Ritual

In a way, we can look at most of The Spirit Catches You as preparation for the final chapter, in which the family holds a neeb ceremony for Lia. After all, a friend in neeb is a friend indeeb.

Anyway, now that we have a good understanding of both Lia's story and Hmong religion, we're ready to dive on into this mystical ritual.

Naturally, the scene comes preloaded with tons of religious symbolism. Two pigs are going to be sacrificed today, and each is given "spirit money" that symbolizes "Lia's expired life-visa" (19.16). Just take a second to digest that before we move on.

Before they sacrifice Lia's pig, a thread is connected from it to Lia, representing the bond now formed between them. These symbols reflect the interconnectedness of all things. Which, as you know by now, is a central Hmong spiritual belief.

As an American, Anne has a different reaction to the ceremony than the Lees. She's quite skeptical at first, especially because the TV is blaring Hulk Hogan's latest antics as they prepare for the solemn ceremony. But then something changes. Suddenly Anne "could tell [...] that there had been a sea change" due to an "unaccountable feat of sorcery" and just like that this logical journalist falls under the txiv neeb's spell (19.3).

So is this magic stuff real? Yes and no. Even if the neeb ceremony doesn't succeed in returning Lia's soul and healing her (which it doesn't), the ritual provides enormous relief to those who participate. And no matter your belief system, that's something worth treasuring. Just be careful where you stand when the pig slaughter goes down.