51社区

Abstract

This study explores symbols of a religious ritual called Ashura in Twelver Shi鈥檌te Islam. It provides a look into these symbol鈥檚 unconscious power at work in the suffering of the participants. The ritual鈥檚 ceremonial rites are compared with the three stages of alchemy: the nigredo, the albedo, and the rubedo. Through these processes, using hermeneutical approaches, Shi鈥檌te cosmology and beliefs are examined and compared with depth psychology. Hence, the study also contributes to depth psychology a Shi鈥檌te way of experiencing inner spirituality. The central theme of this study is the phenomena of al-b膩tin (the esoteric). In Shi鈥檌sm, al-b膩tin is the soul鈥檚 journey to find the metaphysical Adam and Eve within the tawhid (oneness) of a person. The study starts with defining the terms and background of the ritual. The alchemical stages that correspond with the participant鈥檚 conscious states are examined. The study provides a symbolic understanding of Fatimah and Ali, the two main archetypal persons that express their unique powers in the mourning rites of the ritual. The final aim is to understand the Shi鈥檌te concept of the walayah (guardianship) and its metaphysical consciousness associated with C. G. Jung鈥檚 notion of the unus mundus. This study concludes by articulating a way to see the world from the inner vision of depth psychology and Shi鈥檌sm in dialogue.