Legacy

From: Anaya Beckers (anaya57@hotmail.com)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Malaysia
Source: Form Submission

I come from a long line of Shamans and Midwives. Long time ago, my ancestors used to serve the royalties in their majestic but mystical palaces in Java. Our tribe was known to be fearless and pious and we command respect and honor in the various ranks of that community.

Early 18th century saw my great grandparents leaving Java due to some community disagreements and settled in what was known as Malaya then. Once they touched this new soil, my great grandparents didnt see the reason why they should continue with their practice and abandoned it, concentrating instead in farming. However, there were certain rites and rituals, which they performed to appease the spirits of their former practice, which had been in the family for centuries. These spirits mostly were kept to assist with the Shamans work.

Years gone by and I am now the 4th generation who were born and bred in Malaysia. As a child I was gifted. I could predict certain significant incidents by getting visions or dreams. The spirit world is not something strange to me. Although I loathe having these gifts, I sometimes thanked it for it foretold me if something wrong is going to happen.

When I was about 25, the dreams and spirit sighting got intense. I would see spirit whether it is relevant or not. A man smiling at me, a curious child looking out for something anxiously and then looking at me, sometimes an old lady or sometimes just horrible apparitions. I was literally looking at a whole population of beings on a different plane! I was getting more and more tensed up and wished I could put a stop to it. I tried praying, it made it more sharp, I tried taking sleeping pills, they would just be there when I wake up, more frequent and more playful. Finally, having some knowledge of my lineage, I consulted my auntie, the only sibling of my mothers. My mother, despite knowing it, will not talk about it to me for reasons which I cannot explain.

After listening to me and asking my exact date of birth and time, she revealed that it was my time to inherit the family heirloom. There are special rites, which I was suppose to perform, otherwise it would come and haunt me in many unimaginable forms, until I agree to undertake the powers.

On that night, my auntie dressed me up in all shocking yellow traditional clothes with veil of similar color. She sat me in the middle of her house where all the furniture was cleared. Scared and confused, I kept thinking of the worse case scenario that could happen. Incense was burned and a bowl of water with petals from 7 types of flowers was put in front of me. My auntie dressed in black, took out something, which is wrapped, in yellow cloth and put it in my hand. It was a traditional dagger. She went to one corner of the house and started saying an incantation over and over. It was 11.55pm and she told me that what ever happen, do not move. Just abide by her instructions obediently.

Suddenly I felt a presence and the hair at the back of neck stood. I managed to glance at the clock and It was 12 am sharp. Something pulled my gaze towards the door and I could see an apparition slowly taking form. From what seemed like incense smoke, it took shape to a man about 7 feet tall, wearing black traditional warrior clothe complete with a head gear, a long kris (like a knife) and a shield. Its head barely made way for the door.

My eyes was about to pop out of its socket while this figure just stood there, his face expressionless and just looked at me. Meanwhile, my auntie kept chanting and realized that there was a presence, for she turned to me and said, Please greet him. Cold to my very bone out of fear, I managed a meek salam and I saw the figure nod his head. He stood there for what seemed like an eternity but in reality it was less than 5 mins before vanishing slowly. In all that time, he never so much as say a word or have any kind of expression on his face.

When he vanished, I felt completely drained and then only could managed to ask if my auntie saw that man. She stopped her chanting and realized that he had gone. My auntie answered that she did not see him as only the person who is receiving the heirloom could. It took me sometime to completely compose myself of what I have gone through and finally, I was okay. That nights ritual ended up at about 2 am and I still felt scared afterwards because I ended up sleeping in my aunties room.

The next morning, my auntie explained that the man whom I saw last night was my great great grandfather who was a worthy warrior and the first Shaman in the family line and he was given eternal life to guard his descendents. Should we be in any trouble, he would be there to assist, without us knowing it. My auntie also went through the initiation but was not given the power for she was not qualified.

I asked auntie if I was and she said, although I was gifted with the ability to see beyond the human world, I wasnt qualified enough. Those who are qualified would receive a gift from him and that would be the first step to becoming a Shaman.

Well, all I can say is, I am glad to have seen my great great grandfather and more so that I dont have to become a Shaman I mean who would have trusted the credibility of a funky Shaman? Besides, I don't think community work in the graveyard shift is what I would like to do...the work of Shaman is normally carried out during the night for optimum result.

I still see spirits and still could predict the future. Maybe there will be a second initiation, maybe not whatever it is, I am more tolerant to my gifts now and would not let them bother me anymore. Just last night I had a mental conversation with a lost spirit looking for her family. I told her she cannot find them in my room for she entered the wrong house and asked her to quit looking at me sleeping. She smile, apologize and vanished!

The End