Dukun
Dec 12th, 2007, in News, Opinion, by Guest WriterDukun/shaman practices in Indonesia.
Are Dukuns and their trade an Indonesian way of life?
Dukun & Law
I heard, as well as read, that there is a law in Indonesia that forbids a person to invoke the assistance of a Dukun to cast a spell on an enemy or for whatever reason that compels a person to seek intervention from a Dukun.
The law forbids the practice of a Dukun too.
The law aside, it would be a feat to prove in the Courts of Justice matters that involve the supernatural. However, it does make sense because there is intent to do harm.
I gather from discussions with Indonesians that there are “black” Dukuns (those who have the means to inflict evil) and “white” Dukuns (those who use their skill to heal and/or ward off harm).
In making the following statement, it should not be misconstrued that I do not agree with the law. The moot point is – given that Dukuns are outlawed, it would also summarily outlaw the antidote for a victim of a black Dukun.
Dukun Practices
I find that despite the law, Dukuns continue to thrive and Indonesians continue to indulge.
To cite a few examples:
1. A teacher never gave up hope that she would marry her first love whom she met when she studied in Yogyakarta.
They parted ways after completing their University course but kept their correspondence and love aglow. He became a policeman in Jakarta.
She accompanied me on a trip I made to Jakarta. When we arrived in Jakarta I learned it was a one-way trip for her. She would ask him to marry her and she would make home in Jakarta.
Her mother consulted a Dukun on several occasions before she made that trip to Jakarta. She wanted the Dukun to cast a spell on the guy and that would ensure that the guy would accept her daughter’s proposal for marriage.
They married.
2. A close Indonesian couple friend had this thing going between them.
Each of them would visit their own Dukun. Each of them had some kind of talisman in their purse. Each would plant some “power” item(s) in the personal effects of each other and hope that it would not be discovered.
This entire charade finally ended in a divorce. The result, I presume, of too many Dukun spirits fighting between this couple.
3. Someone deliberately threw sand along the entire width of the shop’s front pavement of a friend’s shop. I learned from an Indonesian that it was sand from a Cemetery.
He explained that this is one of the methods used by a Dukun and what affect the sands would have on a shop business.
The affect on his business? Customers who arrived at his shop later complained that his business was shut for several days when in fact his shop was not.
4. An Indonesian took revenge on someone who borrowed his hand phone and never returned it despite a few attempts to regain it.
He had a Dukun to dispense a revenge deed on the borrower.
I learned from the borrower that he started to bleed profusely only at night, from his ears and nose. Whatever medical assistance that he sought, it merely gave him temporary relief.
The borrower out of desperation consulted a Dukun to counteract his extraordinary bleeding. His Dukun informed him that his condition was a result of an evil deed cast on him.
His bleeding ceased after his Dukun did his thing.
Notes:
1. For obvious reasons, I cannot mention the name of persons, their religious and group ethnicity in the cases that I have cited above.
2. This is Indonesia Matters, so, the article corresponds. It does not serve to be derogatory towards my fellow Indonesians.
74 Comments on “Dukun”
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Dragonwall says:
ha.ha.ha.Any eligible bachelor sons
Yeah seven years old..just kidding.
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Kopral Geddoe says:
Anyways, the dukun thing… Curses and bewitchments and all… are those for real? 😐
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Yati says:
Hi does anyone know where i can see a dukun in batam?
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Tolerasi says:
Hey Ade….
I think you are very naive, you want to kill people for using black magic (which isn’t even proven to be real only gullibile people would believe it) just for using some quran verse…… I got some news for you buddy, your’e a terrorist. Ever here of tolerance or understanding, or minding your own business, your so angry inside you want to kill someone for reading something, I pity you and what must be your sad pathetic life.
I hope a dukun puts a quran curse on you.
🙂 -
Hi Tolerasi,
Tks for your comments. FYI I’m looking for a dukun as i’m looking for a cure for my husband’s illness, as doctors are not able to tell what is wrong with him. I’m just looking for another alternative so that he can get well soon.
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madepeter says:
Hi,
I live in Jakarta. I’m wanting to find a reputable dukun…though not one as expensive as Ki Joko Bodo. Can anyone help? I am researching for a book, things like Tyuls, susk and work on opening indra kenam. I’ves een a few and they have not been much help.
If anyone is interested in meeting and speaking with me I would welcome that also.Thanks, madepeter
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passerby says:
Is ‘soul retrieval’, recoveing fragmented parts of the soul a common practice among dukuns in Indonesia? I have read about the Dayaks in Kalimantan having similar practices.
are there similar practices in Java. I live in Jogja and would like to learn more about this. -
BALK says:
How would you go about finding a reputable dukun in Jakarta?
I’d like to consult with one, although I’m not sure if he’d be willing to speak to a boule?
Also, what sort of things can you ask a dukun about? Anything you want, or are there rules to such meetings?
Does it cost a lot?
Most grateful for your help.
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Zecky says:
There seems to be so much stigma attached to the word, so do dukun like their name, or do they call themselves something else?
My cousin’s wife is a dukun, although I didn’t realise it when I last saw her (I was still very young, I just thought she was a magician). She could peel a fruit open and there’d be jewels inside, and other forms of magic.
And what amazed me most was that she brought Islam into it… she chanted in what sounded like Arabic before performing a miracle (although she always mumbled them so we wouldn’t hear!). She also dressed in full Islamic clothing, with only face, hands and feet exposed. And she used verses from the Qur’an in her magic.Too bad I live in Europe – I havem’t been able to see any dukun.
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@ BALK: my cousin’s wife doesn’t charge her customers/patients.
And I think this is important – if they don’t charge, they’re obviously more appealing than doctors.
There’s a cycle –
-Indonesians are superstitious…
-so they consult a dukun…
-the dukun wows them with magic…
-so Indonesians remain superstition…
-so they consult a dukun.Another cousin of mine had the money to go to a doctor, but she insisted on going to the dukun instead. And she’s young, educated and from the city!
Therefore dukun can only disappear BY FORCE in my opinion, and if we look at the current situation I’d say the growing Islamic fundamentalism could cause that. -
I hope not (about the fundamentalism)……..Yeah, so how do these ones that don’t charge make a living? Are they just doing it as a sort of spiritual hobby then?
Did you wife’s cousin only do little tricks to impress people? Nothing more useful? What about “cleansing” a haunted building or something like that…Is that something a dukun might do?
Most interesting, thank you.
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Did you wife’s cousin only do little tricks to impress people?
That was only to impress me (as a kid) and my mum (as a European); but this is her “job” too. Like I said, she doesn’t charge, although I’m sure customers who can afford it would feel obliged to give her a little something.
As for “useful” things, yes she can be consulted for healing and for removing curses etc (I’m not sure about LAYING curses!). I’m not sure about haunted houses, but it’s possible.
Her husband (my cousin) died recently, but when he was alive he worked, so that’s how she could live.Unfortunately, she can be a bit of a gossip – no “dukun confidentiality”, lol – last time she visited us she told us about most recent patients/customers (some of whom it turned out were my dad’s friends!).
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Peter says:
Hello!
I am an American writer visiting Yogyakarta this month (August 2008). Does anyone know a dukun I can visit or maybe interview?
Thanks!
Peter Levenda
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The Emperor says:
Hi Folks,
My girfriend recently has quit on me, but I need her back in my life.
Is there a DUKUN who can assure me that he can get her back to me in my life…?
I would be so grateful.
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Namjap says:
I have experience in most of your queries. It’s just that I am not on the net very often so the best way to contact me is by phone. I am in Seremban, Malaysia. My contact is
+6017 621 8838. Although it would be better to visit me, it is not necessary. A set of recent photographs of the patient is enough. Also Full name and date of birth.You don’t have to pay me anything until you get some results. Upon having the favourable results, you must make the payment. You can email me if you are not in a hurry. I am a male, 53 years old and Dukun is my full time profession. I have several years experience and also provide meditation technique to open your third eye.
I have treated stroke patients with very high success if they came within 3 months of their illness. My email : namjap@yahoo.co.uk
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rose says:
If I consult a dukun I would probably requested for a lotto numbers
I think if I strike lotto first prize that would surely solve all my problemscheers
rose -
Patrick says:
Hello there ..
A friend of mine is looking for a Dukun to help him but he’s not located in Asia. He’s currently in Australia. Does he need to be in Asia to get hold of a Dukun, or are there (indonesian) Dukun(s) in Australia as well ?
Cheers,
Pat -
LINDA says:
i have another question for you : i have serious problems with my eyes and will se less and less everty year , is there somewhere in indonesia or thailand which one of you can recommend who can help me ?
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Rose says:
HELLO THERE
I wanna know should i be in Asia to get help from a Dukun or not?
I live in bahrain
and if any1 have an email or phone num. of a Dukun plz help me
thanks -
where do you need the dukun for ?
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deta says:
Linda,
Sure you need a dukun or have you tried an optometrist? 😉
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Lairedion says:
Dukun we don’t know but there are some hitmen you can contact over here.
Not much of a difference anyway….
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Hi
Thanks for all of you guys
Linda , acually i need dukun for personal and health problems .
Lairedion , what does hitman mean ? LOL -
diego says:
It’s a shame this thread is not getting as much love as “Dating Indonesian Girls” or “Barry Soetoro”….
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Maybe if we drop a little conversation about “nasi kangkang” here, we will attract more comments from the victims (bules, I suppose).
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Barry Soetoro remains a favourite, its catnip for crazies 🙂
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ET says:
diego
Maybe if we drop a little conversation about “nasi kangkang” here, we will attract more comments from the victims (bules, I suppose).
I know what ‘nasi’ is and I know what ‘kangkang’ means, but nasi kangkang I have never heard of.
Can you post a picture? 🙂
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plz help guys
🙁 -
i can give you an adress on bali , but personally I don’t think it will be much a help , because in the beginning it will work but in the end it will make things and your life even worse than it is now and you must be aware of that .. You will be completely off your pad of your own destiny .This is magic which means you are creating on unrealistic ( magic ) world and that wiill not lost forever ..actually when going to Bali or Java you can just rent a car and a taxidriver for one day and him if he knows a place … Normally they live close to the tempels or moskee ..
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Marisa
I love this blushing emoticon. It appeals to my protective instincts.
BTW, how do you make it?