The prophet's dictionary guide to the supernatural

679. Incubation—Abiding in a temple in order to receive divine oracles, cleansing, and empowerment for services. This was mainly required of the holy place’s ruler or priest. The ancient rite was observed by early religions and their civilizations. Newcomers to the faith or to the service of the god were assigned to isolated and often underground places to meet the god of the religion. In more developed cultures the assignment places included the temple of the God. The idea was that the isolation, which constituted the rites of initiation, would serve to fully consecrate the novice or promoted servant to the god’s ministry. Incubation was often accomplished in caves, deserts, or on high mountain clefts if the call was to a high position. In many cases, intoxicants were prescribed, along with fasting, to provoke visions and hopefully visitations from the god or his or her lower spirits. The genuine purpose of the incubation was to breed the spirit, wisdom, and orientations of the deity in the one so selected. David typified this practice by being compelled by the Lord God to dwell in the cave of Adullam. Priests, kings, and most notably, prophets were regularly forced to spend time in caves in particular, seeking the face of the deity and being transformed to his or her essence and assuming their positions of power and authority. Joshua complied with this exalted spiritual requirement when he went into the tabernacle during Moses’ day and did not depart from it until he had absorbed all the Lord wanted to put upon him for future service. When Jehovah’s priests were consecrated to their office, each had to spend seven days in the temple before the Lord to assume their office. Review Leviticus 8:33–35. See Prophetic Incubation. 680. Incubation Experience—The season of an initiation for elevation just before one assumes their position ordained by God. Experientially, it emulates the classic incubation requisites of creation. One has entered it when he or she suddenly and inexplicably feels detached, alienated, and isolated from the once familiar and secure. The incubation experience of prophets is often quite drastic and severe. Upon arriving at the point of their training and preparation for their divine calling, the initiates can encounter radical lifestyle shifts and abruptly severed or strained relationships or professional occupations. Without apparent reason, they become, like Christ, driven into the wildernesses of life where they are constantly facing and fighting with savagery, danger, deprivation, and brutality. Once well-liked and sought out, the prophetic initiates are sometimes violently rejected and expelled from every promotional and popular sphere of their former existence. Without warning, they can be jobless, homeless, and