Bright incense coils drift upwards as tiny paper replicas of money and goods rest on the altar—inviting the unseen to draw near. In Shenism, communication with spirits unfolds through a tapestry of sensory rituals, each thread weaving humanity and the spirit world together.

Spirit mediums, known as tongji (童乩) or jitong (乩童), often steal the spotlight. During festivals like the annual Ghost Festival, a medium may enter a trance, body moving of its own accord, voices shifting as ancestral or wandering spirits pass messages through a living vessel. It’s like tuning into another radio frequency—one channel for the everyday world, another crackling with spirit voices.

Planchette writing (扶乩, fuji) serves as a low-tech “spirit keyboard.” A small board, sometimes a simple tray, is guided by trembling fingertips spelling out advice, warnings, or poetry believed to be dictated by a deity or ancestor. Even in 2025, some temples live-stream these sessions, drawing curious viewers worldwide, proving old traditions adapt faster than bamboo in spring.

Divination tools add another layer. Casting moon blocks (jiaobei), turtle shells, or yarrow stalks yields yes-no answers; crack patterns on heated oracle bones echo ancient practices. Sometimes, the spirit’s say-so is as straightforward as two concave wooden blocks landing “open” or “closed,” delivering verdicts on everything from marriage prospects to business ventures.

Offerings—fresh fruit, rice wine, ginger cakes—speak a universal language of respect. Bowed heads and whispered prayers let the spirits know their presence matters. Temple bells toll, drums pound, and brightly painted puppets dance to puppet-theater rituals, carrying personal petitions to whichever spirit is listening.

Modern life hasn’t muted these practices; it’s refashioned them. A temple-born app might now send notifications when ritual schedules change, while live feeds let urban believers drop a virtual incense stick from halfway around the globe. It’s proof that, whether through ancient bones or a smartphone screen, the bridge between humans and spirits remains as alive today as when Shenism first took root centuries ago.