The Real Reason People Get Possessed — And It's Not What Hollywood Shows You

Exorcism has long been a subject of fascination in popular culture, with movies and TV shows presenting dramatic portrayals of demonic possession and the battle for the victim’s soul. However, the reality of exorcism extends far beyond the silver screen.

Let’s step beyond the sensationalism of Hollywood and peel back the layers of mystery surrounding exorcism. In this article, I’ll dive deep into the true purpose and significance of exorcism, shedding light on a practice often shrouded in misunderstanding. I’ll also share my own experience as a spiritual guide and healer, having cleansed many people of lower-vibration entities that had attached to them over my 20+ years of practice.

By understanding the true purpose and significance of exorcism, we can gain insight into the complex relationship between spirituality and health. Whether you approach this topic from a religious perspective or with healthy skepticism, this article will give you a thoughtful exploration of exorcism’s deeper meanings.

What is exorcism and spirit possession?

While exorcism is primarily associated with religious beliefs, its purpose goes beyond simply ridding individuals of malevolent spirits. It’s a process aimed at healing—restoring physical and mental well-being and providing a sense of spiritual cleansing.

Exorcism

An important distinction to make upfront: there’s a difference between lower energies attached to a person and lower entities (spirits) attached to a person. These are different phenomena, and in this article we’re focusing specifically on the latter—entity attachment and possession.

A person may encounter negative entities or malevolent spirits that attach themselves to their body’s energy field, causing harmful effects. These spirits feed on the individual’s energy, can manipulate their behavior, and may lead to health and mental complications. This is known as spirit possession. Exorcism refers to the process of removing these entities and cleansing the affected individual.

In my experience, spirit possession falls into two categories:

• Partial possession — the attached lower spirits influence the person in a range of roughly 5% to 90%. In this case, the exorcist can still communicate with the person’s original soul and enlist their help in pushing out the lower entities during the process.

• Full possession — the attached lower spirits influence the person at 90% to 100%. Unfortunately, the exorcist can no longer reach the person’s own soul, since the body has been almost entirely taken over by the lower spirits. The exorcism process must therefore be conducted entirely from the outside.

The vast majority of cases fall into the partial possession category. Full possession is very rare and tends to be quite obvious from the person’s behavior—and it’s this dramatic variety that Hollywood loves to portray, precisely because it’s so visually striking and plays on our deepest fears.

Historical origins of exorcism

Exorcism is far from a modern phenomenon—its roots reach deep into ancient civilizations. The practice can be traced back to Mesopotamia, where illnesses and mental disturbances were attributed to evil spirits. Ancient texts from Babylonia and Assyria describe rituals performed to expel these malevolent entities from the afflicted.

In ancient Greece, exorcism was also practiced to free individuals from the influence of malicious spirits. The Greeks believed that many illnesses and psychological disturbances were caused by these entities, and exorcism rituals were conducted to restore balance and harmony.

Moving forward in history, exorcism gained particular significance within Christianity and Islam. In Christianity, exorcism is mentioned in the Bible, with Jesus himself portrayed as an exorcist who expelled demons from those who were possessed. This biblical account has profoundly influenced Christian beliefs and practices around exorcism ever since.

The role of religion in exorcism

Religion plays a significant role in the practice of exorcism. In many traditions, exorcism is considered a sacred ritual that addresses the spiritual well-being of individuals. These traditions hold that malevolent spirits or demons can possess a person’s body, causing physical and mental distress, and that exorcism is the means to expel them and restore well-being.

Within Christianity, exorcism is regarded as a sacramental rite, performed by authorized clergy who undergo specific training and possess the spiritual authority to carry out the ritual. The Catholic Church in particular has detailed guidelines and protocols for conducting exorcisms, ensuring the process is handled with care and reverence.

In Islam, exorcism is known as “Ruqyah” and involves the recitation of specific verses from the Quran. Muslim exorcists believe that these verses have a protective and healing effect, driving away evil spirits and restoring the person’s well-being. The practice is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and is typically performed by individuals with a deep understanding of the Quran.

The general steps in the process of exorcism

The specific process of exorcism varies depending on the cultural and religious tradition involved. However, certain elements are commonly found across different exorcism rituals. These typically include five stages:

• Preparation — creating a sacred space and gathering the necessary ritual tools and objects (such as holy water, religious symbols, and sacred texts). The exorcist may also engage in prayer or meditation to prepare themselves spiritually.

• Invocation — calling upon higher powers or spiritual entities to assist in the exorcism. This may involve invoking the name of a deity, reciting sacred texts, or performing specific rituals to establish a connection with the divine.

• Interrogation — a crucial step where the exorcist seeks to understand the nature of the possessing entity, its motivations, and its impact on the individual. This helps the exorcist tailor their approach accordingly.

• Supplication — prayers, invocations, or rituals aimed at driving out the possessing entity. This may involve the use of sacred objects (crosses, amulets), the recitation of specific incantations, and physical gestures or motions to symbolically remove the entity.

• Dismissal — marking the conclusion of the exorcism. It involves declaring the departure of the possessing entity and sealing off any spiritual openings that may have allowed the entity to enter in the first place, aiming to prevent future possession.

Debunking common myths about exorcism

Due to its portrayal in popular culture, exorcism is surrounded by myths and misconceptions. Separating fact from fiction is essential for understanding its true purpose.

Myth: Exorcism is solely a religious practice. While deeply rooted in religious beliefs, exorcism is also performed in secular contexts—within certain cultural traditions and alternative spiritual practices. It’s not limited to any single religious framework.

Myth: Possession always involves dramatic physical manifestations. While some cases may involve physical contortions or extreme behavior, not all possessions present themselves this way. Possession can manifest as emotional disturbances, psychological imbalances, persistent health issues, or even subtle changes in personality and behavior. In fact, the subtle cases are far more common than the dramatic ones.

Controversies surrounding exorcism

Exorcism is not without controversy. Critics argue that it can lead to the misdiagnosis of mental health conditions, delay appropriate medical treatment, or even cause further psychological harm to vulnerable individuals.

There have been cases where people seeking exorcism were subjected to physical abuse or neglect, based on the assumption that their afflictions were solely spiritual in nature. When there’s a lack of proper assessment and collaboration between spiritual practitioners and mental health professionals, the consequences can be serious.

To address these concerns, some religious institutions have established guidelines and protocols for conducting exorcisms that emphasize discernment, collaboration with healthcare professionals, and the well-being of those seeking help. This is a responsible approach that I fully support—proper spiritual discernment is essential in these situations.

My experience in cleansing people of lower-vibration entities

As a spiritual guide and healer, I’ve also conducted exorcism processes—cleansing people of spirits or entities that had attached to their body’s energy field. Let me share what I’ve learned.

First, an important distinction. Not every troubled person is dealing with spirit possession:

• Some people suffer from mental illness, generally due to traumatic events in their past. These individuals need professional help from psychologists or psychiatrists—their condition is not caused by spirit possession.

• Then there are cases where, despite doctors’ best efforts, no improvement can be found and no medical explanation fits. In these situations, there’s a possibility that a possession situation is at play. The exorcist has the responsibility to discern between medical cases and true possession cases, using higher insight, spiritual abilities, intuition, and energy sensitivity.

One thing I’ve learned firsthand is that this universe operates on very precise mechanisms—things don’t just happen by chance, even though it may seem that way. The reason a person becomes possessed comes down to the mechanism of Resonance. The person and the lower spirits share something in common—usually one or more limiting beliefs such as deep anger, greed, ego, lust for power, intense fear, or other obsessions.

Since each belief carries a specific frequency, lower entities are attracted to people who vibrate at that same frequency and try to attach themselves. It’s the well-known “Like attracts like” mechanism. Ultimately, we shape our reality—whether knowingly or unknowingly.

Spirit possession

A person has built-in energy defenses by design and can’t simply be invaded by any spirit that happens to roam around. However, if someone harbors lower-vibration thoughts and beliefs over a prolonged period, those beliefs gradually weaken the energy defenses—creating vulnerabilities. Over time, the defenses thin out, and at some point lower entities find their way through and attach to that person’s energy field.

I’ve cleansed people who were possessed in a range of 10% to 80%, and the experiences varied dramatically from case to case. The key lesson I learned is this: while pushing out the entities is the immediate goal of the exorcism process, preventing them from returning is an even bigger challenge. The risk of the spirits returning is high, because the person is still the same—the beliefs and patterns that attracted the entities in the first place are still there.

This is why I developed a special exorcism process that differs from what traditional religious or spiritual practices typically do. Instead of jumping straight to expelling the entities, I first work to raise the person’s body vibration and help them identify and begin releasing the limiting beliefs that attracted the entities in the first place. Only then do I proceed with pushing out the lower spirits. This way, we address both the cause and the effect—dramatically reducing the chance of recurrence.

From my experience, a significant percentage of adults attract such entities at some point in their lives. If you notice that, despite medical efforts, something feels persistently “off”—perhaps you hear intrusive thoughts in your mind, experience impulses that feel foreign to you, or seem to go from one trouble to the next—it’s worth considering whether uninvited entities might be involved. If you change your inner patterns for the better, the entities often leave on their own because the resonance that held them dissolves. If not, you might consider seeking help to cleanse them.

The ongoing relevance of exorcism

Exorcism, beyond its Hollywood portrayal, holds significant cultural, religious, spiritual, and practical relevance. Understanding its true purpose allows us to appreciate the spiritual beliefs and practices of different cultures while also recognizing the real physical and energetic dimensions at play.

Whether approached as a religious practice or from a more analytical standpoint, exploring the deeper meanings of exorcism offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between spirituality, energy, and health. By acknowledging its historical origins, cultural perspectives, and the real mechanisms behind possession, we can foster a more informed and respectful understanding of exorcism and its impact on people’s lives.

If you suspect you or someone you know may be affected by entity attachment, don’t hesitate to reach out. I offer a structured exorcism and energy clearing process that addresses both the root causes and the symptoms. You can also book an online spiritual session to explore the situation and find out what’s really going on. the real causes of what is happening around you.