Mana: psychic energy, spiritual power, and the experiencing brain

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article hypothesizes that the root meaning of the concept mana (including cognate terms in other Pacific languages) derives from the direct experience of psychic energy which may then be interpreted in individual traditions as associated with personal power, healing, shamanic skill, transmission of status, political authority, orientation to land, efficacy, and so forth. I posit (1) that the root transpersonal experience of psychic energy is a pan-cultural universal, an experience and concept found among spiritual traditions around the world, labeled under different terms and associations, and (2) that there are neuropsychological data to support such a claim. Evidence for the spontaneous occurrence and ritual evocation of psychic energy experiences is derived not only from traditional spiritual traditions, but also from all the major global religions. Grounding the origins of mana in experience, rather than myth, lore, metaphysics, etc., will clarify the confusion often encountered in the anthropological literature on Pacific spiritual traditions.