Week 2 - Jane Kwak

In both The Pa Lor Story and Fjelstad and Maiffret’s article, people recount their first personal encounter with mediumship or shamanism.  When Lor told her mother that she was dying after many days of illness, her mother decided to call a shaman.  During a ritual with the shaman, Lor came to understand that the reason for her illness was actually the calling to become a shaman.  She believed that it was her fate to help others with her gift (2). Though there are many reasons for becoming a medium, there is a common belief that the calling is their destiny or fate.  In Fjelstad and Maiffret’s article, Hung accepted his calling to mediumship during prayer when he was visited by a snake that wrapped itself around his legs. After acceptance, Hung’s life significantly improved.  On the other hand, rejecting one’s calling to mediumship can result in harm to other family members. When John’s father refused his calling, John became ill.  It was believed that he would not recover until someone in the family became a spirit medium (116).  This was interesting because both readings saw shamanism or mediumship as a tool to ultimately help the living.  However, in both cases, there were examples of encountering the calling by falling ill.  This can be one of the reasons why shamanism and mediumship is not accepted by certain cultures.  A sense of danger and fear of the unknown may cause people from other cultures to reject this way of life.  Those who receive a calling may be forced to accept this way of life in fear of losing their family members, which can make them resentful. Lor had felt as if she was dying when she was receiving her calling.  Had Lor chosen to not accept her fate as a shaman, would she have died or lost her mother? 

Question: In what way have shamans and mediums practiced healings if they felt that they were forced to accept their fate? 

References:

Karen Fjelstad and Lisa Maiffret. “Gifts from the Spirits: Spirit Possession and Personal Transformation among Silicon Valley Spirit Mediums.”  Cornell Southeast Asia Program 2006.

“The Pa Lor Story – The Journey between two Worlds.” 2009. California Asian Directory.

Visual Reference:

http://www.holisticeventnetwork.com/2013/03/17/lucia-ann-engineer-ph-d-shaman-healer/