Advice For Emerging Hmong Shamans

I've received a lot of submissions from new and emerging shamans about how their journey and how their process has been like. Strangely these submissions have been from young people like myself. It's been a crazy and also enlightening and empowering process and I'd like to share some tips and advice for new and emerging Hmong shamans.

It seems like a lot, but it's actually not. When starting the process it may seem like there are a ton of things to do, all these rituals, people to talk to, learning, etc. It's a lot if you make it seem like a list. The most important is just starting it. By starting it, you'd be surprised at how fast things go.

If you're like me, you probably didn't know much Hmong or know anything about tradition, culture, or shamanism. I had to learn all my culture (still learning) from the beginning. So don't stop learning. Even after you've found your master, even after raising your big altar, even after performing rituals, and even after some bad experiences. This process and your journey will be a lot easier if you're open and make it a learning process.

Have a good relationship with your master. Your master will be your life long mentor and it's very important you have a good relationship with them. You want to be able to ask them for help, come to them with concerns or questions, and they must be willing to help you completely. Don't be shy to ask your master for help.

Don't stop practicing. There are a lot of people who stop practicing either because they get lazy, don't have a good relationship with their master, have no one to help them, or get discouraged. This process is hard! I wouldn't expect it to be easy! So keep pushing yourself, keep practicing, and prioritize it into your day. This is a part of you as much as your arm or leg, so don't push it away.

There's going to be people who don't understand what you do and that's ok. There's going to be people who speak badly about you, and that's ok too. You're on a journey for you, not for them. For the people who want to learn, teach them. But for the people who look down at you or talk badly, focus your energy elsewhere. Whether you succeed or not has nothing to do with their life.

Learn from other shamans. Listen to other shamans do rituals and incorporate their words and chants into yours too. There's no wrong in liking how a shaman phrases a certain saying and using it for your own. Learn from elders too. Take way what is worth keeping to you and learn from things that aren't so good. I've had to do rituals for Christians, women who are divorced, LGBTQIA friends and family, and it's all a matter of your perspective and what you believe is right.

Make sure you have a helper or assistant. This is very important because they're the ones you will rely on. Teach them what you like, what you don't, how you like the gong, and teach them to listen to your chants. If there's a specific chant you use when you need your gong, tell that to them so they know. Let your assistant know how fast you prefer the gong to be as well.

At the very beginning, you'll learn the physical space of your shaman bench. Make sure you are comfortable with how wide or long your bench is. You'll be moving a lot on your bench so it's important to navigate the space.

Don't be mad or angry before doing a ritual. I find it that it's really hard to do a ritual when I'm having a rough morning or am in a bad mood. Be relaxed, clear your mind, and be in a good mindset before doing a ritual. These are a few quick tips I have for new and emerging shamans.