Igerot ha-remez (Epistles of the Secret)

To Diagnose Spirit Possession or Madness

Regarding that evil spirit in the woman in Turin, of whose case you have informed me: You have already performed the Order [exorcism] of the R. Isaac Luria (The Ari), may his memory live on in the world to come, for her, which neither helped nor produced lasting results.

This surprised me, for this intention [kavanah] has great power to subjugate the spirit to the strong Judgments, particularly given his being from Sitra aḥra [lit., “the Other Side,” viz., the demonic realm], as you have inferred from his name.

You did not, however, inform me of the signs that indicate that it is to be diagnosed as a spirit rather than as madness. The outstanding sign that a spirit is present [and not madness] is when his voice is heard through a part of the body other than the mouth, and when his location is seen in the swelling of some place like the throat, the breasts of a woman, and the like. Some of them also say something regarding the future.

In any case, you may afflict it through the burning of sulfurous wicks. If, when the smoke reaches the nostrils, it becomes angry and enraged, continue [to apply the smoke] and say the verse, He will rain down upon the wicked blazing coals [and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.] (Psalms 11:6).

If he has not been subdued into declaring himself, have ten scholars and God-fearers assemble. The greatest of them should first ritually bathe, and all should don phylacteries. When they come to them [sic] they should begin [saying] May the pleasantness (Psalms 90:17) quietly, and when they say only with your eyes will you behold (Psalms 91:8) they should intend the name KhH”Th¹ according to the words of the Ari. Afterwards, they should all say “It is incumbent upon us to praise, etc.” with the known kavanot, and also “And therefore we hope to you, etc.” When they reach “But we bow down,” one of them should blast a great blast [from a shofar]. After this, they should all say the verse: Appoint over him a wicked man, [and may Satan stand at his right] (Psalms 109:6) and intend the kavanot of the judgments alluded within it. They should all look in his face when saying this verse forward and backwards. If he is not subdued, the greatest should powerfully fortify himself, with great concentrated kavanah, and say in his ear the verse “Appoint” with its vocalizations, forward and backwards, with the kavanah of all the names.

Everything must be prepared before him in writing, lest there be anything whatsoever missing of the names or the kavanot, in the first letters, or the last letters, or the middle letters. If any change or sign of submission is seen in him, repeat the verse and its kavanah two or three times, along with similar material like the amulet I gave to the friend of God, R. Benjamin Kohen of Reggio, according to the Ari, of blessed memory. You should write it in purity upon clean parchment and hang it upon her to help her.

If none of this helps, let me know if there are any of the signs I have mentioned, and whether she tears her clothing, or whether her form changes, her eyes are bloodshot, and so forth—all the details you can specify. Then I will know what to do for her.