Master Raymond has returned to the Outlander series, and there is so much more to this character than meets the eye. The finale of Outlander season 7 placed Master Raymond at the center of its big twist, with Claire realizing that her daughter, Faith, may have lived after all. This revelation came just after Claire saw Raymond at her bedside in a vision, paying off the promise he made in Outlander season 2 that he and Claire would see one another again. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding this character, but the Outlander books have some answers.
Claire met Master Raymond back in Outlander season 2 when the man was working as an apothecary in France. The two developed a quick kinship, established by their shared love for healing and medicinal herbs and plants. When Jamie and Claire’s daughter Faith was stillborn in Outlander season 2, episode 7, Raymond used some mysterious healing powers to clear Claire’s body of the infection, saving her life. He promised her they would see each other again and reminded her to “have faith.” Now, it seems Master Raymond has finally followed up on this—but who (or what) is he really?
Master Raymond Is A Prehistoric Time Traveler
Master Raymond Is The Original Time Traveler
The Outlander books reveal that Master Raymond is a time traveler, like Claire, Brianna, Roger, Geillis, and many others in the romantasy series. However, this character is far more significant than the others who jump through time. Master Raymond originally comes from around 500 BC and is, therefore, the most ancient figure in the Outlander series. He possesses a mastery of time travel and can seemingly choose precisely what time he will land when he goes through the stones. Additionally, it’s implied in the Outlander book The Space Between that Master Raymond is immortal.
Given his ancient origins, Master Raymond is thought to be the original time traveler in Outlander. It’s likely that Claire and the others are his descendants, each having inherited their genetic ability to slip through time from the prehistoric man himself. Time travelers seem naturally drawn to Master Raymond through destiny. Or, perhaps, he seeks them out himself. Regardless, it’s clear that the strange man’s powers go beyond that of time travel.
Master Raymond Is A Blue Light Healer (Like Claire)
This Mysterious Traveler Healed Claire With His Powers
In Outlander season 2, Master Raymond demonstrated his unique healing abilities. After Claire’s miscarriage, a piece of her placenta remained festering in her uterus, and the limited medical resources of the 18th century meant she would surely die. However, Raymond snuck into the French hospital, placed his hands on Claire’s face, and asked her what she saw. Claire was graced with a vision of a bird’s wings, surrounded by a blue aura. Master Raymond explained that blue is the color of healing, and the bird’s wings would carry away her pain if she let it.
Raymond proceeded to run his hands over Claire’s body, and as he did, the bacteria spreading throughout her disappeared. Finally, he came to her womb, and between his magic and Claire’s powerful cries for Jamie, the offending piece of placenta was expelled. Claire didn’t understand what had happened, but she knew she had been healed. Master Raymond briefly explained that those with a blue aura have the ability to heal. He has mastered this skill, but there are others with a blue aura who can heal to varying effects. Claire herself has a powerful blue aura, though she hasn’t fully mastered her abilities.
Master Raymond Guides Time Travelers In The Outlander Books
Raymond Is At The Center Of Outlander’s Most Mysterious Events
Beyond Master Raymond’s mastery at healing and time traveling, he seems to play a prominent role in the destinies of other characters in Outlander. In the Outlander books, Wendigo Donner, an Indigenous American time traveler, told Claire he had been guided through time by a man named Raymond. Additionally, Claire’s own journey seems to have been manipulated by Master Raymond. It’s especially implied in Outlander season 7 that this character has a plan for Claire and has been pulling the strings to ensure she is where she needs to be at all the right moments.
Master Raymond’s Role In Outlander Season 7 Explained
Claire Was Reunited With Master Raymond (Just As He Promised)
After Claire was shot at the Battle of Monmouth in Outlander season 7, she continued to rest and recover in the church that had been used as a Continental field hospital. As she slept, Master Raymond mysteriously appeared at her bedside. This time around, he made no effort to heal Claire—she was already on the mend. Instead, he took the opportunity to apologize. When Claire asked why, he answered that she would soon know. Soon after, Claire woke up in her bed to see that Jamie was by her side. He claimed he had been there all night, so Master Raymond’s appearance must have been a dream.
Everything crashed together when Claire heard Fanny singing the 20th-century song “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,” which she had sung to her stillborn daughter years before.
Still, it certainly seems there was more to it than just this. Claire once again saw the wings she had glimpsed while Master Raymond healed her back in Outlander season 2, and this vision remained on her mind in the season 7 finale. The experience reminded Claire of the little daughter she had lost. So, when she saw that Fanny’s mother had been named Faith, it stood out in Claire’s mind. Everything crashed together when Claire heard Fanny singing the 20th-century song “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,” which she had sung to her stillborn daughter years before.
Could Master Raymond Really Have Resurrected Faith?
Master Raymond’s Powers Are Pretty Extensive
Claire comes to the conclusion in Outlander season 7, episode 16, that her daughter Faith lived. Since the baby was stillborn, and Claire held her body for hours after, this would only be possible if Master Raymond used his blue healing powers to resurrect her. Of course, rather than give Faith back to her mother, it would seem that Master Raymond had another plan for the infant. It’s implied that this is what the man was apologizing for in Claire’s vision. He knew that she would soon discover that Faith had lived but that she had been kept from Claire for the sake of some greater plan.
Still, there is no confirmation of this yet in Outlander. Master Raymond may not have been any more than a vision. Or, he might have been apologizing to Claire for the emotional upset she would experience at falsely believing that Faith might have lived. Little Fanny’s mother must have had some interaction with a time traveler, or else be one herself if she knew the song “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean she is Claire’s Faith. Outlander season 8 will have to come up with all the answers. Regardless, Master Raymond will surely have something to do with it all.