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When a Hmong shaman says no


Typically before a shaman ritual, most Hmong shamans may receive dreams that are signs of what to expect. If a shaman has a dream they fight a demon and lose, it means their shaman guides and spirits are telling the shaman "NO" to that ritual. If they proceed, there's a great chance they will be harmed. If a shaman has a dream that they fight a demon and win, it means the shaman's strength is greater than that of the demon, so they are clear to perform that ritual.

Early on into my shaman journey, a family had called asking if I could saib something that was going on with their family member. Every month after the full moon, their family member would become weak and lose consciousness. They said that the individual would first smell rotten meat; like actual rotten, moldy, maggot meat of some sort. They would then become weak and then faint. The family said this had been going on for a few years and they've done all that they could. From countless shaman rituals to countless doctors, medicine, specialists. And so my first response was, "well, I'm only a kid, but I'll give it a try." So after I saib that individual, I had a dream the next day. I had a dream that a Hmong tiger chased me, scratched my legs, and as I crawled my way back into my house, it stood by the door waiting for me. I thought to myself that I was going to die. I woke up. My leg and hop was in pain for one week straight. This was my shaman guides telling me that the shaman ritual must stop and this is as far as I can help. I called the family and told them to further their search for help elsewhere. That exact night I had a dream that a Hmong girl in a white dress was on her death bed. She was dying and I saw and heard Hmong people all around crying. I woke up.

To this day I don't know how this individual is doing. We are not related. I hope that they are well and strong. The point is, for a lot of shamans if we cancel or say no to when people ask us, there are many reasons why but we just can't or choose not to tell people. Our shaman guides may be telling us that if we proceed, we will not be ok. When a Hmong shaman says no, believe them. Our only purpose on Earth is to help people and we were chosen for some greater purpose; if we say no we can't it is often times for a very good reason.

-tfl


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