The Bachelor of Cultural Anthropology Faculty of Humanitieses, Udayana University, in collaboration with Marsilius-Kolleg at Heidelberg University, Germany organized an International and Interdisciplinary Workshop on Dissociation and Trance Possession on September 21–23, 2026, involving 15 researchers from Indonesia and foreign countries. This workshop will explore the phenomena of dissociation and trance possession from historical, anthropological, psychological, psychiatric, literary, and practical perspectives.
In his opening remarks, Prof. I Nyoman Aryawibawa, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Udayana University stated that this international workshop demonstrates the Faculty’s tangible contribution to addressing the phenomena of dissociation and trance possession as integral parts of Balinese—and indeed Indonesian—culture. Meanwhile, the Rector of Udayana University, in his opening remarks read by the First Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. I Nengah Sujaya, also emphasized that in addition to its scientific contributions, the international workshop can have a positive impact on the institution’s key quality indicators (IKU), while simultaneously enhancing Udayana University’s credibility and visibility within the global academic community.
The first day, September 21, 2026 featured seven speakers: Prof. I Ketut Ardhana, Prof. Anom Kumbara (lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University), Dr. Ida Bagus Suatama (Bali Usada practitioner), Prof. Emeritus William C. Sax, Prof. Eric Vermetten, Prof. Christian Geog-Schmahl (researcher at the Marcilius-Kolleg, Heidelberg University), and Dr. Komang Indra Wirawan (lecturer at Unhi and Calon Arang practitioner). This session was moderated by Dr. Galuh Febri Putra, a lecturer in the English Literature Program at the Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University.
The workshop on the second day, September 22, 2026, featured eight speakers: Dr. Nanang Sutrisno (lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University), Arif Hartarta, M. Hum (researcher of Javanese literary texts), Dr. Sita Hidayah (lecturer at Gadjah Mada University), Prof. Annette Horbancher (researcher at the Marcilius-Kolleg, Heidelberg University), Prof. Cok Bagus Jaya Lesmana (lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University), Dr. I Gusti Ayu Dyah Fridari, Dr. Yohanes Herdiyanto (lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University), and I Putu Widyantara, M.Si (lecturer at Unhi and Tantra practitioner). This session was moderated by I Made Wahyu Widiatmika, SS., M.Hum., a lecturer in the Bachelor of English Literature Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University.
On the third day, September 23, 2026, a roundtable discussion was held to formulate the workshop’s findings and outcomes. This international workshop emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to understand the phenomena of dissociation and trance possession. An interdisciplinary approach has the potential to connect Western and Eastern perspectives in interpreting these phenomena as an integral part of a society’s culture.
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