John of God, in the small town of Abadiania, is said to heal numerous illnesses, ranging from physical to emotional and spiritual.  We are told that there have been hundreds of cases where he has done just that.  After my visit, I am focusing on the healings that people do not understand or even know they are actually receiving.

One of the first things people do when they get to the Casa is write down 3 wishes. Yes, I know it sounds like Aladdin, but those three wishes are taken straight to the “entity,” the spirit that takes over John of God in the Casa. My three wishes were to rid my stomach from the internal bleeding, fix my herniated discs in my back, and to get rid of my migraines. Honestly, I did not think that any of this would work for I just didn’t believe in it. Being an anthropologist, I thought I might just give it a try. It wasn’t a shocker when I left feeling and experiencing those same physical pains.

However, something different and something more than amazing happened to me! I got a whole different healing than I was expecting in those 10 days. I left with the same physical problems, but was free of many emotional traumas I kept with me throughout my life. As crazy as it sounds, I was able to forgive myself and I was able to apologize to my grandmother who passed away 2 years ago. I sat in meditation in John of God’s current for 6 hours and I received numerous visions that sent me bawling and grinning constantly. I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I witnessed myself going through the moments we had with each other step by step and I was finally able to tell her exactly what I needed to. I know many people will not consider this a healing, but I definitely did. Because of this experience I am at peace and I finally have closure with her.

At times, I think that’s what it is all about. People come here for one thing, but in reality they themselves are in the process of healing another. Or maybe the entity thinks that there is something way more important to touch up on. For example, one of the most amazing and vibrant men I met on this trip was Ron. It took him three years to travel to Abadiania to try and cure his Multiple Sclerosis that left him severely depressed and immobile. Rather than being cured of the disease itself, he learned to believe he did not have a problem. He came to peace with the terms that God left him in and he realized that this was all part of his mission. Ron has dedicated his life to others and informing them what to do to follow their path and live in the present moment and to just say thank you.

It really is funny how some things work out in this world. We all do have a path and a mission in this lifetime. Whether that consists of dealing with illnesses we were meant to experience or even the little lessons that show up along the way. It has become clear to me through this trip, that many of the healings people receive they do not “wish” for. Maria Tereza has been coming to Abadiania for the past three years with her sister who has Alzheimer’s and her ex-husband’s son who has a retina problem. She admitted to me that she herself has been praying for her sister and ex-husband’s son, but she has been benefitting the most out of this journey. Maria learned patience and courage during her stay, two huge concepts that help her everyday with her family. Everyone needs some sort of healing in this life and maybe it’s not what we think.

By Deanne Kadkhodayan