Psychic Surgery and Faith Healing: An Exploration of Multi-Dimensional Realities, Indigenous Healing, and Medical Miracles in the Philippine Lowlands [Paperback]

Jessica Bryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2008

A journalistic quest that begins with the couldn't-be-more-personal experience of her own psychic surgery, Bryan takes the reader from The Faith in God Spiritual Church outside Reno, Nevada to the Pangasinan Province of the Philippines Island of Luzon, famous for its healers who perform surgery without cutting open the body- bare-handed surgery, where no anesthesia is used, and there is no pain, scars, or infection.

Even as quantum physicists close in on a scientific description of how it works, Bryan asks: Is psychic healing a miracle of God or a trickery of fake blood and cotton balls perpetrated by charlatans? She goes on to explore how it might well be both.

This is an open, honest, in-depth look at the multiple, often contradictory realities of faith healing and the ripples it casts into the realms of physics, metaphysics, spirituality, and higher consciousness. Into this heartfelt first person account of a life-changing journey from patient to student to sometimes teacher, Bryan weaves a parallel narrative full of historical detail and cultural perspective on telekinesis, the magnetic force of cells, trance mediums, miracles, the placebo effect, and the power of expectation, as well as minor and major deities on the order of John of God, Franz Mesmer, Emanuel Swedenborg, Albert Einstein, and Shirley MacLaine.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A diagnosis of uterine fibroids sent Bryan, an energy healer and clairvoyant, from Northern California to poor villages in the Philippines to pursue a nonsurgical cure for her condition. There, she finds several psychic surgeons who claim to remove tumors and disease with only their minds. At times, Bryan's writing is lovely, filled with vivid descriptions of the Philippine countryside and its people. But her writing falls short in her own experiences with the psychic healers, who fail to cure her, but instead initiate her into their field. In her descriptions of her medical treatments, it is sometimes unclear if the blood and tissue she says she sees is actually seen literally, with her eyes, or imaginatively, through her inner vision. The book will appeal to readers who already believe beings from other planets can inhabit our world as psychic healers, but will likely fail to convince others to fly to the Philippines to find them. The simple energy healing techniques presented at the end may be a better—and less expensive—alternative medicine choice. (Dec.)
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Review

"I felt the marvelous healing energy coming through your book and reaching right into my inner being. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to explore healers and the idea of spiritual healing." --Raphaelle Tamura, Chief Operating Officer of Seraphim at Mt. Shasta, Star of Peace Publishing and Michael Tamura Seminars



"I loved your book! You write so well, so very visual, and I was right there with you at every page. You take the reader into a very different realm beyond that of the material sciences and mechanistic medicine, where an open mind and an open heart can indeed work miracles." --Dr. Michael W. Fox, Veterinarian, Bioethicist, Syndicated Columnist, and author of over 40 books including "The Healing Touch for Dogs & Cats."

“Psychic Surgery and Faith Healing is a well-researched book, written with lyrical and contemplative prose. The book’s diversity of perspectives allows the reader to appreciate it on a number of levels: it reads as a memoir, a self-help book, and an historical account of faith healing in the Philippines.” — New Consciousness Review

“This is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a long time, and I read at least 4-5 books a week. Jessica has a way of describing things that's ethereal, beautiful, and informative. I actually felt that I was in the Philippines and I was living in the nipa huts. I felt the oppressive heat and also learned about the people there. So I compliment the author, and I continue to remain her fan because of the wonderful mastery of images she portrays.” —Hilly Rose, guest host on Coast to Coast, Fate Magazine columnist, and producer of The Hilly Rose Radio Show

“Author Jessica Bryan delivers a well-researched account of psychic surgery and faith healing on the Philippine Island of Luzon, which has long been a center of activity for these alternative medical practices. Bryan's firsthand accounts of her own experience with psychic surgery are engaging and moving, and leave little doubt that there is something very real about this amazing phenomenon.” -FATE Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578634415
• ISBN-13: 978-1578634415
• Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.8 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,035,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Travel > Asia > Philippines

More About the Author

Jessica Bryan is a professional freelance book editor and author, specializing in spiritual, metaphysical, and self-help books. In addition to working in the publishing industry, Jessica does clairvoyant spiritual/health readings and practices a type of energy healing from the Philippines called "Magnetic Healing."

Jessica's newest book is "MEDIUMSHIP AND THE FLOW OF GRACE: Messages from Paul" (Lompico Creek Press 2012). She is also the author of "PSYCHIC SURGERY AND FAITH HEALING: An Exploration of Multi-Dimensional Realities, Indigenous Healing, and Medical Miracles in the Philippine Lowlands" (Weiser Books 2008) and " LOVE IS AGELESS: Stories About Alzheimer's Disease" (Lompico Creek Press 2002).

Jessica lives in Southern Oregon and can be reached by e-mail: [e-mail].

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful stories about psychic healers May 29, 2009

By Launa Huffines

Format:Paperback

Reading this book is like taking an exotic trip into a world that few of us have imagined. One can vividly experience the people there and the atmosphere that permeates the scene of the best Philipine psychic healers the author found. This book is honestly written, with enough detail about the group supporting the healers to allow the reader to be there too.

The whole book is delightful, a page-turner all the way, with humor at times and pathos at others. Jessica Bryan writes with the passion that inspires. She tells stories beautifully, and has great skill in using only a few words to vividly convey a scene or experience.

Regardless of one's sympathy or non-sympathy for such non-traditional forms of healing, reading these first-hand experiences expands the mind and the imagination. Better still, it inspires a broader sense of conscious compassion for the emerging human spirit in the desire to help and to heal those in need.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Psychic Surgery book, Like Tom Valentine's that you can trust! November 18, 2010

By Ricahrd A. Salzer

Format:Paperback

In Jessica Bryan's fine book, 'Psychic
Surgery and Faith Healing', those who
have read Tom Valentine (another friend
I know) fine 1970's book will experience
deja-vu to the max as this book basically
picks up where Tom's leaves off!

I contacted Jessica after she left a
request on the I-net, wondering wether
Tom was still alive, which of course he
is, Tom also left a tearse message that
'Hell yes, I'm still alive...'

I had a wonderful talk with Jessica who
told me for contacting Tom, she would
send me, gratis, a copy, sutographed
(which she did!) of her book. I always
liked Tom's book of his trip to meet
Dr. Tony Agpaoa in the Phillipines low
lands.

Reading this book is like traveling to
that part of the world with Jessica, who
witnessed the same psychic surgeries that
Tom did twenty years or so earlier.

This is what Jessica wrote Tom: "Dear
Mr. Valentine: Rich Salzer, HRL, gave
me your amiling address in response to
my Internet query as to your whereabouts.
I am the author of a book about psychic
surgery and faith healing that was pub-
lished in '08. In the course of my rese-
arch, I obtained a copy of your faciina-
ting 1973 book on the subject. Unfortuna-
tely, I found your book after mine went
to press, so I was unable to add it to my
bibliography. I became involved with the
Filipino healers in the early 1990's, so
I never met Dr. Tony Agpaoa. I wish I could
have met him. Well, I guess I through read-
ing your book! Enclosed is a copy of my book:
"Psychic Surgery and Faith Healing: An Explo-
ration of Multi-Dimensional Realities, Indi-
genous Healing, and Medical Miracles in the
Philipine Lowlands." [Red Wheel/Weiser/Con-
ari].

Incidentially, the idea for the cover came
from a photograph I took at the healing clin-
ic of Rev. Dave Oligane in Pangasinan. Per-
haps you knew him? I have just finished a new
book based on my experiences of doing magne-
tic healing [Tom used to be the Editor of Mag-
nets Magazine - R.A.S]go to [...]. I live
in Oregon with a holistic chiropractor named
Tom Clunie, D.C. Tom (Clunie) is a lifelong
Libertarian and was a bog fan of your radio
show(s)[Stop; Tom Valentine was on Patriot
Radio for 18.45 years, July 17th, 1988 thru
Oct. 31st, 2006. His first show was Radio
Free America (1988-2004), He also did True
Health (1992-96; Hencle Co-2001 Power Hour,'
later ruined by Joyce Riley and Dave Von Kli-
est, Summer 2004-May'06, which was merged with
the Midas Report, after Michael Trudeau left
GCN in 2005), Fully Informed (1991-93) and
It's Time For Truth (2003-04) - R.A.S]
Sincerely, Jessica Bryan, CC: Rich Salzer, HRL.

Jessica wrote to this Reviewer / Writer, in part:
"...I hope you enjoy my book. It's a combination
memoir, factual and historical review of psychic
surgery, and a self-help book." Jessica, I agree
and besides my friend Tom's original book/rese-
arch/work, it's the best out there. I know the
next book will be even better.

Rich Salzer,
Historical Review Library,
Grandy, North Carolina, USA
2010, Fall, A.D.