Breaking Through the Barriers of Darkness: Recognizing the Cult of Qigong for What It Is: Chapter 4: "Sorceresses in the Countryside
In the Chinese countryside a sorceress is known to all. Every local area has its own woman of supernormal capabilities called "divinities" like "xian gu", "huang gu" or "ban xian." Most sorceresses are old ladies, and there are not many of them. There is usually one well-known sorceress in a town or area. But they are spread all over China and are respected by the local people. They are "half a supernatural being" in the local people's heart. The major work of the sorceresses is to perform divination, the casting out of demons, and healing. When the local people have lost their ox or some other possession, when their children are strangely ill or have lost their soul "hun," when they need to ask about their future, or when they need to ask for help after a disaster, they will go to the sorceress for help. Before or after the sorceress helps them, they will give her money or other things in order to thank her. Even though they live in the poor countryside, sorceresses never lack such good food as chicken, duck, fish or pork. They are the first ones whose families become comparatively well off.
Of course, some sorceresses are false and do not have any supernormal capabilities. Genuine sorceresses are those who have supernormal capabilities, and quite a number are even well educated. High officials often go secretly to see the sorceress. Because sorceresses can tell exactly what will happen, people believe in them after seeing things happen as they have foretold them.
The spiritual background of sorceresses is the activity of evil spirits, just as is that of qigong. The difference lies in the fact that the ability of sorceresses is given directly by evil spirits, not as a result of gong practice. When sorceresses perform divinations, the evil spirits speak directly to them or display a kind of "pictures." Sorceresses simply pass on the information the evil spirits have offered When sorceresses drive out demons, the evil spirits will very often produce its effect within the sorceress, just as in spontaneous qigong. At this time the sorceress knows exactly what is happening, but is unwilling or unable to control herself. Evil spirits sometimes speak prophecies through sorceresses, imitating other people's voices identically, or even show vividly other people's facial expressions on sorceresses' faces. Those imitated are usually dead people whose living family members have come to ask about them. Hence people greatly fear and respect the sorceress’s power, which is in fact the activity of evil spirits. The so-called driving out of demons is having the evil spirits that are on the victim cooperate and leave the person in order to perform a strange sign and to convince people. The calling back of souls is the same. In the countryside where a belief in ghosts and gods is prevalent, evil spirits are active, roaming all around, looking for people that they can attach to. Small children's souls are relatively weaker; therefore, the devils find them easier to get hold of. Sorceresses simply affect to call back the soul, and the evil spirits cooperate by releasing the soul of the "soul loser." The evil spirits like to have people worship them and like to go to the places where idols are kept. This is why, where people are very superstitious and worship idols, the evil spirits often display their supernormal powers and perform strange signs. To common people these areas seem to be abnormal, having a lot of strange things happening there. Please note that people worship idols because they hope the idols will protect them and bring them good luck. Worshiping a man's picture is also idol worshiping. We often see people put up the picture of a certain "great man" for the purpose of getting protection and good luck from it. Such actions are not only benighted and superstitious, but invite evil spirits as well."
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In the Chinese countryside a sorceress is known to all. Every local area has its own woman of supernormal capabilities called "divinities" like "xian gu", "huang gu" or "ban xian." Most sorceresses are old ladies, and there are not many of them. There is usually one well-known sorceress in a town or area. But they are spread all over China and are respected by the local people. They are "half a supernatural being" in the local people's heart. The major work of the sorceresses is to perform divination, the casting out of demons, and healing. When the local people have lost their ox or some other possession, when their children are strangely ill or have lost their soul "hun," when they need to ask about their future, or when they need to ask for help after a disaster, they will go to the sorceress for help. Before or after the sorceress helps them, they will give her money or other things in order to thank her. Even though they live in the poor countryside, sorceresses never lack such good food as chicken, duck, fish or pork. They are the first ones whose families become comparatively well off.
Of course, some sorceresses are false and do not have any supernormal capabilities. Genuine sorceresses are those who have supernormal capabilities, and quite a number are even well educated. High officials often go secretly to see the sorceress. Because sorceresses can tell exactly what will happen, people believe in them after seeing things happen as they have foretold them.
The spiritual background of sorceresses is the activity of evil spirits, just as is that of qigong. The difference lies in the fact that the ability of sorceresses is given directly by evil spirits, not as a result of gong practice. When sorceresses perform divinations, the evil spirits speak directly to them or display a kind of "pictures." Sorceresses simply pass on the information the evil spirits have offered When sorceresses drive out demons, the evil spirits will very often produce its effect within the sorceress, just as in spontaneous qigong. At this time the sorceress knows exactly what is happening, but is unwilling or unable to control herself. Evil spirits sometimes speak prophecies through sorceresses, imitating other people's voices identically, or even show vividly other people's facial expressions on sorceresses' faces. Those imitated are usually dead people whose living family members have come to ask about them. Hence people greatly fear and respect the sorceress’s power, which is in fact the activity of evil spirits. The so-called driving out of demons is having the evil spirits that are on the victim cooperate and leave the person in order to perform a strange sign and to convince people. The calling back of souls is the same. In the countryside where a belief in ghosts and gods is prevalent, evil spirits are active, roaming all around, looking for people that they can attach to. Small children's souls are relatively weaker; therefore, the devils find them easier to get hold of. Sorceresses simply affect to call back the soul, and the evil spirits cooperate by releasing the soul of the "soul loser." The evil spirits like to have people worship them and like to go to the places where idols are kept. This is why, where people are very superstitious and worship idols, the evil spirits often display their supernormal powers and perform strange signs. To common people these areas seem to be abnormal, having a lot of strange things happening there. Please note that people worship idols because they hope the idols will protect them and bring them good luck. Worshiping a man's picture is also idol worshiping. We often see people put up the picture of a certain "great man" for the purpose of getting protection and good luck from it. Such actions are not only benighted and superstitious, but invite evil spirits as well."
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