Background:

Anomalous experiences lived by spirit mediums are an object of interest in cross-cultural psychiatry, due to the need to differentiate between Religious / Spiritual experiences and pathological experiences.

Aim:

to describe and understand the experiences about anomalous experiences narrated by Brazilian spirit mediums from the perspective of phenomenology and transcultural psychiatry.

Methods:

This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach that used narrative as the methodology of data collection and phenomenological according to Ricoeur (1978) as a theoretical-methodological reference. In-depth interviews were conducted through a semi-structured script with four spiritist mediums.

Results:

Mediumistic experiences were varied and with peculiar characteristics. Characteristics generally associated with mental disorders were perceived. The beginning of the experiences of anomalous experiences caused fear, suffering and a feeling of social inadequacy.

Conclusions:

The experiences of anomalous experiences were similar to the experiences of mental disorders and religious practice was positive and provoked feelings of acceptance and resilience.