Siv Yis- The Hmong Shaman
Posted on 21 December 2009
This past quarter I had taken Photojournalism and for my final assignment I had to do a photo essay, for the photo essay I had done a story on “The Life of a Hmong Shaman” and I was able to interview an aunt of mine. She had been a shaman for a while now and she was nice enough to give me her story and also let me take photos of her. Truth be told, my photo essay wasn’t so great, time was running out and I was on a crunch time therefore I honestly just threw the whole thing together to make a story. I know I could had done a better job had I more time on my hands. But then reality kicked in and time was not on my side, but then good news is, I did have a decent enough grade for the assignment to pass the class.
So from the very long video interview I did I decided to take a part of the interview out and convert it to an audio as she tells us the story of Siv Yee, the Hmong God who is a Shaman and how certain Hmong individuals are able to become Shamans.
I had learned a lot during the time of this assignment. She gave me all the information needed to make a complete story, she was willing to show me whatever she is able to and not upset her “spirits”, she was kind enough to answer every question to the best of her ability and over the interview I had learn new information about my own culture and belief which was a good thing.
All in all, it was a great and successful assignment.
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Here is a rough summary of the interview:
Long ago there were three brothers (she couldn’t remember the youngest brother’s name) the oldest was Ntxwg Nyoog and the middle son was Siv Yis (The shaman god), because Siv Yis was the shaman god he constantly go down to earth to heal the sick and Ntxwg Nyoog his older brother was a kind person, but because he fell in love with an evil spirit and was so in love with her, he was blinded at the evil things she does. But because Siv Yis trusted his brother, he had asked his brother to take care of his family while he is on earth healing the sick and wounded, but upon his return home, Ntxwg Nyoog’s devil wife had already killed Siv Yis’s sons and ate them. When Siv Yis found out what had happened to his son, he then close all contact to his brother Ntxwg Nyoog for his evilness (therefore to us Hmong people Ntxwg Nyoog is an evil spirit or is translated into the “DEVIL” ). Siv Yis was very disappointed about the death of his sons so he decided that because he is able to save people on earth and heaven but unable to save his own sons, he decided not to Ua Neng (being a Shaman) anymore, he was to hurt from the death of his sons. So for that reason he decided to spread his powers to earth, but only selected few will get this power. He left words stating that any individual who is kind heart and is willing to help heal the sick will get his power, only the pure hearted individuals will receive this special power. So for now Siv Yis is still in heaven watching from above, but refuses to heal the sick since he had let his special power down to certain individuals to earth.
The second part of this particular portion of this clip I had asked her “While you are doing your Ua Neng rituals do you see anything?”
Her reply: I do not know about other individuals, but no I do not see anything, I have my hat on (a special shaman hat) and I do not see anything, but I do know that the spirits are next to me, but I can feel them around me, I know in my heart how they look like, whoever I call upon I know their features, but I do not actually see them. They are the one who tell me what to do and what to say, I can feel them very close to me, I just don’t see them.
This is one of her 3 shrines, she has one shrine that has two saparate sections (this one, the other part of this shrine is not in this photo), a smaller shrine and a buddah shrine. This shrine is her strongest shrine (with the strongest spirits) of the 3.
25 responses to Siv Yis- The Hmong Shaman
This is very interesting, thanks for sharing. How often does she pray?
When I was younger I never really paid much attention to my religion and culture. The more I learned about shamanism the more interesting it became to me and my respect for it is constantly growing. I can remember hating to go to relative’s houses when they had txiv neebs perform healing rituals but now that I’m older I see how important it is to be there.
MMLEE, I am a bit diferent, when I was younger I enjoyed these things, back then we were still residing in Cali so I have all my friends and cousins there and we always have fun, but now that we are here in Georgia, it’s a whole lot different and it just doesnt feel the same anymore with all the girls helping each other (b/c majority of us are living in different states now) and etc. But then still as I grow I am learning more and more which I am very grateful of!
The story’s wrong but it’s kool…when you have time look it up on google under hmoob siv yis. It starts from luj tub and his wife etc. I’ve read many stories about sivyis that are different. My father’s a shaman since he’s 10yrs old now he’s 78yrs old. I’m his (hwj sawv) right hand man.
Xyoojboy25, truth be told, there’s no right or wrong with this story, since it’s such an old legend and it had only been told through the word of mouth, there’s no truth nor lies to this story anymore. I too had read so many different stories of Siv Yis and decided to put on this particular story since I have it on Video and converted to audio and it was an interview with her done by me. My Aunt who was kind enough to tell me her story, she told me (in her interview that had been cut out) that her dab neeg came to her since she was 7 years old and they had to send away her dab neeg until she was married because she wasn’t ready for it and was too young.
I’m a Hmong Shaman in training and I find all stories, old, new, true or fake, very interesting. All the stories aren’t meant to be in stone, they are meant to put character, meaning, depth, and inspiration to all of us. Your Aunt’s shrine looks very different from my own; however, we Shaman’s model after our teacher and how our spirit guides would like our shrines to appear as.
Thank you for sharing your insights and my spirit guides don’t allow people to record or take photos of my shrine; however, every shaman is different.
I would like to note that your Aunt is right, some Shaman’s cannot see when they are on their “horse”; however, some do. Those who can see, they are all shown different things, sometimes they can see the faces of the spirits or they might not be able to. I am very fortunate in life and I am blessed to have seen the things I have.
Amazing chicken doll! Any idea on how to make one? My dad’s a shaman and he doesn’t see anything either, just hears words and has a sense of “knowing”.
Thank you for the information. Very interesting. Ua Tsaug Ntau.
Lee, you’re very welcome! I too found it very interesting!
I am a shaman, Have been one for 2 years now. I like the Story. Which I think it’s true, that evil was really female. It’s crazy but sometimes it’s like that. Shaman would see spirits as both sex or animals. Some people have animal spirits and some have male spirit but have an female body. Others have female spirit but have male body. Anyway I won’t say much. It’s interesting that there are a lot of different shaman in this world. Last new when I was sending my spirits away for the new year. I would told that there will be a lot of different, and strange Hmong shaman. Some will have the instrument of Siv Yis and some won’t. We’ll just have to wait and see.
There’s so many stories of Siv Yis that I’ve heard of. Though I’m still interested in hearing all of the stories. Thank you!
- Samantha Vang
Samantha, I’ve heard a few different stories too but they all are very similar and very interesting.
VEry interesting i would love to hear more….i myself am a beginner at the shaman thing i just started. And you know it was crazy how it all began for me. hahha well love to hear stories!
just make sure you are not lead the wrong way…make sure your teacher don’t force you to learn the shaman words…everything should be very natural…if you are lead the right path…
sincerely,
a Young Hmong Vang shaman and also a teacher
So how do you know if you are calling upon all the neeb spirits?
Also, the neeb songs or saying, are they being spoken in english and hmong for those New Shamans that do not speak fluent hmong??
I am very interested and would like to hear your stories, how you started?
there is a lot of levels depending on what you have when you were brought down to this earth with you…meaning your spirit guiders. Any shaman depending on their kindness or ability will have many spirit guiders…if and only if they are not evil. In the end it all depends on how good the shaman is to others seeking help and to their students in training. the status determines what you can and cannot do…if you have the ability to talk to your spirit guiders without going into a trance, then you’re considered very blessed with a High Status…can’t say too much this is not the place to tell too much. Hopefully, any shamans either starting new or in training is not forced to learn any of the verses from their master, if so I feel SORRY for YOU!
don’t mind helping you but I’m not your master…so can’t tell you too much. SORRY.
Is it difficult to find a Hmong shaman to Ua Neeg? I know that back in the old days, shamans will only perform for relatives but not sure about now.
Suzy, I don’t know about your area, but here in our small community, it’s not hard to find a Hmong shaman, every one everyone, all my parents does it, go to the shaman’s house with some Hmong paper money and some incense to ask for them to ua neeg or hu plig.
shamans will perform to anyone as long as they are respected and if you truly need help.
Do all shamans have the same spiritual knowledge and power or are they all different?
Suzy, I am not a Shaman and I am not sure, but if I am correct all Shamans sees differently, they are all guided by different spirits. I believe they see the same similar things but i believe it’s different for each shaman and depending on how high their power is.
all shamans have their own powers, levels in status, and Neeb Spirits….some can talk to their Neeb spirits easily…and so on..From my own experience the ranks in the Neeb Cloth that each one wears…is from Lowest to highest Shaman is….1. White Cloth, 2. Black, and then the highest shaman would be the 3. Red Cloth
Shawn, you seem to be very knowledgable about shamanism. if you not mind me asking, what determines the racks in each shaman? how many levels are there and why the status?? How many neeb spirits does a shaman have?
Nye, she doesnt pray, but she does rituals when people ask her to. She did say that for the new years, she must do a ritual to send off her spirits to celebrate the new year and while thats going on she replaces the papers on her shrine.
even though it’s my own religion I still find it very interesting! Good thing that I did this because I am learning so m uch!