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Politics : Evolution -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Solon who wrote (14985)	3/29/2011 6:45:54 PM
From: LLCF	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 69300

Jesus as a parrot.... by Brummar! Message 27272145 DAK

To: Solon who wrote (14985)	6/13/2011 11:03:38 AM
From: average joe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 69300

Covered in dirt and surrounded by fire: Exorcist cures the 'possessed' of Colombia in bizarre ritual ceremony By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 1:22 PM on 2nd June 2011 With willing participants covered in dirt and surrounded by fire, it is not exactly a conventional religious or spiritual ceremony. But the bizarre scenes are part of a 20-year exorcism tradition led by the mysterious 'Brother Hermes', who claims the ritual rids people of evil spirits. The Colombian exorcisms see people dressed entirely in white before lying across a stretch of dirt in between red and yellow marker posts. Ritual: A participant takes part in the bizarre Colombian 'exorcism' led by Brother Hermes, who claims to have the ability to ward off evil spirits Unorthodox: Eduardo Moreno, 55, who claims to be possessed by spirits, was prepared to be subjected to a Brother Hermes exorcism The 50-year-old spiritual leader, who real name is Hermes Cifuentes, also covers participants with black dirt from head to toe and makes them stand in a deep dirt hole during parts of the ceremony. Whether Brother Hermes's questionable methods get results it is difficult to say, but the spiritual leader is clearly doing something right judging by the high demand for his services. Participants place a lot of faith in the work of the spiritual leader by lying in the dirt surrounded by flames. Firestarter: Brother Hermes performs an exorcism on Claudia Gaviria, 28, with the help of a ring of fire and some carefully tied ribbons Cleansed: Claudia Gaviria, 28, reacts to the healing power of Brother Hermes as the ritual comes to an end Rid of evil spirits: Unusual props in Brother Hermes's rituals include dirt and eggs It is thought that around 10 people each week at his site in La Cumbre, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, to consult Brother Hermes and practice rituals of healing and exorcism. Many also have their eyes covered with blackened bandages and are stood inbetween strips of green and white ribbon as Brother Hermes works his 'magic'. And to complete the thoroughly bizarre look to proceedings, participants are seen surrounded by candles and fruit, with eggs placed on their heads. The healer then performs his own well-established rituals on people by placing his hands carefully on their bodies and heads. Healing hands: Participants are often surrounded by candles and dirt during the unusual ceremony Preparation: Brother Hermes readies himself for another ceremony in a room filled with religious symbols and candles dailymail.co.uk