Seji

Seji is spiritual power. People close to gods are called seji–daka (high); so religious figures are seji-daka. Yet, seji is not inherent in people. In Omorosaushi, we can see people are bestowed a battle-seji when they go off to a battle; in this scene, seji is given from the outside. In fact, this way of saying is more appropriate in terms of what seji is. The spirit possesses the body from the outside. 

Okinawa is a place where these spirits still exist, while modernity has tried to cast them away as a superstition. Humans are not uniform, and cannot live without the connection with the outer world. Such complexity and strangeness lead to the vision of spirits as seji within one’s relation to the external world. Humans cannot perfectly control themselves at will. Reasons from the external world were invoked to explain such mystery beyond the will as a spiritual power—hence, seji. This inexplicability of humans will not die out, no matter how modern science will try to alienate them as a superstition. As a result, these traits are concealed inside each individual. When these accumulate in an unfortunate manner, people are sent to hospitals. In Okinawa, seji–daka ones such as the yuta, kankakarya (enchanted people), munushiri (knowledgeable) exist in the society in order to save such souls. This is only possible because of a socially recognized existence of wonder beyond man’s will.
Therefore, being a seji–daka is not that special. In recent days, someone sensitive can simply be referred to as seji–daka or seji–daka born in Okinawa. Of course, when that person is particularly sensitive that is.