How could drugs or self-energized techniques induce a trance for divinatory purposes?

In the context of religion, diviners often utilize trance states to communicate with extramundane spheres or to receive oracular utterances. These states can be achieved through two primary methods:12

• Pharmacological Induction: The ritual use of drugs is an ancient practice found in diverse cultures. Substances such as hallucinogenic mushrooms, Cannabis, and various plant-based sacred drinks (like soma or haoma) have been used to induce altered states of consciousness. In many traditions, these substances are believed to purify the practitioner, facilitate devotion, and act as a medium for revealing hidden knowledge or answering important questions.34
• Self-Energized (Autokinetic) Techniques: Diviners may also enter a trance through non-pharmacological, self-induced means. Examples include rhythmic physical actions like hand trembling, as practiced by the Navajo, or intense meditative practices. Other methods involve sensory deprivation or physical ordeal, such as fasting, isolation, or self-mutilation, to seek a vision or guardian spirit.15

In these states, the diviner may experience possession, where their own spirit is perceived to be replaced by another, allowing them to speak as a vessel for a god or spirit.12