Cain, John (1931-1985)

A British spiritual healer. Born on April 21, 1931 in Eastham, Wirral, England, he manifested healing ability at the age of six, when he used to stroke his mother's forehead to relieve her attacks of migraine. After his twenty-first birthday, he joined the Royal Ordnance Corp of the British army as a physical training instructor; he also acquired a reputation for his skill in massage and manipulation. He left the army in 1952, worked in the shipyard at Birkenhead, then worked at window cleaning, logging, and site demolition.

In 1956 he started his own business as a blacksmith and became financially successful, employing 30 people and driving a Rolls Royce. In the same year, he married. Haunted by the thought that he was born to heal, he lost interest in the business. One morning, his anxieties were dispelled by an ecstatic mood of peace, and he heard the voice of his dead father saying, "Do not worry; born to heal, Dad." In 1972 Cain became a full-time spiritual healer, treating a wide variety of disabilities. These included arthritis, diabetes, paralysis, hardening of the arteries, cervical spondilitis, and malignant growths.

Cain was an unconventional healer. He appeared to put people into an altered state of consciousness during which there seemed to be spontaneous improvement. Sometimes sufferers from muscular problems got up and danced; others performed what appeared to be yoga exercises. Cain believed spirit guides controlled his healing, and these were identified independently by other psychic mediums. Although Cain sometimes physically touched people, a great many of his cures were effected without any direct contact. He occasionally practiced absent healing.

Cain was investigated by parapsychologists and performed healing under laboratory conditions. He was tested by Japanese researchers in Tokyo in 1976, and also by Prof. John Taylor in London. In spite of Taylor's skepticism about paranormal phenomena, his findings on Cain's healing powers were positive. Cain also demonstrated successful healing sessions in Canada at Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Cain died in September 28, 1985, only a few days after publisher Peter Bander had approached him to discuss a second edition of the book Heal, My Son! He was one of the most celebrated British healers, whose talents were widely endorsed.

Sources:

Green, Peter. Heal, My Son! The Amazing Story of John Cain. London: Van Duren, 1977.

Sykes, Pat. You Don't Know John Cain? London: Van Duren, 1980.