Black Beryl Spirit Possession and Chinese Medicine Anti-Psychiatry, with Brandt Stickley
Jan 1, 2026
Brandt Stickley, an Associate Professor specializing in classical Chinese medicine, shares his unique approach to addressing mental health through spirit-based healing. He dives into the concept of 'Chinese medicine anti-psychiatry,' emphasizing the role of acupuncture in exorcising spirits. Topics include the dynamics of personal and mass possession, the historical tension between qi and spirit entities, and practical strategies for engaging with spirits nonviolently. Brandt also discusses the importance of meditation and ethical considerations in spiritual practices.
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Non-Pathologizing Chinese Medicine Psychiatry
- Brandt frames 'anti-psychiatry' as a non-pathologizing, non-dual approach rooted in Chinese medicine principles.
- He argues mental states are simultaneous with physiology and should be treated within the whole-body energetic context.
Body As The Primary Access Point
- Brandt emphasizes the body as the primary access point to the mind, with sensation as the shared language of awareness and the body.
- He stresses simultaneity: mental and physical processes arise together and are transformed via bodily change.
Yin and Yang As Processes
- He reframes yin and yang as dynamic processes (expansion/contraction) rather than static qualities.
- This process view supports attending to nascent states before they condense into pathology.