The link to the video has been fixed. I hope it works now.
Here it is again:
Shaman
A short five minute walk from our dense apartment complex, is the steep flank of Surak Mountain. Myriad trails wind within the forested nature preserve and provide adequate satisfaction to the vagaries of my mood. I can strain in high intensity efforts as I accelerate the rate of climb, practice mindfulness as I stop and listen to the gurgle of a tiny creek, and on some occasions train my cognitive abilities as I challenge myself to retrace, on my decent, the exact route I took on the way up. This last activity is not easy, as the forest obscures forward visibility, and there are dozens if not hundreds of occasions to choose between similar-looking foot paths. But I diverge. Traversing the mountain, at about a third of its height is a segment of the Seoul Trail, a popular, well maintained route. This Saturday, we chose it as an active long-cut between our apartment, and a restaurant located one subway stop away (A subway stop is a common unit of distance in Seoul). After satisfying our palate and our bellies, and soon after our ascent into the mountain, we heard clanging and drum beats, which Adi recognized as a Shaman ceremony. We followed a small path leading down (Those are many, remember?), and approached the walled villa bordering the forest. Adi hesitated, but curiosity won. We entered the courtyard in the midst of the ceremony. The organizers asked us not to get too close, but otherwise, we were welcome.
Shamanism in Korea is becoming rare. Most Koreans frown on the practice. However, when tragedy strikes, they may seek the service of a shaman. The shaman is a conduit between our and the spirit world. He can channel a loved relative, who will provide consolation and advice. Instead of describing the ceremony, I took the easy route, a short video clip. Click below:
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