Plant Use in Spiritual Communication With Souls by An Animistic Community in Siberut, Indonesia

Herwig Zahorka (German Forestry Director Ret., Researcher Independent, Bogor, Indonesia)

Journal of Tropical Ethnobiology
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2004): January 2004

This article present plant use in spiritual communication with souls by an animistic community in Siberut. Based on that animistic belief the Mentawaians consider ills and diseases being created by the malicious bajou of an animated being or object which has frightened or startled the human's simagere or, because the human has disobeyed social taboos. Curing rituals are performed by the kerey (shamans) and by special healers using the helpful bajou of selected « medicinal » plants.