Life style : The black magician

     The black magician in Lisu is called the Neepha, and is the ceremonial leader of the village. To become a black magician, the villager will be in communion with the ancestral spirit. Some dream about their ancestor, are sick with fever, and maybe say strange things in their delirium.
          The Lisu people believe that the person destined to be the black magician must take responsibility for the role; otherwise they face continuous unknown sickness. The Neepha will understand, and can recite, the ceremonies of the village because they can connect to the ancestral spirit.   

The Neepha can be young or old, but the person that the ancestor chooses is usually a man. Each village will have 1-2 Neepha, although if it doesn’t, then the villagers will invite one when the village has a ceremony. Before a ceremony, the house owner changes the water in the altar cup and prepares the leaf that is used in all Lisu ceremonies. After everything is prepared, the Neepha will give worship by igniting the joss sticks and candle in front of the altar. Then in a trance-like state, the internal spirit of the Neepha is in communion with the ancestral spirit, although he is unaware of it. Once the recital is complete, the Neepha will return to his body without remembering anything.