Week 2 Rhegille Baltazar

This week's unit on Spirit Healers has reminded me of a class I took Winter 2017 which was about medical anthropology. In this class, we discussed a lot about the use of spiritual healing practices and shamanism as remedies for physical ailments. There is a large prevalence of shamanism within healing that should not be disregarded or seen as "uncivilized" or "illogical." Yet, as a true and genuine cultural practice that holds value in the health and wellness of groups who practice shamanism.

This idea very much relates to Kim's article and talking about Korean spirit healers and their neglect within the Korean healthcare field. Kim studied as a medical anthropologist who relates to many of the discussions I previously had within this anthropology class.

Regarding Fjelstad and Maiffret's reading on spirit mediums within the Silicon Valley, I recently have watched episodes of a show titled Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry in which a young caucasian man visits homes of celebrities and becomes a medium of contact with that celebrity and a deceased loved one. Are medium practices exclusive to specific ethnic groups or practicing religions? Because this young man did not seem like he belonged to any spiritual group. Yet, his "messages" were extremely vague so I doubt he had the gift either.

What are the physical signs of someone's soul being lost? How does one know? How does one act?

Lil Kim reacting to Henry's "messages" from the late Christopher Wallace or Notorious B.I.G. on Hollywood Medium