PSI Annual Journal 2002

The belief that the dead may return to trouble the living goes back to antiquity and it remains widespread in non-western cultures. In the west it continues in Christian teaching. The New Testament abounds with accounts of Jesus casting out devils and unclean spirits. Exorcism, as still used by the Christian churches, ritualizes this practice. But expelling the attached entity in this way is an adversarial procedure far removed from contemporary spirit release, which aims to help both host and entity.

Spirit release developed form spiritualism in the second half of the 19th century. An American psychiatrist, Carl Wickland, and his wife, Anna, a spirit medium were the pioneers. His classic, "Thirty Years Among the Dead" first published in 1924 tells how static electricity was applied to the patient' s head and back in order to drive out possessing spirits. The spirits then entered Anna, through whom they spoke with Carl, who persuaded them to leave. This was an effective but dangerous procedure. Mrs. Wickland ended her life in a mental hospital. Little more was written on the subject of possession until Edith Fiore' s "The Unquiet Dead" (1987) which describes her use of hypnosis in the treatment of possessed patients. Fiore had earlier written about past lives, and her work came this perspective. She has had a big influence, most notably on William Baldwin who has taken things further particularly in categorising the different human and non-human entities and in developing protocols for clinical use. His book, "Spirit Releasement Therapy – A Technique Manual" (1992) is essential reading for anyone entering the field. The practice of spirit release is expanding rapidly in the materially-developed world. There are two professional organisations in the USA based on the Baldwin model, and another in Continental Europe based upon channelled teaching by Carl Nowotmy (1996). In the UK a new organisation, The British Association for Spirit Release (BASR), was founded in August 1999. It has a link with the College of Psychic Studies in London.

The Theory of Spirit Attachment

Spirit release derives, not from religious faith, but from a pragmatic approach to therapy. Few of those who use spirit release adhere to any formal religious belief although they acknowledge the existence of a creator. Alternation between embodiment on earth and blissful existence in the spirit world, preparing for reincarnation, is the essential pattern. At death the human spirit usually passes to the Light, the white brilliance seen in a near-death experience. However, the discarnate spirit does not invariably reach the Light. It may be confused, even to the point of not knowing that the body has died. Ignorance or fear of punishment may cause it to be diverted. Sometimes the spirit remains earthbound in a familiar place, when it may appear as a ghost (see Terry and Natalia O' Sullivan, Soul Rescuers (1999). A spirit may even be abducted by non-human entities, at least for a while. Commonly, spirits attach to other embodied persons, often relatives or friends. Spirits may stay behind with the clear intention of attachment perhaps out of concern for a relative, or to satisfy an addiction, even for revenge. Family sex abusers seem commonly to attach to their victims. Quite often, suicidal persons have with them spirits who encourage suicide.

Vulnerability to spirit attachment varies in individuals according to predisposition, health and circumstances. One may postulate that people whose auras vibrate at a high frequency are impervious to spirits of a lower frequency. Illness, injury, drugs, emotional disturbance and the presence of attached spirits may all impair resistance.

Attached spirits do not have the ability to help the host, except in rare instances. Not infrequently they seem bent on causing trouble. Even well-intentioned spirits often bring along their own feelings, addictions or physical symptoms.

Most attached spirits are unable to leave without assistance, though occasionally they come and go at will. It is important in therapy, that a spirit from the Light helps them to find the way. Otherwise, they may return to the host or attach to another person. Sometimes the protestation of an apparently earthbound spirit that its body lives may be correct. Soul fragments of living people may attach to others and have a controlling effect. Not uncommonly parents affect their children in this way, apparently without conscious awareness.

In addition there are non-human entities both good and evil. The latter may attach to human souls, in or out of the body. Dark force entities (DFEs) have a malign influence and may prevent the host going to the Light. People may also be affected by curses or subject to pacts, which they have made in this or in a previous life. These are real phenomena, which must be combated with appropriate measures.

Negative thought forms may cause difficulties. They may appear as images symbolising fear, anger, destructiveness and other negative forces. Healing and angelic help are effective measures.

Good spirits are of a higher order than the earthbound human souls. Unlike the lower forms they do not attach to the aura and leach energy. Higher beings are essential allies in guiding souls to the Light, in healing the effects of spirit attachment and in combating DFEs. It seems likely that they play a covert role in many healing processes. Angels and spirit tuide to not readily communicate during therapy, but they may sometimes do so when asked. Such cases have been well described by Petrak (1996).

Phenomenology

In the great majority of cases, attached spirits have no executive power. They may influence feelings and perceptions, but do not displace the host from environmental awareness or from control of body movement, except rarely, for brief periods, during fugue states and the "blackouts" experienced by alcoholics. Only a tiny minority show the switching of identity and memory gaps characteristic or multiple personality. It is not clear why spirit attachment should vary so much in its expression. Hallucinatory experiences also very greatly. Some patients much troubled by spirits rarely hear voices; others less disturbed in thought and behaviour, hear them often.

During hypnosis spirits speak to the therapist using the host' s voice , sometimes in distinctive tones.

Diagnosis apart, spirit attachment is an important condition to identify, because it has obvious implications for treatment. But the signs and symptoms are very variable. The commonest are:

1. Unexplained fatigue.
2. Unexplained depression.
3. Sudden changes in mood.
4. Hearing a voice.
5. Addictions of all sorts.
6. Uncharacteristic changes in personality of behaviour.
7. Anomalous sexual behaviour.
8. Unexplained somatic symptoms.

The effects of spirit attachment may be so slight as to be imperceptible or so great as to cause incapacity. In order not to miss the condition, one must be aware of the possibility in every patient.

Of the conditions which are confused with spirit attachment, by far the most important is multiple personality disorder, or dissociate identity disorder, as it has been renamed, in the misguided belief that we know its cause and structure. I prefer the term, multiple identity. These cases are rare and extremely complex. The essential features are, a history of childhood abuse, leading to the presence of distressed child personalities. There will be at least two, usually many adult personalities which take turns in claiming control. Since these personalities usually have awareness only of their own periods of control, the patient lives a chaotic life. The nature of these adult identities remains open to dispute, although the conventional view is that the patient them as a way of handling overwhelming distress. A frequent feature is the presence of an Inner Self-helper, an attached discarnate spirit, which has a truly beneficial effect. One of my patients, Jane, had an ISH who would tip me off when she was admitted in a suicidal state, for instance. "She' s got some razor blades hidden in her shoe."

An important differential diagnosis is schizophrenia. It is probable that many of the voices heard by these patients are due to attached spirits. This does not prove that attached spirits cause the condition, for they may be able to enter because of the patient' s illness. On the other hand, I think it probable that those cases diagnosed as schizophrenic on the basis of voices alone, are primary cases of spirit attachment.

Identifying and Typing the Attached Spirit

Those gifted with clairvoyance may be able to see attached spirits. To others, like myself, a number of techniques are available, for identifying and typing attached spirits:

1. Direct communication between spirit and therapist, via the patient' s voice. This is achieved with the patient in a hypnotic state, induced either formally or by following an image or feeling.

2. The therapist works indirectly. To achieve this, therapists usually work in pairs, the scanner in an altered state, the facilitator directing the session. The scanner projects part of her consciousness to the client, who may be at any distance and does not have to be aware of the procedure. After obtaining permission from the client' s higher self, the scanner makes contact with any attached spirits, which are then able to communicate through her voice, with the facilitator. Some therapists work individually. Usually they make use of a pendulum to communicate. This method has the disadvantage that responses are limited to "Yes" or "No," but it seems to be very successful for some practitioners.

3. Regressing the client to a previous life may inadvertently reach an attached spirit. This shows itself when the presumed past-life personality fails to go into the Light, as expected. The therapist then asks, "When did you join Mary?" Of course, it could be that the client' s soul from a past life attached itself, for a while, to another person. There is room for many variations in this area!

Of the first two methods described, direct work has the advantage that the client is consciously engaged in the procedure, a desirable condition when important changes are undertaken. However it depends upon her acting as her own scanner, a role for which she is not invariably well-suited. The indirect approach has obvious benefits in treating children or others unable to co-operate, and it has the further advantage that an experienced scanner may pick up things of which the patient might be unaware. With this technique, distance is immaterial, as is the target subject' s state of consciousness. Therapists make a point of obtaining permission from the client' s higher self before attempting to communicate with any entities.

When working directly with the patient, uncovering techniques may be employed to check for spirits:

1. The Use of Finger Signals. This is often helpful, since, with the patient in a relaxed state, these are produced unconsciously. Asking "Is anybody with Mary?" may bring a positive response, which can be followed with a request to use the patient' s voice for detailed information. A negative response should be followed by, "Is anyone hiding?" Any finger movement in response to this question suggests an entity. A "No" answer can be followed by, "Subconscious mind, did the No come from you?"

2. Engaging a Voice. If the client hears a voice, it is usually appropriate to engage the voice directly. "What is your name?" Are you part of Mary, or someone else? Did you ever have a human, physical body of your own? What effect have you had on Mary? Why are you here? etc. Voices of different entities may differ markedly in tone.

3. Body Scan. The client visualises light filling the body and then focuses on any shadowy areas or abnormal sensations. The therapist encourages communication. "If that dark area were to make a sound, what would it be? What has the heavy sensation in the back got to say?"

4. Mirror Scan. Another approach is to have the patient imagine himself standing in front of a full-length mirror. Another figure or some unexplained bodily feature will be indicative of spirit attachment.

Therapy

Having established contact with the earthbound spirit, it is necessary to persuade it to leave. Should there be any reluctance on the part of the patient, host and entity are told that both are being harmed by the attachment, and the matter must be resolved. Should an earthbound spirit be unwilling to leave, several possibilities will have to be considered. It may feel that its presence is necessary to the host, or it may be out to harm, even to kill the host. If discussion fails to mend the situation, it may be that the reluctant spirit is itself the victim of spirit parasitism, which will need to be dealt with. Sometimes the entity does not see the Light, or the Light is only dim. This suggests fragmentation. In such a case it is necessary to locate the missing soul part in order to resolve matters. The entity is encouraged to take with it to the Light any other attached spirits. The spirit of a loved one or a spirit guide from the Light is called for. It is necessary to check that these rescuers are indeed who they purport to be. Dark Force Entities are notorious shape-shifters and may attempt an abduction. Spirit release can be quite a complicated matter!

When the last entity appears to have left, one asks for healing spirits from the Light to remove any residue of thought or feeling, which the foreign entities may have left behind and then to fill with light the spaces where they were. The client finally performs the Sealing Light meditation, filling the body with golden-white light which reaches an arm' s length all around. Clients are advised to regard themselves as convalescent, to lead a quiet life for a few days and to be prepared for changes in behaviour as a result of the therapy. They should also do the Sealing Light meditation several times daily.

Non-human entities are secretive and do not come forward willingly. Commonest are the DFEs. DFEs are most frequently identified on body scan or as parasites of other entities. They are characteristically abusive and scathing in their replies. As soon as one is identified, perhaps as an area of blackness or in obviously demonic form, angelic help is called for. Angelic beings, from the Light, are asked to give the client protection and to surround the DFE with a net of light, which they are to tighten continually until it replies truthfully to questions. The DFE is usually readily persuaded that it has been tricked by its master and therefore owes it no loyalty. It is reminded that, having been discovered, it is in danger of punishment by the dark forces. It is encouraged to look within, where it soon finds its own source of light, thus demonstrating that it is itself a Light being. The light grows and the ex dark being is willingly transported by the angels to its appointed place in the light, for re-education. The work concludes with a request for healing spirits form the Light to do their work and, following this by thanks to all concerned.

While the method of dealing with DFEs may strike readers as bizarre, the important thing is that it is highly effective in treatment. Whether or not the patient believes in angels makes no difference. They are usually aware of what is happening and can give a helpful commentary. The therapist must overcome the fear of appearing ridiculous to the client. This is best done by putting the procedure forward simply as a technique which may be taken purely as metaphor.

Healing may also achieve spirit release. This has the advantage that it occurs in a very gentle way, usually without the client' s awareness. A problem here is that it can also occur without the healer being aware and the spirit may attach to the healer. This underlines the great importance of all who are engaged in this or related fields having adequate protection, a matter for the next section.

Protection

Protection is vital for those who do this and related work. I used not to bother, and paid a price, not through emotional or behavioural change, but with pains in my life, which, for months, woke me unfailingly each night. A combination of remote spirit release and healing, somewhat to my surprise, cured the condition. It also cured me of that brand of arrogance! Now I seek protection each day, through prayer and visualisation. I also ask colleagues to scan me monthly, to ensure cleanliness.

The Effects of Treatment

Over the years, I have used spirit release in hundreds of cases. It is important to make clear at the outset that spirit release is only one aspect of the treatment process, and is rarely sufficient in isolation. However, it can bring dramatic benefit, especially in those who have been troubled by a voice or who experience addictive or fearful behaviour. To treat schizophrenia with this technique is a major undertaking, since the patient will almost certainly lack the ego strength and clear boundaries necessary for successful treatment. Another problem with schizophrenic patients is that of trust, for they find it very difficult to trust a new therapist, especially one who proposes a spiritual treatment, when for years they have been told that they have a biochemical disorder. Shakuntala Modi, author of Remarkable Healings (1997) reports a successful case, in which treatment was first given indirectly, through a relative, who attended with the patient. Spirit release has been used successfully in the treatment of sexual deviation. Barlow, Abel &Blanchard (1977) reported the case of a 20 year old male who had a strong female orientation from 4 years of age. After careful assessment, he was accepted for a gender reversal operation. He was on the point of having the operation when, to please a friend, he underwent an exorcism. This transformed him. He lost all his female behavioural characteristics and no longer wanted the operation. The change had been maintained 2 years later. Fiore has successfully treated a similar case, on the verge of a sex-change operation. After only 30 minutes, a female spirit left. The man' s sexual orientation instantly returned to normal.

In my own cases, I have had some failures, especially in the severely mentally-ill, but the great majority of my patients have improved. No one has been made worse. In a survey of 83 patients, 63% of whom replied, 93% said they had benefited.

It is important to stress that, even after release, there may be a need for trauma resolution by means of soul retrieval, for regression therapy, possibly involving past lives, and for other forms of psychotherapy.

So the treatment works. How can we prove that the effect comes from the release of spirits? There is no proof, nor, in the nature of things, can there be. Even detailed verification of information provided by spirits about their bodily lives will not convince the doubters. But because the treatment works, we can claim clinical validity. Clinical validity is a useful concept that can be used in research.

The Need for Research

Case histories, however dramatic, will never convince the doubters. We need clinical trials. For these one needs medical conditions of long-standing, which do not respond to any known treatment. Persistent auditory hallucinations, transsexualism and paedophilia are examples. How does one go about it? Time, money, determination. These are not enough in themselves. Colleagues are understandably wary of getting involved in such "spooky" research. Without their co-operation, where will the research subjects come from? If one succeeds at that hurdle, how would any ethical committee, composed of decent, conventionally-minded people, conceivably approve? Even then, would any reputable journal publish the results? The climate is changing ) on 25.9.99 the Spirituality and Psychiatry special interest group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists held its inaugural meeting) and our time will come. I recently put forward a proposal for a research project into the effects of Remote Spirit Release, which aroused considerable interest among non-medical colleagues. It is currently on hold pending further consideration of the complexities of the subject. Whatever the difficulties, we need to get down to research. Nothing short of well-designed with positive findings will cause the medical establishment to examine our claims.

The Future of Spirit Release

Things are moving. The increasing use of spirit release and the appearance of books and specialised journals augers well for the future. Associations in the USA, Continental Europe and Great Britain are in good shape, with training programmes and annual conferences. We are steadily making converts amongst practitioners in healing and other complementary therapies. There is a lot of energy in this area and we seem to be moving on a tide of planetary changes in human consciousness.

It seems fitting conclude with a verse by Carl Wickland.

Truth wears no mask,
Bows at no human shrine,
Seeks neither place nor applause;
She only asks a hearing.

Dr. Alan Sanderson MB, BS, MRCP, DPM, MRCPsych., MABCHyp.

PSI Symposium Annual Journal 2002