Mediation (magic)

Mediation (magic)

Mediation - a central idea in traditional magical thinking - is an act of crossing the borders of sacrum and profanum. It was traditionally associated with things like: advancing between different stages of human life, changing the role in society, passing the border between civilized/known/home world and natural/unknown world, transgression of social constrains and other things.

As mediation is crossing between distinct states in neatly ordered, polarized traditional mindset, it is inherently dangerous causing individual to remain in sort of primordial limbo where distinctions are blurred and qualities uncertain. To relieve the tension mediation needs special ritual activities (rites) and to ward off disaster, special rules of conduct (taboos) are formed.

Mediators

The rites use special circumstances and tools that - by virtue of being mediators themselves - aid in acts of crossing the borders. Some examples include:

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mediation (disambiguation) — Mediation, in legal practise, is a form of alternative dispute resolution. Mediation may also refer to: Cultural mediation, a mechanism of human development Data mediation, data transformation via a mediating data model Mediation (magic), an idea …   Wikipedia

  • magic — /maj ik/, n. 1. the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.; legerdemain; conjuring: to pull a rabbit out of a hat by magic. 2. the art of producing a desired effect or result through the …   Universalium

  • Magic, Inc. (organization) — For Robert A. Heinlein s 1940 novella, see Magic, Inc.. Magic, Inc. is an intentional community, educational think tank, and non profit organization in Palo Alto,[1] California co founded by David Schrom to explore and promote the application of… …   Wikipedia

  • international relations — a branch of political science dealing with the relations between nations. [1970 75] * * * Study of the relations of states with each other and with international organizations and certain subnational entities (e.g., bureaucracies and political… …   Universalium

  • Wikipedia:Glossary — Welcome to Wikipedia, which anyone can edit. Help index: Ask questions · Learn wikicode · View FAQ · Read Glossary · Live Wikipedia editing related help via web chat  …   Wikipedia

  • Switzerland — /swit seuhr leuhnd/, n. a republic in central Europe. 7,248,984; 15,944 sq. mi. (41,294 sq. km). Cap.: Bern. French, Suisse. German, Schweiz. Italian, Svizzera. Latin, Helvetia. * * * Switzerland Introduction Switzerland Background: Switzerland s …   Universalium

  • Hinduism — /hin dooh iz euhm/, n. the common religion of India, based upon the religion of the original Aryan settlers as expounded and evolved in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, etc., having an extremely diversified character with many… …   Universalium

  • Literary or Profane Legends —     Literary or Profane Legends     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Literary or Profane Legends     In the period of national origins history and legend are inextricably mingled. In the course of oral transmission historic narrative necessarily becomes …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Christianity — /kris chee an i tee/, n., pl. Christianities. 1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. 2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; …   Universalium

  • United States — a republic in the N Western Hemisphere comprising 48 conterminous states, the District of Columbia, and Alaska in North America, and Hawaii in the N Pacific. 267,954,767; conterminous United States, 3,022,387 sq. mi. (7,827,982 sq. km); with… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”