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Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines, the Photobook–Ready for Order from Jeju Island

Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines, my photobook on Jeju Island’s shamanic shrines is out. I spent four years documenting shrine worship and shamanism on Jeju Island as part of my documentary project Spirits. The photobook features over 220 color photos from the more than 10,000 that I shot during the filming of the documentary. The…

Jeju’s Deities 3: The Door God

Visitors to Jeju, having read their guidebooks or perhaps having been indoctrinated by local English-language tourist pamphlets, may come to island with the misconception that the people of Jeju worship the famed goddess of Halla Mountain, Seulmundae Grandmother, as a central deity. The legend of Seulmundae is certainly a beautiful and comic one (comedy and…

The Photobook is out!!! Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines Take a look inside!

My photo book containing selections from my four-year exploration of Jeju Island’s shamanic culture is hot off the press and ready for order. ORDER HERE I’ve spent four years interviewing hundreds of people about the endangered practice of muism on Jeju Island. The photo book is a companion to my upcoming film on the same…

Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines Ready for Purchase

KOREA If you prefer to pay by direct-deposit within Korea, email me: gripa22@yahoo.com– or simply write your request in the comment section below. :) Cost in Korean won: 30,000 (includes shipping) Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines Photobook $40 (+$5 shipping KOREA) Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines Photobook + Large Pantheon Poster $55 (+$8 shipping KOREA) Large…

Jeju Island’s Deities 2: “The Yowang” Jeju Island’s Grandfather God of the Sea

The Yowang (‘Sea God’ or ‘Sea King’) is one of the most commonly worshipped deities on Jeju Island. Women divers, whose profession is a perilous one, and fishermen alike, honor the god at shrines across the island. The Yowang is both worshipped at shrines and in Buddhist rituals. Shamans perform the ‘Yowang Maji’ (the greeting…

Photo Book On Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines Now Available For Order!!!

I’ve been working hard with some great people on my photo book on Jeju’s shamanic shrines.

Jeju’s Deities 1: Kameunjangagi, Goddess of Fate

The first in a series of posts about Jeju’s major deities. The some dozen Ilban Bonpuli, or epic myths tell how Jeju’s deities came to play their current roles in the island’s cosmology. These epics are sung during rituals as well as portrayed during ‘nolli‘, dramatic reenactments that take place during major rites. The epics are sung,…

Village Grandmothers Return to Pray at Desecrated Sulsaemit Shrine

Sulsaemit shrine has been thoroughly cleaned by Jeju locals and expats, an event organized by the new activist group the ‘Senjari Rangers’. Last night, on the traditional ceremonial date, January 7th by the lunar calendar, at least one elderly worshipper attended the shrine and left an offering to the village’s tutelary gods, Grandmother Go, Grandfather…

Sulsaemit Shrine First Victory/ Surprising Advice from Great Shaman

Sulsaemit Shrine, the shamanic shrine that was deliberately desecrated last year on Jeju Island, South Korea is now clean thanks to the efforts of the some seventeen participants. It’s been just over a week since the call to action to restore the shrine to its prior condition and we can already celebrate an initial victory….

Interview With Willow Paule about the Spirits Project

Willow Paule interviewed me about my work on the practice of shamanism on Jeju Island and my documentary Spirits which is about the generation of people who still worship devotedly at Jeju’s some 400 shrines. You can further explore Willow Paule’s work on Indonesia and her upcoming work on prison systems at her Facebook page.

The ‘Senjari Rangers’, protectors of shrines. FUNDRAISING PART 2

Some photos from today’s meeting. Local Jeju citizens and expats gathered to start creating the bracelets made from the desecrated holy trees of Sulsaemit shrine. We’re on course to rebuild Sulsaemit shrine, restoring a small part of Jeju Island’s deeper identity and possibly delivering some elderly members of the local community from yet another heartbreak….

Rebuilding Sulsaemit Shrine PART 1

14 months ago a shamanistic shrine was desecrated on Jeju Island, South Korea. Today, a group of Jeju natives and outsiders began the rebuilding process.