In shamanist societies a particular spirit is responsible for every disease and particular healing-songs exist to cure them. These spirits are identified with dead ancestors.
A shaman finds the spirit that causes a disease by sounding its note. He then sings its song to draw it into his own body. This done, the shaman demands that the spirit names its name. In doing so, the spirit sacrifices its substance and becomes dissipated in song. The disease has thus been expelled from the patient's body. This happens on the condition that a return sacrifice is offered, also in song. It is also a requirement that the patient accepts the suffering involved in the treatment.
Shaman and spirit need each other. One receives power from the spirit in song. The other requires song to give itself expression. Producing the sound of a song needs concentration and effort. In the same way, all life arises from tension, or friction, between two opposing factors. Life comes from sacrifice and, ultimately, from death. Song is the material expression of the mutual sacrifice between the living shaman and the dead ancestor.
