Spirit possession is a paranormal or supernatural event in which it is said that animas, demons, extraterrestrials, gods, spirits, or other disincarnate entities take control of a human body, resulting in noticeable changes in health and behaviour. The term can also describe a similar action of taking residence in an inanimate object, possibly giving it animation.
The concept of spiritual possession exists in many religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Haitian Vodou, Wicca, and Southeast Asian and African traditions. Depending on the cultural context in which it is found, possession may be considered voluntary or involuntary and may be considered to have beneficial or detrimental effects.
Spirit possession is cross-culturally more common among women than men.
Read more about Spirit Possession: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Spiritism and Spiritualism, Wicca, Examples
Famous quotes containing the words spirit and/or possession:
“It is not one man nor a million, but the spirit of liberty that must be preserved. The waves which dash upon the shore are, one by one, broken, but the ocean conquers nevertheless. It overwhelms the Armada, it wears out the rock. In like manner, whatever the struggle of individuals, the great cause will gather strength.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.”
—John Locke (1632–1704)