Obsession: prevention
and treatment

We present in this issue the topic #127 from the Systematized Study of the Spiritist Doctrine, that is being presented weekly, according to the programme elaborated by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB), structured in 6 modules and 147 topics.

If the reader uses this program for a study group, we suggest that questions proposed be discussed freely before the reading of the text that follows. If you would like to study alone, we ask you to try to answer the questions at first and only then read the text that follows. The answer key can be found at the end of the lesson. 

Questions 

1. How can we avoid negative influence from bad spirits?

2. Is mesmeric action important in the treatment of obsession?

3. When does the treatment for obsession get easier?

4. Is prayer important in the treatment of obsession?

5. What are the tools that Spiritism can use in the treatment of obsession?

Text

It’s essential to be good and trust in God

1. To neutralise the influence of bad spirits is to prevent obsession. That is what prevention is about: avoid diseases and use of ways to prevent them happening.

2. That is the reason why being good is necessary as the question 469 of The Spirits Book teaches: we need to be good and trust in God. “Take care not to listen to the suggestions of spirits who inspire you with evil thoughts, stir up discord among you, and excite in you evil passions. Distrust especially those who flatter your pride, for, in so doing, they attack you on your weakest side.”

3. Obsession, as seen in prior studies, is the result of a moral imperfection which favours the action of bad spirits, who use the synchrony that the imperfection of one gives to the other one. That is why the individual, who is influenced negatively,  needs to work hard to get better as a person which many times is enough to get rid of this unwanted influence without help from anyone else.  

4. Obviously, this help is necessary when obsession evolves to subjugation or possession, because in these cases the individual influenced negatively loses his/hers capacity to choose and use of free will.  

Mesmeric action is always important in the treatment of obsession  

5. Kardec teaches us that, in case of serious obsession, the individual influenced negatively by a bad spirit is involved in a pernicious fluid from which he/she has difficulties to disconnect themselves. It’s necessary the action of a good fluid to be able to neutralise this negative fluid which can be achieved through mesmeric action.  

6. Andre Luiz says that mesmeric action doesn’t have any side effects and helps a lot in the treatment of obsession. The spirit influencing negatively and the spirit being influenced negatively are both spiritually ill and take great help from mesmeric action. Hardly, however, a mechanical movement is enough to help in obsession: it’s necessary to reach the intelligent soul who is causing this situation, to whom we need to address with moral authority.

7. Who doesn’t have moral superiority, also does not have moral authority, which comes from moral improvement of the individual. More the moral improvement, more the authority that the individual has. But this is not everything: to end obsession, it’s necessary that the bad spirit is convinced to give up on influencing someone negatively. The bad spirit should be convinced to forgive and to wish the other one well, regretting every bad action perpetrated against the individual influenced.  

8. The treatment becomes easier when the individual, who is being influenced negatively, understanding the situation, tries to help the treatment with his/hers good will and prayers. If he doesn’t do his part in the treatment, it will be much harder to move forward, especially if he/she keeps the illusion that the bad spirit has certain qualities and keep repeating the same mistakes.

In the treatment of obsession, the practice of love and charity is essential

9. In every case of obsession, prayer is and always will be the most efficient way to make the bad spirit give up on his/hers bad intentions.  

10. In every case, charity and love are always a precious resource. Only love, as taught and exemplified by Jesus, will give peace to individuals who hate each other. Love will put an end to ideas of revenge and prosecution of any kind as well as sufferings which are consequences of them.

11. It’s not difficult to see how the teachings of Jesus give us excellent contribution in the treatment of obsession. We can summarise the steps to follow below:  

• Awareness from the individual being influenced negatively and his/hers relatives part that patience is essential in the treatment of obsession, and that the imperfections of the individual being influenced are the main obstacles for the cure of obsession

• Fluid therapy (mesmeric action, fluidic water and radiation)

• Prayer and constant attention to actions and thoughts

• Labortherapy

• Renewal of ideas through reading good things, good lectures and good conversation about noble subjects

• Praying at home every week at the same day of the week, place and time

• Convincing the bad spirit to give up on his bad purposes in appropriate meetings in religious centres where the presence of the individual being influenced negatively is not necessary and can be hurtful to him/her.

Answer Key