After the evening feast, one of the village shaman proceededs to “read” the chicken bones. This is an ancient tradition amongst the Lisu Clan, and also practiced by other ethnic groups in parts of Yunnan province, China.
However tonight we are in Pai, the air is crisp, winter is upon us. My family decides its time to pay homage to the spirit world, so the shaman is summoned and a feast is prepared. At the end of the meal, the leg bones from the chicken (Black Chicken, which is also considered a medicine according to Chinese medicine) are saved, tooth picks are placed into the bones at opportune spots to ensure a ‘proper’ reading. Than the Shaman goes into a semi-altered state and begins spewing out fortunes and warnings to the hosts.
Remind you of Thanksgiving dinner? …Not in the slightest, no this is not your average Thanksgiving meal where the relatives sit around and talk about the upcoming elections, far from it.
I am blessed, and truly thankful that these people, the Lisu, accept me into their lives, allow me to partake in their ancient precious traditions, where ghosts and ancestors are honored. These are truly precious moments, windows into a dying world as tribal cultures confront and approach the main stream world.
May you all be Happy,
May you all be Free from Pain and Suffering.
-Casey