Q&A
Thanks everyone for your questions. There weren't that many submissions, but it's okay! This just means I spent a little more time on the questions and went in more depth (kind of).
1. How has your acceptance of being a shaman changed you? Or your perspective on life?
ANSWER: I’ve learned to accept the things I cannot change in my life and that was really difficult. I find it challenging in life to accept things as is. But, it’s made me see life in a different way and I appreciate it so much more now! I also look at death and people dying in a different way now too. Everything is so connected and everything happens so other things can fall into place. I didn’t imagine myself becoming a shaman or being where I am now, but I am where I need to be so things in the future can fall in their place too. I encourage people to change their life when they aren’t happy. BUT, I also encourage people to accept the things that cannot be changed.
2. I know some shamans are able to read people's palms or see their futures. Do you think you'll ever be able to do that as well, or do you know of any Shamans that can?
ANSWER: Hmong shamans have a lot of different abilities and like you said, one of them is palm reading. Some shamans learn abilities and some are given or inherit them. As for me, I can’t read palms. But, I see visions, omens, and warnings through my dreams and sometimes through small signs and details, sometimes even through seeing physical energy. I also pay attention to small details which can say a lot! I like to call myself an “energy reader” as well. It’s a term I made up for myself. I can sense people’s energy, their houses, and their emotions and feelings.
As for me personally, I don’t find an interest in palm reading. I think it’s unique and it’s a cool ability to have, but for me personally, I wouldn’t want that kind of gift. I don’t know anyone who can read palms, but I’ve heard stories of many shamans who can.
3.Back in the day, did all hmong people believed in shamanism? I know there's a lot of Hmong people who are chrisitians now and I'm just curious as to when Hmong people started to convert to christianianity and why. Did they find shamanism too evil? Were they forced to believe in christianity instead of shamanism?
ANSWER: This is such a big question because I don’t believe there’s a right answer! Back in the day the majority of Hmong people did believe in shamanism. However, we have to take into consideration the many different types of shamanism. Also, we have to take in consideration that Hmong people have been on a constant “move” for the last century and our religious practice can be seen affected and changed by where Hmong people reside. For example, Hmong people in China practice shamanism, but in different forms more closely in regards to the way Chinese and Mongolians practice. Hmong people in Thailand practice shamanism, but some also believe in Buddhism.
As to your second question, it’s way more complex than we think! With the political uprising in Laos, by 1975 Hmong had started to flee to Thailand to seek a safety net for their involvement in the Vietnam War. By the 80s more than 110,000 Hmong crossed the Mekong into Thailand. By ’81, some 45,000 Hmong began their journey to the U.S. Many of the sponsors from the U.S were Churches and Christian organizations. Although not forced into the religion, there was a great influence once arriving to the U.S. These organizations provided food, shelter, jobs, and education programs for resettled Hmong families. These programs would be held in churches or, again, Christian organizations. Also, during the mid 70s to the mid 80s was a difficult time and many Hmong people couldn’t practice shamanism properly. Even those who crossed the Mekong, they couldn’t carry all their shaman belongings. Those who took action to the mountains after the war ended couldn’t practice properly as well. There were so many factors that influenced the Christian conversion of the Hmong people.
4. As a shaman, have you ever had dreams tell you something bad is gonna happen and days later, it really does happen? -Anonymous-
ANSWER: Yes, I’ve had dreams tell me something bad was going to happen. I would say one of my strong abilities as a Hmong shaman are my dreams. I see everything through dream. Days before people would ask me to do a shaman ritual, I would already have a dream of Hmong people asking me and taking me to do a shaman ritual. Dreams can be tricky too because not every single dream is worth interpreting. Different animals or signs can mean different things in a dream, so it’s crucial that I pay attention to those things.
It started when I was about six or seven years old. At the time my great grandmother was very ill and I spent a lot of my time with her as a child. I suddenly had a dream she came to me and was no longer sick. She was super healthy and had such a glow. She was showing me she could carry stuff and that she could walk and cook again. She was walking around and was laughing and enjoying her time. She then told me she was feeling much better and was going to “go” now. She squeezed my hand and smiled. I was so happy she was feeling better. Then I woke up. A few days later she passed. Ever since then I’ve been having non stop dreams about things to come. The smallest details in dreams can have the biggest impact.
5. How did you learn that you were gifted? -Anonymous-
ANSWER: I never thought I was “gifted” or anything. I never thought I’d become a shaman or be involved in any of this. As a little kid I’ve always had dreams and I’ve always just felt “different.” As time went on it just got worse and worse. I’d have scary dreams. I’ve always felt “kho siab” for no reason and would want to “cry” for no reason. I’d have a lot of paranormal and supernatural things happen to me. As a kid up until college I would experience sleep paralysis. It would happen at least two or three times a week and it was to the point where it was just a normal thing. I’d see black figures and things around me as I sleep but that just became a normal thing. My dreams would tell me of future events to come but I just kept all this a secret. No, I’m not psychic. I don’t know the future. I can’t predict lottery numbers. I don’t know what’s going to be on an exam. I don’t know the future, but I can sense energy and can interpret dreams and symbols that can help prepare for future events like a death, sickness, bad luck or fortune, etc. I’m not a magical being, I can’t zap anyone or I can’t see through anyone. I was given the ability to communicate with the other side, to find lost souls, to heal sick people, to prevent sickness and death… and that’s it.
6. What's your purpose when you're traveling into "realm(s)"? Are you searching for someone? For a reason? If so, what determines the "ah ha, this is it" moment?
ANSWER: There can be many reasons why a shaman travels to the other side. Once a shaman has been asked to do a shaman ritual, they either do “ua neeb siab” or “ua neeb kho.” We’re often requested because someone is sick, ill, or when an omen has been predicted. I may go into other “realms” because I’m in need to go find someone because their soul is lost. I may need to go to the other side because someone may have done something that scared their own soul away.. maybe they were frightened at a funeral home, maybe they fell into a body of water and was frightened, maybe they went somewhere far and a “ghost” or spirit followed them home. So, there are many reasons why I’d travel to the other realm. Sometimes it could be too that ancestors need food and money.
When I go into the other realm, there are specific things I need to do before I can go find someone’s soul. Once I complete all them, I go “saib” that person. This means I follow the soul’s footsteps and I look at what has happened to cause illness. I follow the soul and at the same time I would be reporting this back to people here at home watching me so they know where I am and what’s happened. A person can get sick if their soul is lost, if their soul is “tu siab” or sad, if their soul went looking for others who have passed, etc. I have specific shaman spirits that help me find the soul and follow their foot steps. I simply report back what I see and I must make my way back home. If I ua neeb kho, after I see what has caused the illness, I must go and convince the soul to come back with me. Some are easier than others and some are very bitter and refuse. Some souls might even run from me or try to hide. Other spirits might be around that soul and try to prevent me from bringing them home. It’s up to me to capture them and bring them back and make sure no spirits or “ghosts” try to get the both of us. That’s when we bring in a sacrificed animal, typically used as a deal to trade for the lost soul. We have shaman spirits to help us block some of these dark spirits if they intend to harm me or the soul I am looking for.