In Hmong culture, there's no problem that can't be solved with a little bit of magic. This shamanic society has some unique views about spirituality in general, adhering to their ancient spiritual traditions over anything the modern world has to offer. In The Spirit Catches You, this mystical perspective butts up against the cold empiricism of American medicine again and again, illustrating the strengths—and failures—of both sides. In the end, the book serves as a stirring reminder of the power of spirituality, whether or not those beliefs turn out to be literally true or not.
Questions About Spirituality
- How do the Lees' spiritual beliefs affect their view of Lia's illness?
- Why do the Lees' traditional treatments of Lia work better than medicine after her catastrophic seizure?
- Why are Lia's doctors so upset by Hmong spiritual treatments?
- What is the symbolism of the neeb ceremony that closes the book?
Chew on This
Like many shamanistic cultures, Hmong take a mystical, decidedly non-rational view of the world—and that just doesn't fly in an American hospital.
Even if Hmong rituals are hogwash, they hold a great deal of value to the community, even if just for the placebo effect.