First, I want to say, my first visit in O1, I had no judgments or expectations. Back then, no one knew who John Of God was. I was open to just observe. I researched this wondrous place and I was excited to witness the miracles with my own eyes! Through the years, I’ve listened to interviews and read dialog of those who never touched the ground of Abadgiana– but had very strong opinions. For them, I say, go there with an open heart, experience and then write about it. Those who have traveled the world, espy third world countries, have probably experienced things that were not main stream and are more curious and open to explore. I fit in this latter category. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. There will be those who go there and won’t get the cure they expected. Everyone gets a healing. A healing and a cure are two different things. And I believe most are changed by the encounter. Now to my journey to Abadgiania.

Oct 2009

I observed the many changes in Abadgiania. Money had arrived here in a big way! More businesses, internet cafes, stylish posadas, new taxi’s, everywhere. Yes, many are living an abundant life in Abadgiania. In O1 lots of people involved with “The Casa” were beginning to experience what it feels like to have money. This is where the material life collides with the spiritual life. Now their real work begins.

As we walked to “The Casa” (where miracles happen),the next morning after arrival, there were changes as well. I noticed more paintings, religious( like St.Ignatius) and other photos, and a flat screen T.V. to view the operations. Also, a new room for mediums, and an added area for psychic operations. The grounds were filled with new wooden benches, which were placed facing the beautiful and sacred valley. I found “The Casa” much more organized than before. Like, helpers wearing official badges. More English was spoken as well. I also found the gift shop filled with many more crystals and other mementos, which were not as abundant in 2001. What was interesting, poverty still surrounded “The Casa.”

The first Wednesday of our stay, 8:30 a.m sharp, we arrived at “The Casa” main hall for our first healing session, with John of God. The hall began filling and soon it was standing room only. I was part of the group standing, when all of a sudden I felt very dizzy and needed to squat down as there were no chairs available to get my balance back. (This didn’t occur during the last visit in 01 but I witnessed others just falling over, right out of their seats. I thought they were dead. I was stunned and wanted to know why this was happening? It was said, they were being psychically operated on. What?) While my head, was whirling, this time around, I wasn’t concerned, only curious, why this was happening to me? I first questioned,was I getting ill, but I didn’t feel ill, just very dizzy? It was a different sort of dizzy. It’s difficult to explain because I haven’t had an experience quite like this. The announcer, in the main hall, called people to the first line. This was the line in which new comers line up to get their first face to face meeting with the faith healer, John of God. I knew the drill from the last visit. We joined the line and entered the first room- called the current room, where 25 or more people sit in meditation. This room helped remove any negative energies and entities, who took a hold of a human body. Some people may not believe this to be true. All I can say, do your research. The ancients throughout the world talk about this sort of issue. This room helped cleanse and prepare each person for the second room, which is the room for mediums. John of God personally asks certain people to sit in the energy of this room. Or, sometimes people have asked permission to sit there as well, as the spiritual force is suppose to be more powerful. Is it more powerful? I couldn’t feel the difference.

As I headed towards the front of the line, where John of God positioned himself, in the middle of other mediums, who were in meditation, I had my turn. It took, perhaps, seconds, for the medium, who was in a trance state, after incorporating one of the many entities, who come through him, to look through my body. I was told to go to the third room to have an operation. (This didn’t’ happen the last trip. The last trip, I was told to sit in the medium’s room and then the current room the following days. I was the only person during that trip without an operation. I asked many people why? No one heard of this before.)

As I sat in the operation room, among 75 +people, I kept my eyes closed as instructed. We all were there at least an hour or more and then led to the blessing room, where there were prayers and singing. This also was a part of the last trip. I loved my time in the blessing room. I ended up crying along with others, probably clearing lots of emotions I must of kept deep inside.

We then were guided to the healing soup area outside, that’s when it hit me. I was overtaken by tremendous fatigue. I felt weak and wanted to go back to my pousada to sleep. When one has an operation, rest is mandatory for at least 24 hours. No long walks back to the pousada. I headed back via taxi and proceeded straight to my room. I slept the greater part of the day as I felt like a ton of bricks were laying on my body. It was the weirdest feeling. I barely got up for dinner. I sat with a few people during dinner, ate my meal and went straight to bed as I was totally worn out. I hardly moved all night. The next day I had breakfast and went straight back to “The Casa” to see John of God again as instructed. He gazed over me and instructed to go to the blessing room and then come back in the afternoon to the current room to meditate. John of God doesn’t speak English. Translators are standing close by. This is also something new, which is very helpful. (During my O1 journey, I stood before JofG alone, wondering, what the heck is he saying to me. He kept pointing to the mediums room. I just figured it out.)

Afternoon came, I walked to “The Casa”, entered the current room and proceeded to the back of the room. I took a seat and began meditating. All of a sudden something over came me. I felt I was going to faint. The sensation became stronger and stronger. I rested my head on the back of the bench I was sitting on as I slowly slumped over. I called out to my friend to get help. I wasn’t afraid what was happening. I felt as though I may be leaving my body.I heard my friend get up and return with a woman who began asking me questions. As she began asking questions, I felt I was coming back from somewhere. “Are you OK? Can you see me? Can you get up and walk?” I thought I could get up but couldn’t answer her. It was if something held my tongue. My friend kept calling my name. “Cynthia, Cynthia, are you OK?” My friend took my arm to help me up. I was led to the infirmary and placed on a bed. I was told to lay there with my eyes closed as I was receiving help. At one point, I had to go to the bathroom. I opened my eyes just a bit and peeked out, scanning the room to find the bathroom. I asked a woman near me if going to the bathroom was possible? She nodded yes. I received help up and entered the bathroom slowly. As I pulled up my skirt…”OH my God!”

To be continued…