Skeanic Trance State

In Skeanic ritualistic tradition, the trance state is a state of consciousness entered into by a Skeanic shaman in order to supplicate spirits and provide guidance. The trance state involves the use of special tokens and ritual drums. Traditionally, shamans also employed the use of psychoactive mushrooms to enter the trance state, though this practice has waned considerably in the modern era; few if any shamans continue this practice.

The shaman generally begins by lighting incense and placing a set of smooth, polished stones on an altar. Each stone represents one of the nine spirit animal. The shaman also wears a necklace adorned with small totems representing ancestors, the shaman connects with the wisdom of those who came before. Each totem holds a story, and as the shaman touches them, they invoke the spirits for guidance. Thus the shaman is able to connect both to natural spirits and ancestors. Traditionally, this is the point at which the shaman would ingest the specially-prepared mushrooms.

The shaman begins to beat a large drum, the rhythmic echoes symbolizing the heartbeats of the spirits and ancestors combining into one. The sound reverberates through the sacred space, creating a trance-inducing ambiance that aligns the shaman's spirit with the cosmos.

The shaman engages in rhythmic dance and chants, and eventually enters the trance state. The tokens serve as conduits, amplifying their connection to the spiritual realm. The shaman becomes a vessel for divine energies. In the trance state, the shaman receives vivid visions and insights from the guiding spirits, or ancestral figures. These visions are a form of symbolic communication, and the shaman interprets them for the benefit of the community.

The trance state can allow the shaman to assist in healing and communal or personal guidance: as a channel for healing energy, the shaman can lay hands on the sick or troubled, transferring positive energies. The tokens, charged with spiritual power, enhance the efficacy of these healing rituals. Additionally, this state allows the shaman to receive guidance on issues facing a troubled individual, or the community at large, whether it be agricultural advice, warnings about upcoming challenges, or insights into maintaining harmony. This information is relayed to the people as a form of spiritual counsel.

The use of trance states has decreased over the years. While the Qgamic government typically treats Skeanism as a symbol of national unity and cohesion and Qgamic exceptionalism, the religion itself is not unified, and the intense personal or local scope of the trance state has proven to be an unreliable as a tool for manipulation of nationalist identity. That being said, many ordinary citizens still rely on shamanistic advice for their personal healing and community growth.