Top 12 Ball Lightning Folklore from Around the World: #7 Will Send Chills Down Your Spine

9. The Elemental Spirits of Amazonian Shamanism

Indigenous shamanic traditions provide a different viewpoint on the phenomenon of ball lightning right deep in the Amazon jungle. The beliefs of many Amazonian tribes hold that these brilliant orbs are expressions of strong elemental spirits inhabiting the natural world. Known by several tribes under different names, these spirits are usually connected to the powers of nature—that is, thunder, wind, or fire. In certain customs, ball lightning is observed as the visible form of woodland guardians or ancestor ghosts, seeming to defend holy locations or warn of approaching hazards. Shamans spoke of these brilliant entities as beings of tremendous intelligence and power able to reveal secret facts about the universe or transmit knowledge of therapeutic plants. Tribal legends hold that these elemental spirits can interact with the physical world and speak with people who have the spiritual sensitivity to see them by assuming the form of brilliant spheres. Certain legends chronicle courageous people who have teamed up with these spirits to acquire remarkable powers or understanding of the secrets of nature. The legends also warn, though, that if not approached with appropriate reverence and ritual preparation, these elemental spirits can be erratic and dangerous. Using indigenous plant medicines and complex chants, Amazonian mythology frequently recounts detailed ceremonies and holy rites meant to call forth or placify these spirits. Many times, the sight of ball lightning in the rainforest is seen as a sign of spiritual importance, maybe suggesting the presence of strong energy vortexes or omens of major events in the lives of the tribe. Viewing even the most enigmatic events as natural components of a living, aware universe, this shamanic explanation of ball lightning demonstrates the deep spiritual connection Amazonian societies preserve with their natural surroundings.