Crossword Genius

Bizarre scenes initially exorcising spirit (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

essence

'spirit' is the definition.
(essence can mean something's spirit or heart)

'bizarre scenes initially exorcising' is the wordplay.
'bizarre' is an anagram indicator.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'exorcising' is 'e'.
'scenes' with letters rearranged gives 'essenc'.
'essenc'+'e'='ESSENCE'

(Other definitions for essence that I've seen before include "Intrinsic nature (of something)" , "Intrinsic nature; four Dn" , "Cologne, perhaps?" , "Inner nature of anything" , "required property" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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