WEEK 2 - Pahuaja Thao
It has been hard to give someone a straight answer when they ask me what is my religion. Of course, I did not know how to explain my answer to those who have asked because shamanism with the word religion just does not fit right. I understand that a religion can be a part of cultures, people's life and the way they live their life but for me, it has always been something deeper than that. Shamanism to me, identifies who I am and the support of Hmong culture. It is my heritage.
A shaman is the only medium between our real world and the spirit realm. Based on the "The Pa Lor Story-The Journey Between Two Worlds", when a shaman is doing their ritual, it just naturally comes to them as if they had already learned it before. However, in "Possessed by the Spirits-Gifts from the Spirits", when a shaman is going through rituals they are possessed by God. When possessed, they either have no control or little control. They are either aware of their surroundings or not. In "Korean Shamanism", shamanism, a way of spiritual healing, is not part of the field of medicine but part of the "field of superstitions" or "field of misfortunes"("Korean Shamanism", Page 20).
After having read all of the three assigned readings, it seems as if each different groups of people have different meaning to a shaman. Yes a shaman is a medium to this world and the other world but certain aspects of what makes a shaman may differ based on cultures and race. Being raised in a traditional Hmong household, shamanism is used in many joyful and not so good memories. It is used to celebrate a newborn being one month but also used due to a family member falling sick. However, for Koreans, the misfortune part is mainly emphasized and seem to have a different meaning compare to the Hmong people.
My question for this week's reading is:
Shamanism is not something you can learn but you have to be chosen so how would that work?
A shaman is the only medium between our real world and the spirit realm. Based on the "The Pa Lor Story-The Journey Between Two Worlds", when a shaman is doing their ritual, it just naturally comes to them as if they had already learned it before. However, in "Possessed by the Spirits-Gifts from the Spirits", when a shaman is going through rituals they are possessed by God. When possessed, they either have no control or little control. They are either aware of their surroundings or not. In "Korean Shamanism", shamanism, a way of spiritual healing, is not part of the field of medicine but part of the "field of superstitions" or "field of misfortunes"("Korean Shamanism", Page 20).
After having read all of the three assigned readings, it seems as if each different groups of people have different meaning to a shaman. Yes a shaman is a medium to this world and the other world but certain aspects of what makes a shaman may differ based on cultures and race. Being raised in a traditional Hmong household, shamanism is used in many joyful and not so good memories. It is used to celebrate a newborn being one month but also used due to a family member falling sick. However, for Koreans, the misfortune part is mainly emphasized and seem to have a different meaning compare to the Hmong people.
My question for this week's reading is:
Shamanism is not something you can learn but you have to be chosen so how would that work?
Shaman bells used by the Shaman during a Hmong Spiritual Ritual.
Sources:
https://aquietcraftspace.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/shaman-bells-water-color-and-ink-pen/
"The Pa Lor Story - The Journey between Two Worlds." 2008. California Asian Directory. 07 Apr. 2017.
Karen Fjelstad and Lisa Maiffret. "Gifts from the Spirits: Spirit Possession and Personal Transformation among Silicon Valley Spirit Mediums." Cornel Southeast Asia Program 2006.
Kim, Chongho. "Korean Shamanism: The Cultural Paradox. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate, 2007. Print.
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