The meaning of POSSESSION is the act of having or taking into control.

Historically, it was widely believed that witchcraft involved the use of supernatural or magical powers to inflict harm upon members of a community or their property, and that all witches were in league with the devil. Since the mid 20th century, witchcraft has increasingly been understood to include both malevolent and benevolent witchcraft, the latter often involving healing.Spirit possession is understood to involve spirits, gods, demons and djinnis, taking control of a human body, resulting in noticeable changes in health and behaviour. Trust for London created the Safeguarding Childrens Rights initiative to invest in community-based work tackling child abuse linked to beliefs in witchcraft and spirit possession.