Andrea Kalff, a German practitioner of Korean shamanism, holds ritual objects on this 2021 picture. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
As Korea has taken its place among the many world leaders in know-how, many aspects of its conventional tradition even have discovered their method to a worldwide viewers. By a sequence of appearances in media and in style streaming content material, Korean shamanism has achieved a a brand new stage of worldwide consciousness in recent times.
For some, the concept of Korean shamanism being a worldwide entity started 20 years in the past with the arrival of Andrea Kalff, a girl from Prien am Chiemsee, Germany, who turned the very first European to change into a Korean shaman.
Kalff was raised in a Catholic household in Bavaria, with little data or curiosity in any sort of shamanism, not to mention the Korean model. “Since childhood, I had skilled uncommon desires, intuitive perceptions, sicknesses that physicians couldn’t clarify and psychological crises that correspond to what Korean custom understands as ‘sinbyeong’,” she defined, referencing the “spirit illness” that’s thought to have an effect on folks marked to change into shamans.
Initiation into world of Korean shamanism
On the age of 32, whereas in declining well being, she was invited by a pal to attend a global shamanic occasion in Mondsee, Austria. She had no thought this choice would provoke a shift in worldview, setting her on a path towards constructing a completely new life.
Kalff attended the opening ceremony the place she noticed introductions by the attending shamans, together with Kim Keum-hwa, a famed shaman and designated holder of Korea’s Vital Intangible Cultural Properties associated to shamanic rituals.
After the opening ceremony concluded, a person approached Kalff asking for her identify and cellphone quantity, which alarmed her.
Understanding the awkwardness of the scenario, the person advised her, “We all know what’s incorrect with you,” and stated that Kim want to see her for a personal dialog. He assured her {that a} translator would name her within the morning, and she or he agreed.
The assembly with Kim lasted for 3 hours. “We had been principally requested nothing and we didn’t get an opportunity to inform something,” Kalff stated.
Kim advised Kalff that she had vivid desires about her previous to departing for Austria.
“She described my life and household in outstanding element with out asking me any questions,” Kalff stated.
Kim additionally advised Kalff that she was significantly unwell with sinbyeong, and wanted to be initiated as a shaman to be healed.
“Mapping out my path, she defined that not doing it could result in my dying,” Kalff stated.
Though Kim wished to conduct the initiation in a matter of days, Kalff defined that she couldn’t commit so rapidly on account of household points and different issues. Kim advised her, “I’ll provide you with a prayer to take with you … I do know you’ll come to me.”
Andrea Kalff, left, attends a shaman occasion in 2008 in Schlosshotel Mondsee in Austria, along with her instructor Kim Keum-hwa, second from left. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
4 weeks after her return to Germany, Kalff was shocked to obtain a most cancers analysis. “For 3 days, I laid in mattress and cried,” she revealed. “I wanted time to get away from the whole lot, time to meditate.”
After driving alone to Andalusia, Spain, she spent 10 days meditating and sleeping in her automobile earlier than deciding to go to Korea for “Naerim Intestine,” a shaman initiation ritual. Based on Kalff, reflecting on her childhood and well being, “Solely after assembly Kim Keum-hwa did these experiences start to make sense throughout the framework of Korean shamanism.”
Describing her arrival in Korea along with her husband in December 2006, she stated, “We arrived on the airport and as quickly as we did, the cameras had been there, too … instantly I used to be the main focus of the media, which I hadn’t anticipated in any respect.”
Goethe-Institut Korea offered a translator to assist in communication as she underwent 11 days of formality preparation, testing, prayer and initiation.
Grandmaster Kim Keum-hwa, left, leads Andrea Kalff by way of a “Naerim Intestine” initiation ritual in 2006. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
“First, I used to be taken to the temple the place the spirits and gods really feel at house … We had been launched in prayer and proven what the sequence must be. The following few days, I used to be taken to the mountain and into nature, then to the ocean, then to a different particular mountain and to town. It was bodily and emotionally demanding, but in addition transformative.”
After the Naerim Intestine’s conclusion, Kalff was advised by Kim, “Just like the prophesies of the gods within the ritual, Andrea, exit and begin working instantly. You’ll assist many individuals. It is very important join this with typical medication.”
“With this, I used to be dismissed,” Kalff famous. “My apprenticeship formally started in 2006 and has continued all through the previous 20 years, as a result of in Korean shamanism, studying by no means really ends, like in life.”
Nineteen days after the ceremony, Kim — now thought-about Kalff’s spirit mom — advised her she wanted to see a physician, who knowledgeable her that the tumor had grown and she or he wanted to endure surgical procedure. Because the anesthesia started to take impact, she recalled understanding the necessity for the surgical procedure. It was successful and the tumor was eliminated.
After the surgical procedure and the initiation, she utterly modified her life.
In 2007, the story of her journey appeared within the German media.
After her initiation, Kalff stated she “lived primarily in Germany and Hawaii whereas touring repeatedly to Korea for ceremonies, instruction and additional coaching.”
“This required studying tips on how to apply authentically inside Korean custom whereas dwelling and dealing in Europe and the U.S. Additionally, Grandmaster Kim Keum-hwa at all times visited me in Germany and Hawaii,” she recalled.
Kim Keum-hwa, proper, meets with Andrea Kalff, second from left, in Munich in September 2015, throughout Kim’s remaining go to to Europe. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
“This required balancing two very completely different cultural worlds. My ritual roots remained in Korea, whereas my sensible work, analysis and scientific collaborations developed primarily in Europe. Fairly than belonging to at least one nation, I realized to dwell between three cultures,” she stated.
Universality of Korean shamanism
As the primary European initiated into the world of Korean shamanism, her scenario was distinctive.
“I’ve come to grasp Korean shamanism not merely as a ‘spiritual’ custom, however as a extremely refined system of formality apply, embodied data and neighborhood therapeutic,” she defined. “My work at this time focuses on constructing dialogue between conventional Korean ritual apply and trendy psychology, psychiatry, anthropology and medication.”
She added, “Fairly than trying to vary the custom, I intention to translate its ideas into varieties that may be mentioned respectfully inside up to date tutorial and scientific settings.”
Addressing her distinctive position as a European ordained in and practising Korean shamanism, Kalff acknowledged, “It’s each an honor and a duty. On the optimistic facet, I can introduce Korean shamanism to audiences which may by no means in any other case encounter it. The problem is that I at all times need to symbolize the custom respectfully whereas avoiding stereotypes or cultural misunderstandings. I attempt to communicate rigorously and from private expertise relatively than presenting myself as talking for each Korean practitioner.”
Yang Jong-sung, president of the Museum of Shamanism in Seoul, defined the importance of Kalff’s position in at this time’s shamanic world. “Andrea changing into a shaman signifies that shamanism is a world faith. Shamanism is communication with heaven, the moon, stars, pure issues … it’s common and associated. We will discover that shamanism will not be solely a Korean faith, however a common faith,” he stated.
German shaman Andrea Kalff, left, talks with Yang Jong-sung, president of the Museum of Shamanism, on the museum in Seoul in June. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
“By common shamanism, it’s referring to the expertise of possessed shamans in a wide range of cultures. Every could have its personal language, shamanic ritual traditions, practices and symbols. Nevertheless, it’s the dynamic of summoning a god or spirit and the non secular energy woke up that makes a shaman. On this manner, shamanism is a common phenomenon.”
He added, “It’s the ability that’s vital.”
Liora Sarfati, chair of the Division of East Asian Research at Tel Aviv College and co-chair of the Korean Religions Unit on the American Academy of Faith, defined, “Andrea’s case attests to the globalization of Korean shamanism and to the cosmopolitan potential of Korea’s non secular traditions. As Andrea and different Korean shamans reveal, the spirits’ concepts and messages could be understood past the boundaries of typical linguistics.”
From left, Yang Jong-sung, president of the Museum of Shamanism, Liora Sarfati and Andrea Kalff pose collectively throughout an occasion at Sogang College in western Seoul in June. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
Sarfati added, “Andrea works largely in America and Europe. Most of her purchasers are extra interested by her non secular and therapeutic skills than within the Korean custom. On this method, she demonstrates how transcultural flows can profit folks throughout the globe, and the way non secular practices transfer past nationwide borders.”
World unfold of Ok-shamanism
The worldwide reputation of Korean popular culture has introduced Korean tradition, together with shamanism, to a broader viewers each in Korea and all over the world. By Korea’s in style tradition and even synthetic intelligence (AI)-driven on-line shamanic providers, persons are encountering the custom from new factors of view.
When requested in regards to the modifications, Kalff acknowledged, “I feel it has elevated visibility tremendously. Many individuals first encounter Korean shamanism by way of movies, tv or streaming platforms. This could create curiosity, which is optimistic. On the identical time, leisure shouldn’t exchange an understanding of the dwelling non secular and cultural custom and duty and coaching.”
Andrea Kalff delivers a chat on her initiation into Korean shamanism throughout an occasion at Sogang College in western Seoul in June. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
The Korean wave has drawn public curiosity each within the context of in style tradition and in Korea’s conventional heritage itself.
“Some folks stay solely within the aesthetic or dramatic features,.” Kalff stated. “Others start with in style tradition however finally develop a honest curiosity in Korean historical past, ritual and faith. The vital query is whether or not curiosity results in deeper studying and duty for the future as a ‘mudang’,” she added, utilizing the Korean phrase for shaman.
A creating side of contemporary Korean shamanism is the presence of AI-driven fortune-telling and shamanic providers. When requested about their place in at this time’s ritual milieu, Kalff provided, “Know-how is solely a device. It could actually assist folks entry info or talk extra simply. Nevertheless, a real ritual is predicated on human presence, relationship, duty and lived expertise. AI can’t exchange the non secular, emotional and communal dimensions of a standard ‘intestine.’ However I’ve additionally realized over time the shopper doesn’t should be current, which implies the intestine could be held whereas the shopper doesn’t attend.”
German shaman Andrea Kalff tends to a shopper in Eggstatt, Germany, March 2013. Courtesy of Andrea Kalff
Kalff continued, “Know-how could change how folks talk, however the ritual itself stays the guts of Korean shamanism. So long as lecturers proceed transmitting the custom responsibly, intestine will stay its basis.”
Sarfati added, “I hope that Korean shamanism maintains its optimistic impact on the lives of many, in Korea and overseas. I additionally hope that Koreans will preserve the face-to-face encounters with shamans and won’t all transfer to on-line communication. I view direct communication between shamans and purchasers as a significant encounter in city lives that are usually typically alienated and instrumental.”
Reflecting on her personal apply, Kalff expressed hope that her “work contributes to respectful dialogue between cultures.”
“I don’t see myself as altering Korean shamanism. Fairly, I hope to assist others recognize its depth whereas exploring how conventional ritual data can contribute to up to date discussions in psychology, psychiatry, trauma research, and intercultural understanding.”
Go to andrea-kalff.com for extra info.
