What are the origins of shamanic journeying imagery? The modification of a hypnoanalytic technique to address an enduring methodological problem.

Abstract

Shamanic journeying imagery arguably transcends geographical space and historical time. However, to what extent is the content of the journeying imagery a construction of the shaman's cultural cosmology, belief systems, autobiographical memories, etc? It is suggested that attempts to answer this question are hampered by a fundamental methodological obstacle: how to detect contextual influences on imagery that the shaman cannot report on because they are outside his/her present awareness and memory. A partial solution is presented: Watkins' (1971) Affect Bridge, a hypnoanalytic technique used to uncover the origin of an affect. A nonhypnotic version of the technique developed for inquiry into shamanic journeying imagery is then explicated. Two recent empirical studies conducted by Rock (2006) and Rock, Casey and Baynes (2006), illustrating the utility of the Modified Affect Bridge with regards to investigating experimentally the origin of ostensibly shamanic journeying imagery reported by naive participants, are summarized. A tentative ostensibly shamanic journeying imagery origin typology is formulated and suggestions for future research are advanced.

Some Rudimentary Problems Pertaining to the Construction of an Ontology and Epistemology of Shamanic Journeying Imagery

“…An ostensibly shamanic journeying image may be conceptualized as transpersonal if the image appears to be linked to something that exists independently of the participant's mind-body complex. Finally, an indeterminate status is conferred upon an ostensibly shamanic journeying image if the participant is unable to isolate its origin (Rock & Baynes, 2007).…”