BECOMING A MEDIUM

a seat for spirits to sit upon

Becoming a medium is seen as answering the spirits’ calling. Mediums consider themselves to be seats for spirits to sit upon or possess. This mediumship is a burden, often accompanied by pain. Most mediums suffer prior to realizing their destiny. They endure knotted hair, false illness, and other yin diseases. These long trials come to end when they realize their suffering is the result of a burdensome spirit root. They are brought to a master medium who initiates them into becoming mediums of the Mother Goddess religion. While more women than men become mediums, this tradition is shared by men and women, young people and the elderly, and encompasses people across the socio-economic spectrum. These mediums often find that answering their calling leads to financial success and physical health, but their career is not as stable as a traditional Viet profession. This is not a future taken on lightly.

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Each medium can be identified by their spirit root. A master medium can identify others with heavy spirit roots by their physical appearance, personality, and other characteristics. This spirit root corresponds to a specific spirit in the Mother Goddess pantheon. Men and women can have spirit roots of either gender. Male spirit roots are characterized by hot tempers, glowing faces, red eyes, and impulsivity, while female spirit roots are characterized by effeminate looks and behavior. An effeminate man can be said to have a female spirit root, and a hot tempered, brash woman can be said to have a male spirit root. Those with spirit roots that correspond to more youthful spirits, such as the Damsels or the Young Boy, behave in childish ways, and someone with a spirit root of Saint Tran, a historical Viet warrior, might carry himself like a soldier.     

Mediums may also find themselves entering spontaneous trances prior to being initiated. These people dance semi-consciously, deep in the trance of a spirit who has claimed possession of them, until a master medium begs the spirit to be compassionate and release the sufferer. Some future mediums are not ready to be initiated and must continue to endure their ordeals until the spirits indicate to a master medium that their time has come. The master may prescribe a ritual to the future medium so that the initiate may cleanse him or herself of the burdensome spirit.

Despite the hardships associated with becoming a medium, the rewards are rich. People who have lost their health, wealth, or even family members may find themselves in much different circumstances after surrendering to the Mother Goddess spirits. They believe their practice will bring them great auspiciousness, and there are many stories of people who had lost everything becoming very successful again after praying to the Mother Goddess spirits.