Hmong Souls
The Hmong believe each person has more than one soul. A person has a multitude of many souls and when these souls are frightened, lost, sad, depressed, reincarnated, or possessed by other entities it can cause a person to become ill and in worst case scenarios, death. So, below is a list of the types of souls a person has. Some shamans may have different terms and some may have more, but all in all these are the general souls we can agree on. We say there are a summary of 12 souls but some expand (below) and say there are 32 souls.
Ntsuj Duab, Ntsuj Hlau, Ntsuj Plig
Ntsuj Qaib, Ntsuj Noog, Ntsuj Os
Ntsuj Xyoob & Ntsuj Ntoo
Ntsuj Qoob & Ntsuj Loos
Ntoo Txwj, Ntoo Laus, Ntoo Maj, Ntoo Mos
Nyuj Rab & Nyab Kaus
Ntsuj Nab & Ntsuj Ya
Ntsuj Dev & Ntsuj Dais
Ntsuj Tes & Ntsuj Taw
Ntsuj Siab & Ntsuj Ntsws
Ntsuj Ntsej & Ntsuj Muag
Ntsuj Nkauj Hnub & Ntsuj Nraug Hli
Ntsuj Npauj Npuam & Ntsuj Npauj Npaim
Ntsuj Kab Npauj & Ntsuj Kab Xim
Hmong shamans will have two pairs of buffalo horns or kuam. These kuam are used to communicate with the "other" side to determine where a spirit is and where it has gone. It can be used to confirm or deny where a spirit is and if we were able to bring their spirit home successfully. Below are just some examples of what the kuam can tell a Hmong shaman. Some get complicated as Hmong shamans use two sets, meaning four pieces. Depending on how they land can conclude a lot. Hmong shamans can call their kuam "Niam Nkauj Fab Yeem, Txiv Nraug Fab Yaj." Below is reading one set of kuam.
If a shaman tosses a kuam to raise a person's spirit, then it must land like this. This means the road is open for them to come home and the spirit is able to get up. If the horns are open but facing the other way (outwardly) it means the road is open but the road is not leading them home and the spirit is still wandering. A shaman will need to toss them again.
If a shaman wants to know if the spirit of a person is safely inside their home, the kuam must be closed and facing inward like the photo. This means they made it home (horns must face inward) and the road is closed for them to leave. If the horns are closed but facing outwardly it means the spirit came home but household and family spirits are still unable to detain their soul inside. The shaman must toss them until they land like the photo.
Before a shaman can sacrifice an animal, they must get permission from the animal first. When a shaman asks for permission, one side of the kuam must be closed and one side must be open. It does not matter which side (left or right) as long as one is open and the other closed. If both are open (facing inward or outward) it means the animal still has not agreed and the animal's spirit will not make it to protect the person. The shaman must ask and toss again. If they are both closed (facing inward or outward) it means the road is closed for them to go and protect the person's soul. The shaman must ask and toss again. If after many attempts and the kuam will not land like the photo, it means the animal absolutely refuses and a new animal must be used.
When a shaman wants to know if the person's spirit is protected from entities, sickness, and death, the kuam must land like this. This means the road to entities, sickness, and death are closed and not in alignment with the person's path. If the kuam is closed but facing inwardly it means the road is closed but that the path of sickness and death is still in alignment with the person (not good). The shaman must toss again until it lands like the photo. If the kuam is open and facing inwardly or outwardly it means the road to sickness and death is still open and alignment is still in the person's path. The shaman must toss again until it lands correctly.
If a kuam ever lands like this, it means the person has gone to reincarnation. However, the road is closed for the person which is helpful because we can still help. This means their journey to reincarnation is blocked and we can still help.
If a kuam ever lands like this, it means the person has gone to reincarnation. This is not good because it means the road is open widely, on their end and in the spirit end. This means they freely choose to go and nothing is blocking their path. If left alone, the person will not recover.