Kiya Jackson- Week 3

In "Gifts from the Spirits: Spirit Possession and Personal Transformation among Silicon Valley Spirit Mediums", Karen Fjelstad and Lisa Maiffret address spirit mediums and how spirits influence them. As a spirit medium, it is common for individuals to experience changes to the self, particularly from spirit intervention and emulation of spirit personalities. Additionally, this article addresses how mediumship in America is different than that of traditional Vietnamese mediums. They differ because Silicon Valley mediums are heavily influenced by personal stressors, notably illnesses. I thought this article was intriguing because of the unique connections mediums and spirits have. It was especially significant how these spiritual connections translate to stronger communal ties within temples and friends. Stronger communal bonds, for instance, are formed because of a relatable spiritual interaction or healing. As this was the first time being formally introduced to mediumship and spirit intervention, I thought it was very moving how mediums are healers, for both the spirits and humans. And although my cultural background differs greatly from that of the article, I did relate to how the article addresses the simultaneous maintenance and struggle to uphold cultural traditions, especially in Western society. It goes back to the struggle of adapting to a society that readily impacts what is socially “acceptable” while simultaneously integrating tradition and non-western culture. 

Question: Are mediums and shamans the same? 

Works Cited:

Ferlin, J. (n.d.). [Left human hand reaching for the sun]. Retrieved from
     https://www.pexels.com/photo/left-human-hand-photo-3025562/

Fjelstad, K., & Maiffret, L. (2006). Possessed by the spirits: Mediumship in
     contemporary Vietnamese communities.
       Excerpt: "Gifts from the spirits: spirit possession and personal
       transformation among Silicon Valley spirit mediums"