A Portrait of Spiritual Trauma in the Tradition of the Descent of Salih Among Women in Siulak, Kerinci

Abstract

This article is grounded in the mystical traditions experienced by women—both those who accept and those who reject them—in the Siulak region of Kerinci. The aim of this study is to examine the dimensions of mysticism within the Penurunan Salih tradition in Siulak District, Kerinci, with a focus on the psychological and sociological impacts on women who are chosen by ancestral spirits. Unlike previous studies that tend to describe rituals as cultural heritage, this research highlights the tension between customary authority and women’s individual agency. This study employs a phenomenological approach to explore the subjects’ experiences in depth. Data were collected through participant observation and in-depth interviews with women who became Balian Salih as well as those who had previously refused the call. Analysis was conducted using Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of Symbolic Violence and Marlene Winell’s STR. The findings reveal that the Penurunan Salih tradition often manifests as a form of “supernatural coercion,” leading to spiritual trauma and psychosomatic disorders, ranging from chronic headaches to disturbances of consciousness (insanity). Pressure from traditional structures through the role of the Ninik Mamak and the legitimacy of rituals leaves women with no choice but to accept the role of Balian Salih. Although this tradition is formally integrated with Islamic symbols (syncretism), residual trauma indicates the subordination of women’s bodies as