Mystical Mr. Fix-Its

From presidents to paupers and everyone in between, superstitious Indonesians flock to shamans, paranormals and witch doctors for advice on important decisions. Today’s wise men and women are changing with the times. Bhimanto Suwastoyo reports.

Even thoroughly modern Indonesians living in a metropolis like Jakarta remain deeply connected to age-old mystical beliefs. They love their mischievous goblins and poltergeists, their grotesque child snatchers and also the paranormals who help them solve life’s little mysteries.

They put so much blind faith in the power of shamans that sometimes they fall victim to charlatans who bleed them dry.

But if you think today’s shamans are still operating in darkened rooms with smoking incense burners, skulls, magical kris and a scattering of flower petals, then you have been watching too many local mystical dramas.

In this era of cyber communications and instant data transfer, many are toning down the traditional image of the gaunt, long-haired, black-clad shaman for a more upmarket look befitting the times.

"This is a different era, it is the era of telecommunications," says Ki Arjuna, a Bandung-based "spiritual adviser" born into an Air Force family as Tedy Ciptady 33 years ago.

Ki Arjuna says he finds more clients today are seeking his services through the Internet rather than by word of mouth.

The anonymity of the Internet also allows bashful prospective clients to make contact, he adds.

"Nowadays, most of my clients consult me through Yahoo Messenger with a webcam,” he says. “And since we all have the capability to transfer powers and cast spells from afar, the Net greatly simplifies things. The recipient does not have to come and see me.”

Many of his “patients”, as he calls them, live in foreign countries.

"Most of my patients now are on different continents, mostly Indonesians now residing abroad. Only about 30 percent of my patients are actually in this country.”

One of the country’s most infamous self-confessed black magic practitioners is Ki Gendeng Pamungkas.

"In my work, I don't engage in rituals or traditional means such as using incense, bathing with flower petals and all those things," he says.

"Everything is by telephone. It suffices, because I know where the person is speaking from, whether he or she is serious and has been wronged and is justified in using my services.”

Pamungkas says on average more than 100 people contact him each week, "but I am very selective and one client a week is enough”.

"From ancient times, casting a spell has always been possible from a distance, so things have not really changed," he says of using the telephone for his services.

Other paranormals and shamans, known by the all-encompassing Indonesian term dukun, are drumming up business through the Internet.

"Only those who have heard of my services by word of mouth make the effort to come and see me. Most just consult me through e-mails and phone calls," says another paranormal, Firman Surono,who proudly assumes the title of Ustadz (Muslim teacher) Firman Langit  (the Saying from Heaven.)

Firman, 22, operates a webpage called Mahaspiritual Club, which is dubbed, "the most complete provider of online supernatural services in Indonesia."

"They don't even have to give their real name and address. They can use a nickname and send their date of birth in the Javanese calendar system," Firman says of his clients.

But Pamungkas believes that "99 percent" of those touting their services on the Net or in other media are frauds.

"If you are good, then word spreads, and people will seek you out. Those who feel the need to advertise are not the genuine article," he says disdainfully.

The list of services is endless, such as releasing one’s personal aura to ensure universal attractiveness; protecting one’s home or business from harm; spells to have someone fall in love with you or those to dispel bad luck.

There is even a means to release one’s very own personal spirit to look after you.

Ki Arjuna, who abhors using the word cost or fee, sets the "dowry" for obtaining one’s own potent guardian spirit that can be visible when summoned at Rp 120 million. A lesser type of spirit, that cannot be seen but only felt, costs Rp 5 million.

Pamungkas also deals with "the sale and purchase" of various kinds of spirits, but declines to talk numbers.

General paranormal services are not cheap, with a consultation averaging Rp 200,000 to Rp 250,000, about the same fee as a specialist doctor.

But the hopeful still come. Popular paranormal experts have extensive reservation lists, and they decide who they see and when.

"It’s just like that, it is in our culture. You have a problem and you cannot deal with it emotionally, then you go look for a dukun," Pamungkas says.

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