Whispers of Spirits: Tracing the Communication Process in Zār Rituals in Hormozgān Province, Iran

Abstract: Some people in Hormozgan believe in reincarnation and that the spirits of the deceased might live for up to 300 years after death. During that time, the spirits may fall in love with living people and make them sick. Bād (literally, wind) is a general term for all of these spirits. The term "Zār" refers to the most dangerous Bāds, which come from Africa, as well as the ritual of engaging and negotiating with these Bāds in order to help possessed individuals. In this essay, after presenting my anthropological observation of a particular Zār ritual that I participated in in 2016, I will explore the various forms and genres of language and nonverbal communication that were utilized in an effort to negotiate and settle the Bād.