Remember the Stevie Wonder song, Superstition?
In the early 70s, Superstition became a world-wide smash hit for this iconic musical genius.
While the song’s raunchy synthesised guitar riffs touched the primal dance dynamics of our soul, the name and theme of the song brought home the reality that some of us still live under the curse of superstitious beliefs.
Stevie Wonder, it is rumoured, wrote the song for guitar great Jeff Beck about the dangers of believing in bad karma as some of the words of the song suggest — When you believe in things you don’t understand, you suffer. Superstition ain’t the way!
While many of us enjoyed the catchy funk rhythms of the song, we didn’t give much attention to the lyrics. If we had we might’ve tweaked to a bag-full of superstitions many of us had grown up with. And because of this, without realising it, we lived our lives constantly chained to fear.
Today many of us wouldn’t even blink an eye about being superstitious, would we?
Okay, let’s try a little test to see where you really stand.
For example, would you walk under a ladder or would you go around it? How about a black cat crossing your path? Do you wear or carry a “lucky charm” of some sort for “protection” from bad luck or “evil” spirits? Do you read your horoscope?
Okay maybe you don’t succumb to any of these.
How about shying away from the number “13” or not going out anywhere or doing anything special on Friday the 13th for the same reason?
Let’s not forget our kava drinking sessions — do you give a small portion of the very first bowl to appease the “spirit”? Question is, why do you do this and who and where did you get the idea from? Would you be game walking through a graveyard at night or would you get the jitters?
Then there’s the special “ritual” some people perform before going on a fishing trip or playing sport — have you ever done this and why do you do it? I remember going out on fishing trips and being reminded about doing the “right thing” for the “sea god” so that we’d have “safe passage”.
If you’re reading this and feeling a little uncomfortable, it’s probably because something may be holding you captive to “superstitious fear”.
I’ve simply touched a raw “nerve” somewhere and you may be thinking that I’m treading on “sacred ground”.
In many parts of the world there’s a fine line between religion, the supernatural, spiritual issues and superstition.
Over centuries, they have all somehow fused and meshed into people’s lives. The tragedy is that these superstitious beliefs pass as a legacy to everyone in the family or community. So what happens is, a whole new generation of “superstitious believers” begin their journey with, often times, bizarre, debilitating beliefs and fears governing their lives.
Some may be thinking that this is an insensitive, even offensive way of highlighting some of our cultural beliefs which are steeped in age old traditions and folklore. And how dare I even bring up the subject — which is exactly the point.
If we’re honest, many of us have been affected either directly or indirectly by superstitious beliefs and stories — whether they were “handed down” through our own families or through friends and neighbours.
For example, when we were kids, the “bogey man” became nearly every child’s nemesis and nightmare and a housemaid’s secret weapon.
When we were naughty we were told the “bogey man” would visit and spirit us away to his hideout deep in the woods. Whether it was a pronounciation problem or just a “Fijianism” I’m not exactly sure. However, over time the “bogey man” became the “boggie man”. Regardless of the pronunciation, the boggie man always got our attention.
Of course older siblings would add sizzle and spice to their version of the boggie man story with myriads of morbid cultural characters thrown in for graphic effect.
And when kids from around the neighbourhood would visit after dinner, everyone in the room would be glued wide-eyed to the story teller.
As the tale took on a mystical nature, we’d find ourselves huddling even closer together. We didn’t care if someone’s sweaty singlet was clinging to us or even if a wet runny nose was dribbling down our back — the warmth of another human body was the most comforting and reassuring feeling as fear began weaving its magical spell.
If you happened to be one of the unlucky kids visiting, then the journey home was a gauntlet of comic proportions.
As we tip-toed over what seemed like eggshells on the road, we could “smell” the boggie man’s putrid breath coming from the shadows in the bushes. Every kid’s heart would be racing at a million miles per hour as we readied our trembling bodies for the death-defying dash to freedom. In the distance we could see a dimly lit street lamp beckoning us to safety.
As we jostled for a front-running position, they’d be lots of “shooshing” up. We begged each other not to let go of a hand until we were safely on the “other” side.
With adrenalin pumping, hearts racing and the sound of death defying lungs screaming for dear life, we began our dash to freedom.
Midway, as our survival instincts kicked in, the fastest kids knew that a sure way of being caught alive by the boggie man was to keep holding onto someone’s hand.
Of course when the inevitable “betrayal” happened, the slower, smaller kids would scream with unashamed terror.
As the fastest runners made it home a loud chorus of cheers exploded into the steamy night air signalling another successful escape from the clutches of the invisible boggie man.
Boggie man stories have always been told for effect — to infect as many people as possible with fear.
For some people, the ploy works every time because it’s so powerfully ingrained in our psyche that it becomes almost impossible to shake off — or so we think. And without questioning ourselves or anyone else, we grow up with a debilitating fear of the dark, fear of the “unknown” and fear of things that go “bump” in the night.
I remember seeing the movie Exorcist. For years afterwards we were spooked big time with every foreign sound at night especially.
Over the years, many of us have been subjected to different kinds of “boggie man” stories. And depending on our heritage, ethnicity and our up-bringing many of us have “fallen” for some kind of superstitious “shakedown”.
For example, the mere mention of Dakuwaqa or Degei would send shivers down my spine. It was the same for thousands of others all over the country including many Bible believing Christians who regularly went to church.
The question is, why? Is it because of our cultural sensitivities or is it because of something more sinister — like some kind of perverted respect for the demonic?
So as not to get anyone confused or misunderstand where I’m coming from I DO NOT have any respect for demons or witchcraft, black or white magic or satanic covens of any description. And neither do I fear any of them. Period!
The tragedy is that people believe because most of us in the islands have been brought up on stories about draunikau and jadoo — magic practised by sorcerers and witchdoctors.
The mere mention of these two words evokes the worst fears acting like invisible triggers shooting powerful barbs into vulnerable, superstitious souls. I was one of them until, thankfully, I was “set free”.
One of the people who helped me, yet whom I’d never met, was the late Derek Prince. Born in India to British parents his “spell-binding” book called Blessings & Curses was an eye-opener.
He highlighted in vivid detail some of his experiences of growing up in India with jadoo and black magic.
His riveting book highlights many of the black arts he encountered and how, in his journey to understand and unmask the dark world of demons, sorcery, witchcraft and black magic, he was ‘spiritually’ enlightened through studying the Holy Bible during his stint in World War II. He found that many people believed witchdoctors had extraordinary powers who could summon dark forces to bring death and destruction to people who didn’t follow their instructions. These witchdoctors, he found, were powerful manipulators who liked to control people with the forces of fear. And make no mistake — the forces of fear are “real” until they are “unmasked” for “what” and “who” they really are.
Christians, first and foremost, should NOT fear any form of demonic activity or witchcraft, sorcery, jadoo or black magic because of what Jesus did on the Cross at Calvary. The “enemy” has been defeated by the sacrificial Blood of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-13 from the Holy Bible is quite clear about how to go on the offensive, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armour of God, that you be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
Another book that brought even further clarity was Curses — What they are and how to break them by Dick Bernal.
Revelations from both books were not only enlightening, they became the “spiritual sword” needed to incise, “disinfect” and remove a lifetime of living under an unseen and oppressive blanket of fear.
I blame no one for how I grew up. It was the way it was and I, like so many other children, believed and succumbed to the lies and fabrication of the powerful forces of fear. I’d grown up with stories and experiences that had left their footprints in the deepest recesses of my soul.
Unlocking the dungeon of darkness that had made their home in my soul took some doing. Removing the interloping “jailers” that had corralled and corroded my thought processes from my childhood was like a yellow ribbon homecoming.
If you’re wondering what I had to do to be set free from the many oppressive forms of fear, it was as simple as this — BELIEVING and RECEIVING what Jesus did for me at the cross.
When the truth of this powerful act saturated my soul, it was as if some kind of supernatural eviction took place. All of the fear I’d grown up with simply upped and left as if they’d never been there.
If you’re struggling with fear, speak with a Pastor of a Bible believing Church community. They will guide and help you to a freedom that many think will never be possible.
When you have the Light and freedom of living without fear every moment of every day, it will not only strengthen you spiritually and emotionally, it will also change your life forever.
* Colin Deoki is a frequent writer to The Fiji Times and The Sunday Times. He
resides in Australia. The opinions are his and not of this newspaper.
