Mai Xiong - Week 4

           In the article, “We Are Not Alone” The Shamans Of The World Tell Us” (2015) the author, John Broomfield, argues that modern science limits us to a single way of knowing the world and other living organisms. The author encourages us to examine shamanism as one of many alternative ways of knowing. Broomfield mentions a shaman is an “instrument” used by spirits to communicate ways of knowing and healing. The shamans’, “Shamanic journeys take [them] to places where [they] can recover fragments of a lost soul” (Broomfield 2015:6). Diseases were seen as a spiritual cause or loss of soul (Broomfield 2015).

            I found Broomfield’s piece to be surprising because I resonated with the way of life and views shared. Hmong shamanism still holds the belief of “recovering” a soul in the spirit world. Thus, when someone falls physically or emotionally ill, a hu plig (soul calling ceremony) or ua neeb (literal translation: jingle bell) ceremonies is called for.

            I used to think that shamanism was only practiced by Hmong people. However, shamanism is shared amongst other cultures and people.

            My question, is the “Source” Broomfield mentioned the same or similar to that of the Source mentioned in class? Broomfield also mentioned of witches and wizards, I was wondering, are they the Western ways of seeing a shaman or spiritual healer?

Visual: Canvas Painting "Memory to ancestors" by txeuying Sébastien Vang