The Power of Rituals - Guideline or Risk?
Healing ritual:
Mummy from the Anga tribe
There are mourning rituals all over the world. In Mexico it is a colorful festival, in Papua New Guinea residents of the Anga tribe collect the mummies of their deceased at certain intervals. For us, All Saints' Day for Catholics begins the Soul Week in early November. In fact, such rituals help deal with death. And scientists can show why: When a attachment person dies, the brain produces a substance that triggers a stress reaction like the greatest danger. The adrenal glands flood the circulation with cortisol. The body is geared to fight or flight. If neither helps, diseases can arise. Extreme grief can lead to inflammation or even a heart attack. Rituals help regulate the emotional state of emergency. In fact, a community ritual, such as a funeral, creates the binding hormone oxytocin. An opponent of stress hormones. The regularity of the process also gives mourners a feeling of self-control and has a calming effect. But because the recovery in the mourning process often takes years, there are death memorials worldwide. In principle it works the same way. It is soothing. Whether you stroke a mummy or light candles, the main thing is that you can treat the pain according to community rules. Again and again. It heals.