This paper used an ethnographic approach to examine the phenomenon of possession in the ritual of baby birth with the chanting of macapat tulak balak. This paper sought to describe the phenomenon of possession experienced by the singer of macapat tulak balak and to explain how society perceives the phenomenon that occurs. To analyze the problem of possession, phenomenological aspects, possession phenomena, metaphysical studies and ritual aspects were used. Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology was used to describe the phenomenon of possession. The phenomenon of possession and unconsciousness was explored with the approach of Carl Gustav Jung’s psychological theory. Aristotle’s metaphysical studies were used to analyze the “being as being” and “the divine”. In addition, Marret’s theory of extraordinary powers and Otto’s about human attitudes towards the occult were also examined. Ritual aspects were discussed through Van Gennep’s theoretical approach to religious ceremonies. This research produced several formulas as follows: the phenomenon of possession of the chanting of macapat tulak balak is interpreted by the community as an event that actually happened. This phenomenon is caused by several factors, namely: who is chanting, the chanter’s spiritual experience, who is possessed, and macapat tulak balak. In psychology, possession is called a dissociative trance or split personality, which is a change in consciousness characterized by a change in personal identity that has been existing with a new identity. Matters related to the occultation of the phenomenon of possession are included in the study of “the divine”, meaning that no human ability can reach it.
Keywords: phenomenon, possession, macapat tulak balak, ritual