On The Nature Of Possession, What exactly is it??? Options

I am greatly interested in exploring this topic with you guys on this forum. I've read the various posts that mention the subject, but none of them attempt to actually explain the nature of possession and to tell you the truth...for all that I've read and experienced, I can't actually explain what it is. To clarify, when I say 'possession' I am not merely suggesting demonic possession but I am also referring to possession by gods, spirits, djinns, angels, elementals, extra terrestrials, animals etc. I am also referring to deliberate evocations, scrying methods, speaking in tongues, channeling, walk-ins, and astral parasites. Possession, in question, is not always malign...so I thought it might be time to explore both the good and bad of it, and to get down to the nitty gritty of how it happens and why.

I gratefully welcome anyone's explanation on the events leading up to possession, the process (particular concerning how the host's spiritual and emotional energies are manipulated to accommodate the being), symptoms, various forms of exorcism (not constrained to the christian method), and the aftermath.

Wiccans and some Neo-pagans have a practice known as Drawing Down the Moon. In it, normally the coven's priestess allows herself to be possessed by a deity. I've never done it myself, but I have had it described in some detail. Naturally you have to go into meditation into an altered state of consciousness. I assume that it involves quietening the mind down and being receptive. When I do something similar with my totem animal, I expand my energy as if to attract the totem animal spirit. I'm told that they can control somewhat which facet of the deity manifests itself through how the ritual is set up, and probably through intent.

I've heard some say that the deity enters the body through the crown chakra, while others say that it enters them through the area between the shoulder blades or the back of the neck. The deity expands inside of the possessed and pushes his or her identity into a small corner. The person being possessed may be aware of everything that happens or somewhat dimly aware, or completely unaware. It varies. The trance may be light and the person consciously speaks, repeating what the voice of the deity is saying. With others, the deity takes complete control.

The deity may cause the possessed body to change somewhat. One of my friends grows taller several inches when drawing down Apollo and his eyes seem to turn blue. Generally the drawing down the moon is done in ritual for the purpose of guidance. People sometimes do it regularly in private to commune with their patron/matron deity and receive teachings.

Many religions involve possession and have their own methods, I just mention what I am most familiar with. The Seth books have a lot of material dictated by a spirit channeled by Jane Roberts. One of the books by the group around her describes the 'how to' in some detail. But whether you call it channeling or possession, it is basically the same thing.