In our modern world we often think of stories of Demonic Possession and exorcism as being a thing of the past. A medieval relic from our historical record. It is not. In my 35 year career assisting families going through hauntings I have come into contact with it. I have experienced Primary Evil. It is something that I know to be true and to be very active in our modern world. This is not a topic that I write about lightly as I understand that this subject matter can be frightening and controversial. Feel free to skip this blog if you wish. It is not for everyone.
I became interested in the case of “Julia” through an article that I read in the New Oxford Review. This article was written by Dr. Richard Gallagher, a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Ivy League educated psychiatrist. Julia was a pseudonym for a patient of Dr. Gallagher’s that had been referred to him by a priest that she had sought out for spiritual assistance. She felt as though she was under attack by Demonic forces and sought relief from the clergy. Dr. Gallagher became involved in this case through a referral from the local Catholic Diocese. Julia came in for a psychiatric evaluation from Dr. Gallagher who focuses his practice on individual psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. He is noted for being a practicing Catholic but was doubtful about Demonic possession until he encountered Julia.
Julia was not a member of the Catholic Church though. She was not a parishoner. She was in fact a self-proclaimed High Priestess in the Satanic Church. She was actively involved in a Satanic Cult. In spite of this fact though she had decided to reach out to her local Catholic Church to try and find help in relieving her oppression. She stated that she thought a Demon or Satan himself was attacking her. This is rare. Typically a concerned party calls for religious help not the person themselves. She wanted help and had started to her process to leave the cult. But as in most cases it is very difficult for a person to renounce their connection to the Demonic once it has been taken up.
According to Dr. Gallagher Julia displayed all the traditional signs of possession. She would go into trance-like states where she would speak in a voice that was not hers. Her tone would be a low guttural almost male sounding voice or the other extreme very high pitched. Julia’s comments usually expressed hatred for anything religious or sacred. Animal like growls and unhuman like sounds also emanated from her. Objects sometimes flew off shelves in her presence. She sometimes spoke in languages that she has never studied or had been exposed to.
Julia was more than just creepy. She was more than just a Satanist. She was a mystery. Although she had requested an exorcism and appeared to be suffering she was still involved with the cult. Dr. Gallagher surmised that Julia was perfectly aware that she was possessed and she did not like it. But Julia would not or could not leave the cult. She refused to leave so she was not someone that was going to be helped fully. Julia was torn between liberation and devotion to the cult. It was never really ascertained whether she wanted help or she was being used by the Demonic forces to harm the priest.
During Julia’s exorcisms members of her spiritual and medical support team observed Julia fall into trances accompanied by threats and taunts such as “Leave her alone!!!, she’s ours!!” The voice was sometimes guttural and deep and vaguely masculine or high pitched at other times. Julia’s comments usually expressed hatred for anything religious. At certain times Julia spoke in foreign languages including Latin and Spanish. Julia herself spoke only English. The voice that came from her were attacking in nature, insolent and highly scatological. Julia also demonstrated enormous strength. Despite people holding her down during her exorcisms it was a struggle to restrain her. Remarkably, for about thirty minutes she actually levitated about a foot off the floor until she was forcibly pulled down.
Julia’s failed attempts at liberation was not considered a complete failure though as no prayer is said to be lost on anyone. Julia feared her life in the cult was ending because the cult leader was falling out of love with her because she was aging. This is thought to be the real reason her possession persisted because she would not leave the cult for fear of being alone.
One of the most interesting things about this case is that no conclusions have been made about Julia’s liberation. In most instances Exorcism’s can be extremely effective and those afflicted who receive the Rite go on to live normal and productive lives. But there are cases that are so ingrained and deep-seated and the Demonic hold on with all their might. I’ve personally have seen these struggles go on for years. The exorcism makes the Demonic weaker, but the persons response also influences the outcome.
Julia became ill with cancer and passed away without any real resolution about the status of her soul. I would like to think that the part of Julia’s soul that was incarnated into this lifetime and had allowed her to become possessed has been liberated and has reunited with her higher self. I believe no soul out of the body is ever bound to Hell or an oppressive realm. The soul always remains free.
Blessings
Kate
