gimokod

One of three classes of spirits (see also Alabyánon and Kaliga-ṓn). The gimokod are the spirits of all men living or dead.

It is believed that each person has seven spirits called gimokod: one jumps on the cliff; one swims in the water; one puts its hands into snake holes; one sits under a tree; one is always walking around; one is awake in the day; and one is awake in the night. If all these spirits are in a person's body at the same time, he or she is well and strong, but if one or more are wandering or get into trouble, the owner becomes ill. If all the spirits leave the body at one time, it will result in the owner's death.

Should a person became ill — a sign that one or more of the gimokod have left the body — the Pagalono (or Pag-gimokod) ceremony is held to call them back. Upon a person's death, the seven gimokod merge into one spirit which, after the Mag-katoposen ceremony has been performed, goes to live on Mount Balatocan under the care of Gomogṓnal. There they have houses, plant crops, and live like they did when they were on earth.

Among the Bagobo of Cibolan, each man and woman is said to have eight gimokod, which dwell in the head, the right and left hand and feet and other parts of the body. At death, the four from the right side of the body go to a place called palakalángīt, while the other four descend to a region known as karonaronawan. In those places they are met by Togláī and Tigyama who assign them their future homes. The gimokod may return to their old homes for short periods, and talk with the gimokod of the living through dreams. However, they may never return to dwell again on earth.

In other districts the general belief is that the body has only two gimokod, one inhabiting the right side and the other the left side. That of the right side is good, but all evil deeds and inclinations come from the one dwelling on the left. Some believe that after death the one on the right goes to a good place, while the one on the left remains on earth as a buso, but this belief does not seem to be wide-spread.

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