“내림굿 ” 과정의 心理力動과 그 精神治療的 意味에 關한 分析考察

Psychodynam ic Aspect and Psychotherapeutic Implication of the Korean Shamanic Initiation Rite, Naerim -Kut

Two cases of the shamanistic initiation rite, Naerim-Kut, held in Sang-gok Temple in Mt. Buk-han and in the Chon-si Kut-dang in Seoul were investigated in order to elucidate the psychotherapeutic implications of Naerim-kut and the psychological characteristics of a candidate^ responses during and after the performance. The entire process of the Naerim-kut was meticulously recorded by two investigators with handwritten notes, tape recordings of all sessions and photographs of some parts of the sessions. The data were analyzed and evaluated by two researchers. The following points are discussed; 1) anthropological comparisons, 2) motivation for initiation, 3) psychodynamic interpretation of the experiences and behaviors of candidates, 4) Naerim-kut in relation to creativity and, 5) psychotherapeutic implications of Naerim-kut. The author suggests that there seems to be the incessant efforts of the candidates upon the request of their initiators and their god-mothers in Naerim-kut, to mythologize their indescribable affective turbulance induced by each session of the ceremony. The complex affect that arises in the candidates is actively shaped into a clearer form of mythical images, the shamanic deities by uttering the names of gods, behaving like gods, and delivering prophecies to the participants. This mythological actualization in the state of affective arousal seems rather an intellectual, intuitive act than the candidates’ unconscious projection. The failure of possession trance by Case II who fell into an aggressive outburst during the session in contrast to Case I can be attributed mainly to the candidate’s lack of readiness and sincerity toward the initiation and the candidate’s less integrated ego. The therapeutic factors of Naerim-kut lie, above all, in the ecstatic dance itself, and the ego’s renewal mediated through mythical symbols, the shamanic deities, while connecting the old ego with the archetypal sphere of the unconsciousness. In Case I, a creative transformation of the ego was achieved after the repeated failure of the spirits，invocations and as the candidate finally fell into a state of hopelessness and extreme sadness. The candidate expressed her vehement regret for her dead father in a form of recitation ; then suddenly, she became the father and scolded herself, the helpless daughter, in an intentional active splitting of conscious ego and the dialogues between the father-ego and the daughter-ego. As the father ego gained power over the daughter-ego, the oracle could be more effectively performed, as if the awareness of personal complexes had opened the way to the archetypal sphere. As an archaic recruitment of the healer, Naerim-kut demonstrates strong discipline and unique ways of healing for a future healer in ecstatic communication with the world beyond