Psychic Phenomena of Jamaica

Psychic Phenomena of Jamaica is a book by Joseph J. Williams, first published in 1934. It presents an anthropological exploration of supernatural beliefs, witchcraft, magic, ghosts, funerary customs, poltergeists, and related psychic phenomena as found in Jamaican culture.

Drawing from many years of fieldwork and local testimony, the author examines not only how these beliefs manifest, but how they intersect with African influences such as Ashanti culture, colonial history, social mores and spiritual life in Jamaica. Williams takes a scholarly yet descriptive approach, structuring the book into chapters covering topics such as the influence of Ashanti traditions, various forms of applied magic, belief in ghosts, funeral rituals, and claimed experiences of poltergeist phenomena.

The work serves as both a document of folkloric and vernacular spiritual tradition and an early attempt to engage with “paranormal” occurrences from a cultural, historical, and anthropological perspective. It has influenced later studies in Caribbean folklore, comparative religion, magic and witchcraft studies, and remains relevant for readers interested in occult history, Jamaican cultural heritage, voodoo, spiritual beliefs, and the psychology of belief.