Obsession a true story of spirit possession, madness

It is not often you stumble on a book written by a spirit entity. It sounds fantastical, and sure there will be detractors, but there always will be. They, however, cannot de-legitimise the wondrous credulity of Obsession. The book centres on the beliefs of the wildly popular doctrine of Spiritism, codified and popularised by Dr Alan Kardec in the 19th century. Spirit author, Manuel Philomeno de Miranda, who died in Bahia in 1942, channeled the intimate and haunting details of this true story through renowned medium, Divaldo Franco. It was a highly publicised case that gripped the upper crust of Brazilian society after the Second World War. Early, the reader is introduced to Esther, a charming, musically adept and refined young lady, and daughter of Colonel Santamaria and Dona Magarita. It is a well heeled family, the epitome of genteelism and culture. At a private family gathering, Esther undergoes a radical transformation, an emotional and psychological upheaval that confounds family and guests. She’s victim of a ravaging mental disorder. It is sudden as it is perplexing, testing the faith of the Colonel and his wife. They are counseled to transfer their only child to a sanitarium for enhanced supervision and treatment. They agree. The result is a harrowing and spiraling journey into psychopathology, a paroxysm of anguish and unfettered madness. 

But Obsession offers so much more than a haunting tale. Its overlapping themes are enduringly relevant. It exposes the inadequacies of medicine and psychiatry to fully address the complexities of mental illness. That doctors immediately categorise patients by symptoms, prescribed by some Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) or field of psychotherapy is troubling as it was back then, as it is today. Initially employing Freudian diagnostic psychobabble, doctors believe that Esther is suffering from uninhibited sexual anxiety, only to be later labeled schizophrenic. The etiology of mental illness can be confusing. The price of ignorance, though, is quite steep. Mind you, Obsession does not negate physical and psychological causes of mental illness. However, it peels away the physical and mental layers, and examines the imprints of the soul. It introduces the concepts of divine laws, karma, justice and reincarnation, arguing that “to every effect, there is a cause.” Thus, suffering is never the result of some whimsical cosmic causation. No, we are always the recipients of what we deserve. That is the law. Philomeno’s words are cogent and congruous, even soothing: “A debt lasts until it is paid. When the debtor conscientiously devotes himself to self- renewal, modifying his mental outlook through constructive readings, prayers and meditation, and dedicates himself to his fellow men, arrangements are made by the higher spirits responsible for his reincarnation, and significant alterations are made to his karmic records.”

Initially unable to fathom the cause of their daughter’s illness, the Colonel and his wife, finally accept the rationale of Spiritists whom they befriend. We learn that neither Esther nor her father is innocent, having perpetrated a grievous wrong in their past incarnation. They are inextricably tied to the obsessor-spirit who seeks their demise. Obsession describes life as a matrix of interpersonal interactions that span many incarnations. It is through God’s mercy that we are presented with multiple opportunities to repay the debts we have accrued as we work our way toward healing. “When we hurt, Divine Law is doing us justice,” Philomeno intones. In the beginning, this spirit-instructor cautions on the requirements of rescue work, called exorcism in some circles. We are told that the rescue team must be harmonious, possess noble and moral ideals, and have in depth knowledge of the Spiritist doctrine. But it’s in the end that Obsession captivates, taking the reader on a climactic journey through the lugubrious chambers of a mental institution,  elucidating the workings of pernicious spirits (for whom prayers are also said). We also hear the cries of these imperfect ones, who resist gallantly but are no match for God’s messengers. We feel the healing rays from higher order spirits and spiritual nurses. We learn about love and responsibility, that discarding and rejecting the mentally troubled in our family is ill advised, a transgression or debt for which we too must repay at some juncture. For soteriological depth, Obsession may just rival every sacred book out there.

• Dr Glenville Ashby

New York foreign correspondent

The Guardian

 Media Group

glenvilleashby@gmail.com