Obsession: Psychic Forces and Evil in the Causation of Disease by Arthur Guirdham soon to be presented for sale on the tremendous BookLovers of Bath web site!
Published: London: Neville Spearman, 1972, Hardback in dust wrapper.
From the cover: This book is a new approach to the understanding of neurotic disease. In the past the latter has been the subject of much heavy theorising. To the author, a consultant psychiatrist of forty years standing, the explanation is more fundamental and essentially simpler. Many of those who reveal obsessional symptoms, which are best exemplified by the pointless repetition of simple actions like turning off bath taps, are suffering from repression of their psychic gifts.
Obsessional states are a direct protective reflex following the perception of evil. This is first revealed in the night terrors and involuntary tics of childhood. The victims of obsessional states are often markedly psychic. Many are clairvoyant and telepathic. Their obsessional tendencies are related to the repression of these gifts. A number have far memory back to, and preceding, birth.
There are two central themes in this book. The first is that the obsessional patient is two persons in one, that he is, on the one hand, a mystic with psychic gifts and, on the other, an exponent of orthodoxy with ritualistic tendencies. The latter are a mask and an atonement for his psychic endowments. He combines in one personality the roles of persecuted heretic and inquisitor, of gifted mystic and repressive priest.
Dr Guirdhams second major theme is that, in the obsessional, the battle between good and evil is being fought out at the conscious level. Each obsessional represents an armageddon in miniature. He reflects in his own soul the ultimate battle in the Cosmos between the forces of good and evil.
Very Good in Good+ Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper. Leans slightly. Text complete, clean and tight.
Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 186 pages. 8¾” x 5½”.
Of course, if you don’t like this one, may I draw your attention to more books hither or maybe further, hand picked, books in my Health Alternative catalogue?
BookLovers of Bath 