Anyone can be a victim of evil spirit possession. Even very religious and prayerful persons have been known to be possessed. During the Middle Ages, a whole convent full of Catholic nuns was possessed.

Modern Western psychology and psychiatry do not consider possession a clinical reality. And there are many who consider possession a “superstitious” concept of a bygone era. On the other extreme, there are those who quickly label all such cases as “demonic” or “devil possession.”

What kind of spirits do this? Why do they possess the living? What is their purpose? According to Walter and Mary Jo Uphoff in their preface to the book ‘’Possession and Exorcism” by Swiss psychiatrist Hans Naegeli-Osjord, “More likely, most genuine cases (of possession) are merely lost or confused souls, or those seeking vicarious satisfactions for the real satisfactions they missed or enjoyed while still in the flesh.”

American psychic researcher and prolific author Brad Steiger said, “the soul (of the dead) continues to have the same habits thoughts, memories, feelings and flaws as existed on the physical plane.”

Thus, Steiger says, “If a person has spent his entire existence in pursuit of pleasure, the psychic soul personality will experience drives after death. Such a negative and earthbound spirit may seek to attach itself to a susceptible person and make him or her do things unnatural to or against his or her will. Such spirits become parasites.”

Any, or a combination of the following behavior patterns, is indicative of spirit or demonic possession:

1. Hearing voices directing the person to perform acts he may not have considered doing.

2. He or she will frequently see or sense the image of the possessing spirit as it existed in its physical life.

3. The victim may black out or faint without knowing what transpired during that time.

4. Sometimes, in the midst of a conversation, he or she may have a mental block and act in a trance-like manner.

5. He or she may be observed talking or walking differently or acting in a strange, irrational manner.

6. He or she may act in a way he or she never acted before. Friends may see a totally different person.

7. In a worst case scenario, the possession may reach a climax where the person may commit some violent or antisocial act and even commit suicide.

8. He or she may speak in tongues, and perform lewd acts and avoid religious objects (like a crucifix, rosary, etc.).

Insane or possessed?

According to another researcher, clinical psychologist, Edith Fiore, in her bestselling book ‘’The Unquiet Dead,” over 50 percent of those confined in mental hospitals in the US are not insane, but victims of spirit possession. I wonder what would be the estimated percentage in Philippine hospitals. Considering our people’s greater sensitivity to spirit forces and poor diagnostic procedures, perhaps the percentage of possessed individuals confined in mental hospitals here is greater.

How does one avoid spirit possession?

1. Have a positive, cheerful attitude. Since “like attracts like” on the mental and spirit plane, a positive attitude will attract positive and benign spirits to you.

2. Maintain harmony and balance in your mind, body and spirit. Keep your emotional side in check, and do not give in to outbursts of anger.

3. Avoid the company of highly negative people or going to negative places. Negative individuals can sap your energy and drain you, thereby making spirit possession easier. The same is true for places with negative or earthbound spirits, such as hospitals, cemeteries, wakes or haunted houses.

4. Remember you have free will. You are the master of your own destiny. Do not allow another entity to conquer or overpower your will. Remember even God respects our will and will not do anything to go against it. Only evil spirits try to overpower our will. Do not succumb to such attempts. Assert your will over any other entity and command it to “be gone!”

5. Carry protective or sacred objects with you. if you are a Christian, you may carry with you some powerful religious objects that you believe in.

For example, St. Benedict’s Medal, which was especially charged or blessed by authorized Benedictine priests, can help protect you against demonic possession. If you believe in quartz crystals or amulets, have one specially blessed or charged by a competent person to protect you.

6. Practice discernment. If an evil spirit is present, you can sense this. Your body will react in a different way in the presence of a good spirit. Learn to distinguish them. Discernment is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to St. Paul.

Note: Our next Basic ESP Seminar is Oct. 12-13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tel. 8107245, 0998-9886292. Email [email protected].