In the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) church, the concept of spiritual power is conveyed not only through ritual texts of prayers and visions but also through the personal experience of possession by the Holy Spirit, which underscores these understandings. While spirit possession has been extensively studied in small-scale societies, it has rarely been related to the study of the Spirit in African Initiated Churches (AICs) or Pentecostal churches. The case of Aladura, which emerged from a Yoruba ritual tradition into Christian monotheism, invites comparisons and suggests connections between developments in the conception of the possessing power and individuals' experience of their changing society.
In a Nigerian church community, visioners offer both public revelations during services and private consultations for individuals seeking guidance. When a sister receives a message in a Sunday service, she may seek further direction through her own dreams or by meeting privately with a visioner, who prays and provides revelatory guidance. Visioners encourage clients to engage with the church while also addressing personal needs. In private sessions, visioners reveal God's messages and recommend prayer and ritual actions, deploying spiritual power similar to a babalawo. This chapter focuses on the private divinatory practice of visioners and their use of spiritual power.