Michael Chow - Week 3

In week 3, we discussed the topic of shamanism. The readings reflected the accounts and experiences of shamanism among different people and cultures. What was most interesting to me was the story of Pa Lor, because she was extremely young when she became a shaman. The story spoke about how she was sick for 5 years, a pain I can't imagine going through. I can understand how, when shamanism was presented as the cure, she immediately latched onto the idea. It's amazing that it helped her and that she is able to help others now, because of it. I relate to this in a way. I have always had trouble balancing the seesaw between western and eastern medicine, due to my upbringing in the western United States combined with my Chinese and Taiwanese culture. At home as a kid, I often had chinese medicinal soups, balms, and tinctures. I didn't think much of it, nor did I think I was different, but growing up I realized that my experience was culturally quite different than that of others. When I had acne problems as a teen, my mom took me to both a medically-licensed dermatologist, and also a doctor of alternative medicine. On one hand, I took accutane, a really powerful drug that has strong side effects that devastate your mental health and body. On the other hand, I took a concoction of ground-up roots and leaves and stuff, which had no side effects. How would my life have been different had I grown up purely on eastern psychology and medicine? How would Pa Lor's life be different had she not accepted the shamanism route? I wonder, am I the last generation in my blood line to stop teaching my kids chinese, to stop providing them chinese medicine and foods? I feel guilty for thinking I may be the one to do that.