The Secret Teachings  of the Espiritistas    A Hidden History of Spiritual Healing  by Harvey Martin

A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE INNER WORLD OF SPIRITUAL HEALING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND BRAZIL. THIS BOOK IS THE FIRST TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE HEALING SPIRITS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARANORMAL HEALING PHENOMENA OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

We have all heard about the Filipino psychic surgeons. Whether in
television shows or books with rather graphic photographs they have been
exposed to the world for some years. The sad fact is that they have been
greatly misunderstood and in many cases, greatly misrepresented. Too often,
real stories of psychic surgery are ignored and only those of sleight of
hand are reported. But even these healers are represented as tricksters or
worse, frauds. We project onto them our models of "western medicine" and
therefore do not appreciate the wide spectrum that is psychic surgery. We
can accept our own use of placebos and yet see their use of "sleight of
hand" as deception. Yet there is a long history of the use of "divine
trickery" in Shamanism and folk practice which makes our modern form of
medicine seem like it is in its infancy. Indeed, throughout many cultures,
ranging from the Siberian Shamans to the American Indian, the use of sleight
of hand is considered a viable aspect of traditional medicinal and spiritual
practice.

It should not, however, be thought that The Secret Teachings of the
Espiritistas is all about psychic surgery. Martin starts with a superb
overview of Christian Spiritism and psychic surgery which will certainly
more than satisfy those with interests in these fields, but he goes much
further. Indeed his knowledge of "alternative medicine", psychic surgery
and related subjects is impressive and comprehensive. However, the aim of
this work, is to show the depth and breath of the Christian Spiritism
movement and hence psychic surgery as only one aspect of a much larger
tradition.

Martin outlines with great vision the history of Christian Spiritism and its
unique role in modern spirituality. He shows how central to its theology is
the continuing influence of the Holy Spirit. This influence is very
different from that found in "western book based' Christianity, it is a
living influence that guides the Spiritist movement directly through higher
spirits. This movement is directly co-ordinated by divine communications as
received through its highly trained mediums. It theology is not the result
of academic or scholarly dissertation (while these certainly have their
place), but the product of direct divine inspiration. As Martin outlines the
Spiritist philosophy it comes as a real surprise. It offers a new and vital
alternative to the modern blinkered form of mainstream western Christianity.
Indeed, it seems to be a continuation of many Gnostic and mystical
traditions (notably the work of the Calabrian Abbot Joachim of Flore and later the spiritual Franciscans). While the Church has closed the door on manifestations of the Holy Spirit (known as Cessationism), the spiritist
tradition believes that in this third age (that of the Holy Spirit) these
gifts have returned. Unlike western Charismatics, Spiritists have understood the limited value of the written word (including the Bible) and understand the need for direct inspiration.

Martin's book is hard to summarize. It has so much to offer, while psychic
surgery may be the beginning, his vision is far broader and all persuasive.
He offers a stinging critique of Western Christianity and indeed indicts it
as having committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit by
refusing ongoing spiritual revelation. While the theological sections take
some digestion, they show a great erudition and wisdom and demand reflection.
This is an important book which is written in a way which communicates to
the soul. It offers much personal experience and first hand accounts and
hence gives us a real insight into the world of Christian Spiritism. Indeed,
parts are prophetic and potentially life-changing.

This is also a controversial work, which re-envisions much of Christian
theology. For example, the prophecy of the cleansing of the Sanctuary which
many Biblical scholars date to around 1844 CE is interpreted as being the
cleansing of the Perispirit. That is the nebulous gobetween that exists as a
condensation of the universal fluid within the individual. In simpler terms,
this means that the holy spirit cleansed and prepared individual energy
systems so as to issue in the third age, that of the Holy Spirit. This
experience, which many may even relate to the return of Christ (as the Holy
Spirit), took places in three stages:

1. The Spiritualist Revival
2. The Spiritist work of Allan Kardec
3. The Return of the Holy Spirit through Christian Spiritism

This third stage is slowly extending world wide as direct communication from
the Holy Spirit is overtaking the moribund dry worship of fundamentalist
Churches. This is certainly a thought-provoking vision and will stimulate
much debate. On a personal level I found it moving, challenging and
expansive. It offers a profound revolution in Christian thinking and I
therefore highly recommend it to you.

 

"Harvey Martin's remarkable book cuts far deeper than the psychic surgeon's knife, for it cuts through the many veils of religious history and the outer garments of ritual, examines the long hidden relationship of biblical texts and the realization of 'healing power' that opens the eyes and ears of the reader. In the rainy atmosphere and small halls of the remote jungles and in the dusty urban centers of the Philippines, the 'small, still voice speaks' and we encounter the powerful life force behind the Espiritistas, the 'Holy Spirit."

-J.J. Hurtak, Ph. D.
Researcher and Director,
Academy of Future Science
Author of The Keys of Enoch

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

"In The Secret Teachings of the Espiritistas, Harvey Martin has presented a lucid, provocative account of Filipino Christian Spiritism. It contains an historical depth that other books lack as well as a unique philosophical perspective. This book makes a valuable contribution to the literature on folk healing, its adherants and its practitioners."

-Stanley Krippner, Ph. D.
Professor of Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School
Co-Author of The Mythic Path, and The Realms of Healing

---

 

"Harvey Martin's book is a probing search into the mysteries of healing. It is a venture into a world too long overlooked by orthodox medicine. This book should be taken seriously by anyone interested in the relationship between spirituality and healing."

-Larry Dossey, M.D.
Author of Be Careful What You Pray For,
Prayer is Good Medicine & Healing Words
Executive Editor of "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine"

---

 

"Harvey Martin takes us on an in depth journey through the healing practices of the Espiritistas, shedding much needed light on the often misunderstood healers. An engaging and anthropologically sound piece of work."

-Alberto Villoldo, Ph. D.
Author of The Four Winds & Co-author of The Realms of Healing

---

 

"Martin's theological and philosophical discourses, such as his expatiations on dispensationalism and post-millennial activism deserve careful attention. These out-of-mainstream Holy Spirit considerations make sense and who knows, these could be closer to the mark than the current dominant pre-millennial opinions, if not right on it. For the gifts of the Holy Spirit, or in appropriate scientific terms 'paranormal effects of trance, altered states of consciousness, and dissociation' did not cease nineteen hundred years ago. These are ALL in the front lines of a spiritual awakening of power and potential today, within everyone. There is no more worthy subject of inquiry than human potential and Harvey Martin in The Secret Teachings of the Espiritistas addresses these perfectly."

Berthold E. Schwarz, M.D.
Author of Into the Crystal

______________________________________________________________

"THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF THE ESPIRITISTAS is a feast of information for anyone interested in the truth behind the legend of psychic surgery in the Philippines and Brazil. Harvey Martin does an excellent job of addressing the controversial aspects of this ancient healing art, and presenting readers with Shirley MacLaine's description of what it felt like to perform psychic surgery as her hand was guided by psychic surgeon Alex Orbito inside the abdomen of a patient. MacLaine describes the sensation as feeling dreamlike, "as though I had plunged my hand into a warm mist". Martin describes some details of the Filipino Espiritistas that have never before been written about anywhere. The Espiritistas believe that divine intervention is available to everyone (regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs), and that it is this spiritual nature within each and every one of us that links us to each other, and to the divine. This book is at its best when describing the beliefs and daily practices of psychic surgeons, such as Alex Orbito, who has changed the lives of thousands of people (including Shirley MacLaine) as he practices his divine healing art. As Reverend Alex Orbito says, "I never feel anything physical. The body is only thought. It is only what we imagine it to be." If you're ready to challenge the assumptions of reality you were raised with, I highly recommend this book!"

Cynthia Larson currently writes articles for Magical Blend and Parabola magazines about reality shifts - discussing everything from the physics of prayer to the connection between language and our culture's view of reality. She has taught workshops and classes to dozens of people, and communicated with thousands more on the internet through discussion forums and chats. She has been interviewed by Elliot Stein for his Stein Online talk show.

_________________________________________________________

 

"Although psychic surgery has had some bad press over the years, this has not deterred its true practitioners. In The Secret Teachings of the Espiritistas, Harvey Martin explains the origin of the Filipino tradition (and similar Brazilian and Hawaiian systems) as being in indigenous shamanism combined with colonial Catholic beliefs and rituals. In this new tradition, the Holy Spirit of the Trinity effects paranormal healings, and directs other spirit entities in the process, via sensitive healing mediums.

As a member of the Christian Spiritist Union of the Philippines, Martin has had priviledged entree to this hybrid realm, with notable exponents such as Rev. Alex Orbito (see article, 6/06). Here, he recounts his experiences with excitement and reflection. At close hand, he has observed miraculous cures effected in people of all nationalities, and felt the strong "faith" of genuine healers. He acknowledges the successes of the "sleight-of-hand" psychic surgery school, which parallel findings in Western placebo surgery, suggesting that there is more to it than meets the eye.

Above all, Martin has helped create a union between two seemingly irreconcilable modalities."

-NEXUS MAGAZINE

Copyright © 2000 METAMIND PUBLICATIONS

Questions or Comments?

ORDER HERE

Metamind Internet Services