comes from the Polish Academy of Sciences Great Dictionary of Polish. The author discusses the cultural affiliation of lexical units, their metaphorical meanings and axiological characterization. The analysis of the semantic field proved that it is dominated by native Slavic and Polish beliefs, as well as the Christian and ancient traditions.