Attention Folklore/Religious Studies Folks

[shanmonster]

I'm looking for information on demon possession, specifically one demon possessing two or more entities simultaneously. I can think of Legion possessing the herd of swine, but are there any other precedents in any other religions/folklores?

Comments

[andalusi.livejournal.com]

Moroccan folklore has a set of djinn who possess multiple people(well, I say folklore, but people actively believe they are possessed by these djinn even in modern times). The Gnawa are a group of musicians/dancers/spiritualists who help channel the djinn. It's kind of like Voudoun and Loas: the rituals the Gnawa perform are basically ritual possession ceremonies, opening one up to the djinn.

I recommend searching for references to Gnawa, Aisha Qandisha, Derdba, and Zar.

[elanya.livejournal.com]

I think she means possess multiple hosts *at the same time*

[andalusi.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what I meant as well.

[professormass.livejournal.com]

YOG-SOGGOTH WILL NOT ANSWER YOUR PALTRY MORTAL CLAIMS.

It made me write that.

Oh, and there's another half-dozen people up and down my block bellowing the same thing.

I swear, some demons. One body just is not enough for them. Hrmph.

From Bradfordm

[(Anonymous)]

Jumbies from Wikipedia

In the folk religion of Montserrat, a jumbie is a ghost, or spirit of the dead. Jumbies are said to possess humans during ceremonies called jumbie dances, which are accompanied by jumbie drums. Jumbies receive numerous small offerings from Montserratians, such as a few drops of rum or food; they are also the subject of numerous superstitions.

Four couples perform a set of five progressively quicker quadrilles during the jumbie dance, switching out with other couples until someone is eventually possessed by a jumbie.

Also:
http://www.strangerinparadise.com/2005/0512/December2005.htm

[bluekyanite.livejournal.com]

Well for one Legion doesn't even qualify, Legion was call that because it was more then one demon, "for I am many". A quick read on some demon references in the Christian Bible suggests they believe in one person being possessed by multiple demons but there is no clear reference to one demon possessing multiple people. Looking at "the devil made me do it" claim, some believe when someone commits an evil act an evil spirit had a direct hand in it. This could imply an influence of a demon, such as Asmodeus when someone is adulterous or Mammon when one steals from the company account, which are events the occur simultaneously all over the world every day. This may not constitute true possession but suggests concurrent control over many people.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Are you talking One Demon possessing Many? Or One Person possessed by Many Demons?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

One demon possessing many.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Ooo. That's tougher. Hmmm. I'll dig around and get back with you.

[sol-invictus-99.livejournal.com]

As far as I recall from Biblical and other sources, I know of no such accounts. Many demons inhabiting one body is common, as in the New Testament example. However, the concept of a single demon possessing several individuals simultaneously is a novel idea to me.

A well-known concept in Christianity is that of widespread Satanic influence, i.e. the Devil having a hand in numerous human affairs, and influencing the minds and actions of man. Not sure about actual possession, however.

[(Anonymous)]

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1000/ghost.html), and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Ah, classic! How could I forget that one?