spirit possession
Entity takes over
Spirit possession is the belief that a supernatural entity—ghost, demon, deity, or ancestor—has taken control of a person's body or mind.
The possessed may speak in altered voices, exhibit unusual strength, or claim no memory of their actions.
Many religious traditions recognize possession as real, whether demonic or divine: The shaman entered a trance to allow spirit possession.
Exorcism rituals aim to expel unwanted spirits.
Occupied by ghosts
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
exorcism · paranormal · ghostly · eerie · demonic · malevolent · channeling · medium
Indigenous spiritual healer
- voodooFolk magic, often Caribbean
- exorcismRitual to expel demons
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
trance · invocation · cleansing · chanting · ceremony · ritualistic · occult · oracle
Malevolent supernatural being
- exorcistExpels demons ritually
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- holy waterSacramental liquid for blessings
- priestOne who performs sacraments
djinn · dybbuk · spiritual warfare · blessing · prayer · anointing · affliction · salvation
haunted
Occupied by ghosts
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- specterGhostly threatening presence
phantom · exorcism · paranormal · ghostly · eerie · demonic · malevolent · channeling · medium · séance
shaman
Indigenous spiritual healer
- voodooFolk magic, often Caribbean
- exorcismRitual to expel demons
- incantationSpoken magical formula
conjuring · trance · invocation · cleansing · chanting · ceremony · ritualistic · occult · oracle · divination
demon
Malevolent supernatural being
- exorcistExpels demons ritually
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- holy waterSacramental liquid for blessings
priest · djinn · dybbuk · spiritual warfare · blessing · prayer · anointing · affliction · salvation · clergy
- Zulu traditionsancestors, diviner, traditional healer, ancestral worship, shades
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- hauntingsghosts, apparition, apparitions, ghost sighting, phantoms
- ancient religiongods, goddesses, pantheon, deity, polytheism
- Southern African cultureubuntu, indaba, traditional healers, ancestral worship, biltong
- African traditionsinitiation ceremonies, naming ceremony, ancestral worship, rites of passage, tribal chiefs
spirit possessionself-determination
Control over one's fate
autonomy · self-control · free will · self-possession · bodily autonomy
spirit possessionmental illness
Disorder affecting cognition or mood
psychiatric disorder · psychosis · dissociative disorder · schizophrenia · epilepsy
spirit possessionexorcism
Ritual to expel demons
spiritual liberation · deliverance · spiritual freedom · cleansing · sanctification
spirit, spirits, possess, possession, possessed, possessing, possessor, repossess, dispossess