Spirit Possession as Focal Point in the Constellation of Religion, Materialism and Ecology
Mary L. Keller
April 5, 2023 DOI: 10.4324/9781003320722-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that spirit possession, exemplified by the Cambodian neak ta and their mediums, can be understood through a pre-contact narrative of spirits as anterior kin who re-member lively, pre-commodified matter, providing a path between situationalist and substantialist readings. Proposes naming the Spirit of Climate Change as a novel spirit that possesses all matter, and contends that consulting local spirits can make humans 'morally efficacious beings' who counterbalance its forces. |
Abstract
This chapter proposes a contribution to comparative study of agential ontologies by focusing on the practice of spirit possession as a circumcentre of ‘religion&s;, ‘materialism&s; and ‘ecology&s; (RME). Drawing from Courtney Work&s;s anthropology/political economy of forest guardians in Cambodia, neak ta , who sometimes possess humans, Part One explores the religious situation of instrumental agency, when the medium ( rup ) accomplishes work, war and play on behalf of Yeah Tape , a spirit guarding her home . Part Two considers Work&s;s materialist argument against the word spirit and for the term ‘chthonic sovereigns&s;. I argue for a pre-contact narrative of spirits as anterior kin who re-member lively, pre-commodified matter, providing a path between situationalist and substantialist readings of spirit possession. Part Three names the Spirit of Climate Change as a novel spirit that possesses and excites all matter. Told as an epic tale in which humans become ‘morally efficacious beings&s; when they consult local spirits to counterbalance the forces exerted by the Spirit of Climate Change, this narrative arc cultivates agential space for work towards a viable world.