Last year, hairdresser Hesti (not her real name) went to see Ki Gedhe
Solo, a dukun, or spiritual healer,
practicing in Solo, Central Java Province. She wanted help solving a
problem at work. The 18-year-old was having a hard time dealing with her
clients, mostly women.“Some were very fussy and not nice to
me,” Hesti said. “I sought help from Ki Gedhe so those clients would
treat me better.”Ki Gedhe implanted a
susuk , or magical charm, underneath Hesti’s skin on
her forehead and chin. In Malay cultures, a susuk inserted in soft body
tissue is believed to possess magical...