What can be said about group rituals? It has been proven, scientifically, that the assembly of people has an odd effect on the mind. In groups of three or more, humans develop a form of mental dissociation known colloquially as Mob Hypnosis. It is speculated that this effect is the result of evolutionary forces on humans to bond with one another during periods of heightened stress, as we would be less likely to hurt one another. Such is the position of the intellectual mainstream. However, there are alternative theories of both natural and supernatural persuasion.
Many throughout history have come to the conclusion that a collective may be able to channel their individual desires into a broad and tangible singular outcome. In the mainstream belief systems, and possibly even in the world of physics, it has been cited as occurring in more than one instance in a measurable manner.
The Bottom Line of the Group Setting
A straightforward label for a very abstract range of phenomena and ideas, Collective Intent is an umbrella term for any form of manifestation practice done by three or more people, generally done with a leader or proctor. In such groups, this practice may be labeled as a litany of terms, from general meditations and ideation to the extremes of ritual and prayer. These practices vary not only in their nomenclature but also in their scope and purpose, with a similar structure or method.
This, unfortunately, causes a perceived notion within certain groups that others’ practices are invalid or not as serious. This is certainly an ironic case, as each group may have the same perception of the other, which causes unnecessary tension. Such tension may be found particularly between the mainstream religions. However, in the world of spirituality and alternative faiths, there is a growing disdain for the “Trendy” practitioners within the fold. Many are finding the broadcasted use of “spells” or other rituals to be somewhat innocuous and worthy of dismissal.
In other cases, a “Trendy” might shine a light on an aspect of the culture, having been let in on a secret, that paints the culture a negative portrait. This is remedied with a group setting; in fact, this is the most rudimentary function of a like-minded collective: peer review and guidance. This invaluable resource simply creates the framework for the total net benefit of groupthink.
Mainstream Examples of Group Rituals with Collective Intent
Throughout much of literary history, the idea that a group of people with a common desire could generate the desired results by pooling their willpower is so common that it is a trope and the basis of Abrahamic Prayer. In the Judeo-Christian Faith, it is believed that the prophet Daniel and his fellow Hebrews prayed themselves out of an actual furnace and saved themselves from death by collectively calling upon the goodwill of their God.
In Islam, it is believed that the Hajj must be done once in a person’s life. The Hajj is a gathering of more than two million people from the Islamic faith. In both of these religions, it is said that gathering in a surplus of two is the holiest method of worship.
Gatherings and Group Rituals have evidently been a time-honored convention of the most followed and eldest religions on Earth. This certainly suggests that there may be a spiritual and deep-rooted connection to the “soul” and that the connection is somewhat measurable, being that the largest religions in history subscribe to a belief in their power. It also cannot be overstated that these religions may very well be the product of group rituals and oral tradition, as would be the case for most religions and practices around the globe.
Scientific Research and Psychological Theses
Several noteworthy psychological journals have stated that groupthink and mob hypnosis are central and integral to the human condition and that the phenomena may have been what our ancestors used to bond so well. The idea has been used in legal defense, to aid the hunt and pursuit of cults, and even as a political weapon. The technical term used by most is “Mass Formation Psychosis” as a general term to describe the varied effects of gatherings on the mind. In some instances, a speaker has been able, through the power of suggestion, to implant memories into a crowd that was emotionally charged.
Therein lies the ethereal nature, in a tangible scientific sense, of group rituals. Whether the paranormal or supernatural aspect is “real” or not is irrelevant when there are measurable effects of the group belief. If your aim is to change your emotional state, grow closer to your peers, or even get attuned to your psyche, then it is probably so that a group ritual with a collective intent is a definitive way to achieve that goal. The effect that a communal expression of belief can have on the body and mind cannot be exaggerated.
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