From frustration to obeah

Have you noticed, during the last fifteen years or so, the rise in advertisements for “spiritual guidance,” “tarot readings” and “guaranteed solutions to love, financial or job problems"? There are also increased offerings for “pleasure-guaranteed” sexual intimacy, warm massages, and matchmaking. I suppose nothing is really wrong with all this. Many would think it all quite trivial and private. Yes, but what interests a social scientist is the reason for the apparent increase and the profitability that goes with it.

Why this intriguing psychological feature of our national character? The advertised list for both spiritualists and sexuality has grown. Some Personal newspaper classified examples last week: “Naughty girls, no strings attached.” “Naughty Girls. “After work stopover masseuses.” Then there are: “Christian male seeks Christian female.” “Female 55 years, seeks serious companion.” “Negro male seeks honest female 55.” Not sure about fees.

Look, there is a big story here, rich in local anthropology. The commercial spiritualists serve not only as therapists but also as “problem solvers.” How guaranteed? With regard to fees, all I heard is “around a few hundred dollars.” Of course, there are the “get-rich quick” customers whose only grief is that their money is never enough. The spiritualist promises to heal that grief too.

One newspaper ad reads: “Sri Durga Maata guarantees solutions for your problems of health, wealth, love relationships, business, jealousy, enemies, bringing back loved ones, etc.” “All religions welcome,” he says. Now given life and living as we know it, a “guaranteed solution” to each of these problems is quite likely to be a money-spinner. Especially the “wealth” and "bringing back loved ones” promises. It is also no big surprise that around election time many of these spiritual advisers do good business.

Today, spiritual advisers seem to attract some respect, not much called “obeah-men or women.” Even some priests, pastors and pundits fall into this spiritual “advisory” industry. Supply responds to demand. “Spiritual advisers” with their advertised “guaranteed solutions” are local, but also coming from India, Africa and Latin America. Soon somebody will call for licensing which may well defeat the attractive mysteries of the supernatural and promiscuity trades. Surprisingly too, some still use hens and frogs as obeah items.

While the drift into the supernatural is established, I am further intrigued by the drift from uncertainty into rationality by fringes of intellectuals. Facebook warriors Kerry Rai and Clyde Weatherhead are among this list of “truth-seekers.” Kerry, as a political scientist, has a new podcast dealing with leadership, political philosophy, etc. Clyde, with politics and labour-law experience, often dips into the irrationality of our politics. So that’s the world, different kinds of people.

When ordinary home-spun or church prayers to God don’t seem to work as expected, further appeal to the supernatural becomes the option to relieve the uncertainty, frustration, grief or injustice. And, for reasons of coincidence or design, sometimes it seems to work for some people who happily spread the word. Look, frankly speaking, life has become quite uncertain in many ways. From job insecurity, broken relationships, failed ambitions, social injustice, homelessness and family discord. In fact, the only people who really know the aching grief and disappointment are those feeling it. Some go to “put a harmful light,” some kind of obeah, on someone else. Or sometimes to “cast out a blight, a bad spirit.”

The uncertainties and frustrations of life can lead to escapes into the supernatural, sexual promiscuity, crime and displaced aggression. Even into gambling. A lot of everyday frustrations come from the political and bureaucratic system, affecting both politicians and citizens. Of course, some people bring frustrations upon themselves with unpleasant consequences for both themselves and others. There are also people who can deal with frustrations, seeing them as just part of life, and often turning them into renewed determination and success.

Some retreat into isolation and depression. Our uncertainties and frustrations have grown, and so have the promises of the “spiritualist industry.” So, too, has the quest for pills, drugs, alcohol and sexual adventures. The clientele for this non-conventional “spiritual industry” comprises more women than men. For the sexual industry, more men than women. Both industries serve as relief measures for many. The irony of our so-called modern, enlightened world is how much uncertainty, frustration and recourse to the supernatural have also grown.