week 2- Vivianne Lee

     The theme of the week ties into the focus of the entire class which is “spirit realms”. The reading of the “Pa Lor Story -The Journey between two Worlds”, tells the story of Shaman Pa Lor and how she found her gift that led her to becoming a Hmong shaman. Pa Lor travels to the spirit world searching for lost spirits or ways to help people living in the real world. Her experiences of traveling to different spirit worlds can also tie into the Character of OA. As OA travelled through different dimensions originally being Nina then Prairie and Brit in different dimensions. Much like the character of OA, at first Lor struggled with her calling as she didn’t understand her gift but now she fully embraces it. Now she “chants, shakes and moves her legs up and down in age old ways used to help heal Hmong people”. Furthermore, Pa Lor can be an example of standing up for your beliefs and embracing your truest self. In regards to the theme of the week “spirit realms” and through the Pa Lor readings does one have to believe in other dimensions and in spirits in order to be healed? Is it possible to perform a healing ceremony and for a person to get in touch with the spirit realm through the ceremony thus converting them into believers?