Pagtatawas is a

divination Divination (from Latin ''divinare'', 'to foresee, to foretell, to predict, to prophesy') is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout histor ...

ritual in pseudomedicine in

Filipino Psychology Filipino psychology, or ''Sikolohiyang Pilipino'', in Filipino, is defined as the psychology rooted on the experience, ideas, and cultural orientation of the Filipinos. It was formalized in 1975 by the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino' ...

(but considered superstition in Western psychology), carried out by the mangtatawas (literally "user of ''tawas''"). It attempts to diagnose an affliction or psychological disorder by interpreting shapes produced in water by heated

alum An alum () is a type of chemical compound, usually a hydrated double salt, double sulfate salt (chemistry), salt of aluminium with the general chemical formula, formula , where is a valence (chemistry), monovalent cation such as potassium or a ...

or molten wax droppings from a burning candle. It is thus a form of both carromancy and oryctomancy.

Technique

Earlier and in some rural areas in the Philippines,

(i.e., hydrated aluminum potassium sulfate or ''tawas'' in the vernacular) is ritualistically used by the ''

albularyo Albularyo is a Filipino term for a witch doctor, folk healer or medicine men. They practice folk medicine and use medicinal plants in their trade. Overview Role and functions An albularyo is a "folk doctor" commonly found in the more rural areas ...

'' or medicine man to pinpoint a variety of health conditions: a child's incessant crying, frequent fatigue, or even failure to conceive. The ''tawas'' is used to trace the

sign of the cross Making the sign of the cross ( la, signum crucis), or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with ...

on the patient’s forehead and other suspicious or ailing parts of the body as prayers are being whispered (''bulóng'' or ''oración''). The alum is then placed on glowing embers, removed when it starts to crack, then transferred to a small basin of water. As it cools, the alum’s new form spreads on the water’s surface and assumes a shape that may suggest the cause of the illness, often one of several indigenous forces: dwarfs, demons, or other malevolent spirits (''na-nuno,'' ''na-kulam,'' ''na-demonyo''). The water is then used to anoint the ailing part or parts of the body to counteract the evil forces or illness. The ''tawas'' is then discarded and thrown westward, preferably towards the setting sun. Presently and in most areas, an ''albularyo'' simply lights and holds the candle during the ritual. In some, it is the ''albularyos assistant or the afflicted person who holds the candle, but almost invariably, it is the ''albularyo'' who interprets the vague shapes produced by the wax as it re-solidifies in the basin of water. An ''albularyo'' may see supernatural beings displeased as cause of the illness in the shapes and forms, and suggest some cleansing ritual or peace offering to a spirit. Modern variations have the ''albularyo'' use other materials for divination, such as eggs, mirrors, blank paper, cigarettes,FMAdigest
chewing gum, chicken feathers, and the liver of a freshly-slaughtered chicken or pig (the last one classically known in the West as

haruspicy In the religion of ancient Rome, a haruspex (plural haruspices; also called aruspex) was a person trained to practise a form of divination called haruspicy (''haruspicina''), the inspection of the entrails (''exta''—hence also extispicy ( ...

References

Superstitions of the Philippines Tagalog words and phrases Traditional medicine Austronesian spirituality {{Philippines-stub

Technique

See also

References