Kaventuma

Kaventuma is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction and world-building to denote a ritualized state or process that creates heightened communal consciousness. In many treatments, kaventuma refers to a temporary alignment of individual minds or memories within a group, enabling shared recollection, decision-making, or social cohesion.

Etymology and usage: The term is a coinage; its origin within stories is usually explained as from a fictional language or culture. There is no real-world etymology.

Depictions: Kaventuma may be achieved by ritual elements such as synchronized chanting, breathwork, drums, or sensory stimuli, sometimes augmented by magic or technology. The result is a temporary sharing of perceptions, memories, or intentions among participants, and a sense of unified purpose.

Functions: It can facilitate collective decision-making, the transmission of oral histories, or reconciliation after conflict. In some narratives, kaventuma raises questions about autonomy and consent, and can be portrayed as either empowering or coercive.

Variants and reception: Different authors imagine different mechanisms and limits; some restrict kaventuma to small groups, others depict large-scale communal experiences. Critics within stories may warn of manipulation or loss of individuality.

See also: collective memory, group consciousness, ritual trance.