“All of a sudden, Natasha introduced a new topic, ‘Have you ever heard about voodoo?’ she asked me. ‘Yes, but I’ve never done anything like that,’ I answered. ‘And what about shamanism?’ ‘I shiver with fear at the thought of doing a shamanistic ritual. But I’d like to know more about the Australian Aboriginals. It is said that they have special powers.’
“Natasha went on, ‘Did you study only the Catholic religion, or did you experience other religions?’ ‘I’ve studied many religions, from the mainstream to the small ones. At the moment, I am studying Scientology and a religion called Eckankar. The latter practices spiritual exercises by uttering the word HU, an ancient name of God.’ ‘I don’t know Eckankar. I attended a Buddhist center where we chanted mantras. What changed my life was an experience I had in Amsterdam one day. At that time, my mother was in hospital. It was a difficult moment in my life. A friend of mine asked me to go to Amsterdam with her. That travel was the turning point in my life.’
“I stopped eating and turned to Natasha with increasing interest. She continued, ‘When I arrived in Amsterdam, I called the hospital and asked about my mother. Everything was okay. Then, my friend took me to a place where almost three hundred people were participating in a kind of ritual. In the middle of the room, there was a table on which the Seal of Solomon was drawn. A cross was on the Seal of Solomon. Some persons from the Amazon rainforest came in with a drink. We chanted and prayed for a good while. Then I drank the beverage they handed to me. Soon after drinking it, I felt like dying. Everything became dark. Suddenly, many doors appeared in front of me and the name of a religion was written on each door, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and so on. I entered the door of the Christians. I followed a dark tunnel for a while, and then a great light appeared. All the symbols of religions disappeared, and I saw Jesus standing in front of me. I looked at him and stood in awe of him. Afterwards, I opened my mouth. I am Jewish, I said. Why are you worried? I am Jewish too, Jesus answered. From that day on, I went to Amsterdam many times to attend the meetings. Once more Jesus appeared to me and said, Why do you come here? It’s enough for you to observe the seven sacraments. Hearing Jesus’s words, I realized that I ought to follow another way, but which? My lineage was Jewish. I wanted to be Christian. But which branch? Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant? I had also the option to practice Judaism, for my parents were both Jewish.’…

“Giovanna wanted Natasha to continue to tell about her experience in Amsterdam. So she asked Natasha, ‘What happened when Jesus said to you that the seven sacraments were enough? Which was your choice?’ ‘I opted for the Catholic religion and was baptized.’ ‘I want to know something about the religious group you met in Amsterdam. You said that it changed your life. Does this religion still exist?’ I asked Natasha. ‘Yes, it does. It is illegal in many countries. Many trials are under way. But in Holland it is legal,’ Natasha answered.”
“Uncle Salvatore, it seems that there is a kind of persecution against this religion. It is anachronistic nowadays, isn’t it?”
“No. There is no persecution. Natasha said that the problems arose from the compound of the holy beverage she drank. In Holland it was analyzed. They found a small amount of hallucinogen in the drink. The judgment was pro the religious group. In other countries like Germany and Italy, the trials were in progress. ‘What is the name of this religion?’ I asked her. ‘I can tell you the name. It is Santo Daime. It is widespread. You have it in Italy, too. A lady who had been diagnosed with brain cancer brought this religion to Holland. According to the doctors, she had only two months left to live. She went to Brazil and met the Santo Daime group in the forest. She stayed with them there for some time. When she returned to Holland, the cancer had already disappeared. The government of Brazil sent fifty special experts to the forest to study the Santo Daime phenomenon. When they wrote their report, they couldn’t find anything bad and even they became involved in the religious practices of the Santo Daime.’

This is an excerpt from The Vibrations of Words: second edition by Ettore Grillo
Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo