Journey of a Life Coach and Shaman2 min read

Meena Vue is a master shaman, medium and life coach. Her parents divorced when she was a young child. Early in her childhood she experienced seeing and hearing things that she didn’t understand. Raised by a single mom her family converted and she was baptized into the Mormon Church for a period of time. She struggled with illness and depression, she even contemplated suicide. Being a single Hmong woman shaman from a divorced family she struggled for years without support. It took many years to find the help she needed and understand to accept her “spiritual calling” to become a shaman. Being a shaman is not a choice that someone makes you are chosen to be one.

As a single Hmong woman shaman it was not easy to find a master shaman to guide and train her. Even though her stepfather was also a shaman he could not provide the support that she needed. As an apprentice you have to find the right master shaman to guide you. It was not until she connected with her master, another Hmong woman shaman that she was able to have someone train her. Being a student and learning rituals to do ceremonies requires dedication. There are many students who are not able to commit to it. You must reach different levels of training and complete a number of tests to eventually raise your altar to be able to ua neeb. Once you are ready then you can ua neeb khu and do other ceremonies. She believes in order to help others you have to fix yourself and heal from trauma.

For her and other modern Hmong shamans it can be difficult to balance the American lifestyle and responsibilities as a shaman who is often called to do healing ceremonies. Some may see this as a burden, but it is also a gift to help others in the community. She also noted as a shaman it is important to set boundaries with people so they respect your time when you are asked to do spiritual healing or ceremonies. As a master shaman herself now she reaches out to help others who may be going through what she went through when she was younger, especially young Hmong women. She is also a life coach and provides mentoring and education to uplift others. She combines her work as a shaman, medium and life coach to offer low-cost and volunteer services to support young people to build stronger mentality and well-being. There may be fewer and fewer Hmong shamans in America but it’s important to keep the traditions alive.