|
The following is an outline of comparisons between the experience of Mis and that of a Kwakiutl hamatsa. It should be noted that there is quite a bit of variety in hamatsa rituals, and in shamanic rites in general, because of the individual nature of the spiritual experiences involved. In this case, the essential points of the rite are to return the hamatsa to civilisation.143 In all these charts, many of the footnotes are contained above, where I have covered the stages of crisis in more detail. Where that is not the case, I have included them here.
Mis and the Hamatsa
| Hamatsa |
Mis |
| Must be son of an important chief, or a chief himself.144 |
Daughter of Dáire Dóidgheal, a noble who attempted to conquer Ireland. |
| Precipitating crisis hard to determine, in a story
relating to the first hamshamtses (an earlier
version of the cannibal dance) it is precipitated
by suicidal depression and an encounter with a spirit.145 |
Precipitated by the death of her father in
battle, when she sucked his blood from his wounds.
|
| Hamatsa possessed by spirit of Man-Eater.146 |
It is not suggested that Mis is possessed. |
| Goes out into the wilderness, gaining mystical powers, power of flight suggested by hamatsa coming into lodge through smokehole
during later ceremony.147 |
She goes out into the wilderness and gains
power of flight and swiftness.
|
| Gets uncontrollable craving for human
flesh, which he will tear off people with his
teeth.148 |
Kills and eats both humans and animals,
rending them with her bare hands.
|
| Community deeply involved in ceremony to
return hamatsa to civilisation.149 |
Dubh Ruis brings Mis back himself. Com-
munity support indicated by the fact that the
king has ordered she not be killed.
|
| Returned to society by stages, first by the
singing and erotic dance of a woman relative150
Display, distribution, and destruction of wealth
is a feature of the ceremony.151 |
Mis returned by Dubh Ruis' music, the silver
and gold he has laid out, and a sexual
encounter with him. Dubh Ruis is not a
relative.
|
| He is bathed in special water, heated by hot
stones immersed in it, with special herbs in it.152 |
Dubh Ruis bathes Mis in the hole he has
cooked meat in, full of the broth of the stag,
heated by hot stones.
|
| He eats a meal in a civilised manner.153 |
Dubh Ruis prevents her eating the deer raw,
but cooks it and gives her bread.
|
| The hamatsa is finally tamed when he is made
to inhale smoke of burning menstrual blood.154
At this hamatsa is "reborn."
|
No clear comparison to Mis' story at this
stage, other than blood drinking at start, which initiates rather than concludes the process.
|
| There is a lengthy re-education process lasting
from 1-3 years.155 |
Dubh Ruis stayed with her for two months
until her reason was restored.
|
| The hamatsa becomes one of the most highly regarded, powerful, and accomplished
members of society.156 The hamatsa is
regarded as a source of life,157 and fertility.158
|
Mis becomes the most beautiful and
accomplished woman of her time in Munster,
and bears Dubh Ruis four children.
|
Previous | Next
Footnotes
143 Walens, 1981, p. 141
144 Goldman, 1981, p. 112
145 Goldman, 1981, pp. 90-91
146 Goldman, 1981, p. 96
147 Walens, 1981, p. 142
148 Walens, 1981, p. 16
149 Walens, 1981, pp. 144-158
150 Walens, 1981, p. 145
151 Walens, 1981, p. 148
152 Walens, 1981, p. 160
153 Walens, 1981, p. 161
154 Walens, 1981, p. 158
155 Goldman, 1981, p. 96
156 Walens, 1991, p. 16
157 Walens, 1981, p. 159
158 Walens, 1981, pp. 147-148
|
