For primitive man the word consists of an interaction of spirits, which think and behave like human beings. A spirit can be found and allured by its personal sound, emitted by a human magician, or shaman, gifted with powers of vocal mimicry.
The shamanΓÇÖs art is to express the spirit of an object, or animal, in sound. He then co-ordinates himself with it by trying to hit the note peculiar to it. He does so with his voice, or perhaps by shaking a rattle. This relates him to the spirit by sympathetic vibration.
The mystic fusion then develops in a song. Thus the spirit is held captive in the magician's body and sings through his mouth. The song then determines the course of action which he attempts to force on the spirit, bending its energy to his will.
