John of God: The Brazilian Healer Who’s Touched the Lives of Millions
By Heather Cumming and Karen Leffler
Reviewed by Christy Korrow

This book serves two purposes. It is an introduction to and biography of the Brazilian healer, João Teixeira de Faria, known to those around him as Medium João or John of God. The book is also a guide for people who want to visit the Casa (Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola) located in Abadiânia, Brazil, home to the community where Medium João sees patients. I had often heard about John of God, and this book gave me insight into who he is, and into the working of the Entities, the group of spirit-healers who incorporate as part of their evolutionary process, out of a dedication to alleviating the suffering of humanity, and actually treat the patients.

A natural clairvoyant from childhood, Medium João was called to heal at the age of 16 by Saint Rita of Cascia. For the last 40 years, he has been incredibly generous with his gifts, fostering the inner development of millions of people through healing physical ailments, but more importantly, by igniting awareness of the connection between the spiritual, soul and physical worlds.

The authors describe how the healing involves three primary components: First, the Entities use many various forms of herbs, spiritual surgery, holy water and energy work to heal people. They sometimes find that a person’s karma has brought on the illness, and in many cases there is much spiritual development to be done on the part of the person in order for their illness to be healed. Second are the patients themselves, and the inner work required of them. Patients are asked to enter into the process with faith, willingness and a commitment to do the soul work required for their healing. An interesting example is given about a person who could be healed, but the Entities explain that if they were to heal this person physically, the illness would only reoccur, and perhaps more seriously, since the illness has its basis in destiny issues that have not yet been worked out by the person. In fact, the inner activity of the person receiving the healing is essential in all facets of the healing process. And the third essential aspect of the healing process at the Casa is Current. Seekers enter into what is called Current, a meditative state, using visualization. People are asked to envision themselves in a healthy state, to feel as good and positive as possible, to feel love and hope for the well-being of all. A room where several hundred people are collectively in a state of being consciously focused on higher intentions, love and healing, sets up an energetic current that has a cleansing and purfying effect, allowing our divine self to be revealed, and it creates an environment where each person is contributing to the healing of all, not just the healing of their own individuality. Current joins individuals with the thousands of spirit beings who are working toward healing with Medium João. Patients are asked to dress in all white, so that their aura is more visible.

Throughout the early years that Medium João has been performing surgeries and healing people, he endured many hardships, including being harassed by the medical community and even arrested. But more recently, his surgeries and healings have been observed and validated by many doctors and scientists. In the early 90s, on a visit to Peru where he tended to 20,000 people over five days, Medium João received a militery tribute from the Peruvian government usually reserved for respected heads of state.
The authors lead tours to the Casa, and have both worked with Medium João in close proximity. The power of his work is conveyed through the book, and there is a sense that the spiritual worlds and beings working through Medium João are not confined to the Casa and the town of Abadiânia. They are accessible to all, and he is just one physical manifestation of a world that is accessible to those who commit to soul and spiritual development, and have an earnest striving to know spiritual world, have access to it, and believe that its existence is a true reality. It is worth noting that within days of finishing reading this book, I learned that Medium João was going to be making a rare appearance in the U.S. In October, I will travel to Omega Institute with my family to sit in Current and experience the presence of Medium João, the Entities and those who have come for a healing. Atria Books/Beyond Words 2007