Spirited Research: Studying Lên Ðồng in Vietnam and California

Abstract

Karen became ill while she and Hiền were conducting field research in Vietnam. Just as she was leaving the country she began to feel unwell and within one week her skin turned bright orange yellow, she was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, and her liver had nearly failed. She was hospitalized for five weeks while the diagnosis was made and treatments administered. During that time, when no one knew for sure what the outcome would be and whether or not Karen would respond to the treatment, she was told to contact people who were more than a few hours away so they could be prepared to come quickly if things turned for the worse. Karen had to notify Phan, Hien, and Tania and Brian. “Oh! My sister, how are you? Are you okay? I was in the hospital too.” Karen listened to the weak, frail voice of Phan—spirit medium, prime consultant, friend, and elder sister—as they spoke over the telephone. It seemed extraordinary that they had both been hospitalized and released at the same time. The two women had known each other for more than twenty years: they met because Phan once offered to teach Karen about her life as a medium and practitioner of the lên dồng ritual.