Shamanism is a spiritual and healing practice found in many Indigenous cultures around the world. It centers around a practitioner known as a shaman, who enters altered states of consciousness—through rituals, drumming, chanting, or meditation—to connect with the spirit world. The shaman acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, seeking to heal illness, restore balance, and guide individuals or communities. These practices are rooted in animistic beliefs, which hold that all beings and elements of nature possess a spirit. Shamanism is not a singular religion but a diverse set of traditions, adapted uniquely across different cultures.

In Hmong shamanism, the shaman, or txiv neeb, plays a vital role in maintaining spiritual and physical well-being. One significant ritual in this tradition is the Hu Plig ceremony, meaning “calling of the spirit.” This ritual is performed when it is believed that a person’s soul has wandered or become lost due to illness, trauma, or fear. The ceremony calls the soul back to the body to restore health and harmony. The photographs shown below document a Hu Plig ceremony, capturing key elements such as the shrine, ritual tools, offerings, and the step-by-step process of the ritual itself. Through these visual representations, the viewer is offered a glimpse into the sacred and symbolic world of Hmong spiritual healing.