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for the elderly
in his town, Casa São
Vicente de Paulo, after
whom he was named. In
1980 he began having
serious migraine but the
medications did not
work. He ended up going
to a Spiritist
Centre to seek
help. He began
attending
regularly and
began studying
the Spiritist
Teachings. He is
now a volunteer
at the Spiritist
Centre Caminho
da Luz. He self
taught the
guitar from the
age of eight and
became a
professional
musician in
1978. He travels
around Brazil
and the world
giving his
musical
Spiritist talks.
Vansan has
already produced
35 CDs and one
DVD, as he
explains in the
following
interview: |
What was your
motivation to
work with
Spiritist art?
Tell us more
about your
work.
I was advised by
my own doctor in
1980 to go to a
Spiritist
Centre. Having
received the
precious
medicine that
was the Gospel
of Jesus, I
developed my
mediumship and
began working
with spiritual
attachment (or
spiritual
obsession) and
also on other
charity work.
Later I was
advised to begin
playing the
guitar during
healing, to help
us get a better
vibration. Until
one day I
received
guidance from
the Spiritual
Benefactors to
begin the task
of using music
for
evangelization –
the LOVE MUSICAL
THERAPY. I am
glad that I have
been carrying
out this work
for over 10
years.
How did you
begin carrying
out that task?
I had been
invited to play
in several
cities and towns
in the state of
São Paulo to
harmonise the
vibrations ahead
of talks by a
well-known
Spiritist
speaker. He was
going to speak
on 10 different
days. But he
fell ill and
couldn’t attend.
Our host told me
to carry on with
the original
programme, only
he would do the
talks. We went
first to a very
small town,
where people
didn’t have many
resources. They
were mesmerized
with the songs I
was singing
before the talk.
Then the host
came to me and
said in my year
– I am not
going to break
the spell. The
night is yours.
The lesson from
the Gospel
tonight is about
family ties.
Tell them what
you know about
it and sing
within that
there. And
that was what I
did, following
my instinct, and
I was very
pleased with the
result. He liked
it to and asked
me to do the
same during the
same in the
other cities we
were due to
visit. The
MUSICAL GOSPEL
was born there.
I talk about
issues
concerning
Spiritism and
illustrate with
songs that
complement the
messages. People
sing along and
get all
surrounded by
the same
vibration. It is
very gratifying.
I thank God
every day for
confiding me
this task.
How do you
choose your
repertoire?
My repertoire is
quite varied. As
the Spirits’
Book tells
us, “the content
of the message
is what
matters”. I
choose the songs
by the message
they convey and
by their melody,
so that they can
help us elevate
our thoughts. I
sing songs by
Spiritis
authors, from
other religions
and even from
people who are
not affiliated
to any religion.
I have also
written many
songs and I make
versions of well
known Brazilian
and
international
songs too. Our
aim is to take
consolation,
peace, happiness
and strength to
people, turning
out songs and
words in tools
to get them
closer to God. I
am guided by the
Spiritual
Benefactors. I
don’t usually
chose my
repertoire
before the event
starts. And I
often hear from
people in the
audience:
that song told
me what I needed
to hear today!
There are
many accounts of
people who were
feeling unwell
or even
experienced
physical pain
that that left
the room after
the songs
feeling better.
Others say they
went to the
talks
considering
suicide and
changed their
minds after
listening to the
music.
What are the
main positive
points and the
main challenges
that you face in
your task?
The challenges
are the same
faced by every
Spiritist
worker. In most
cases I am
warmly welcomed
wherever I go
and I find a
climate of
happiness and
fraternity
around me. The
greatest
blessing we get
is the Spiritual
protection from
the Benefactors.
The challenges
are the same for
all Christians.
We need to
overcome the
barriers of
human
imperfection,
especially ours.
We need to pray
often so that we
don’t fall into
the trap of
vanity, pride
and selfishness.
And avoid making
the wrong
choices, so that
we are not
manipulated by
badly
intentioned
Spirits who wish
to divert us
from our task.
But above all we
must trust.
Jesus is our
great source of
inspiration.
What role do
song writers,
artists, writers
and Spiritist
leaders play in
improving and
securing the
quality of
artistic
Spiritist work?
Many books in
Spiritist
literature
remind us of the
importance music
has in Spiritist
activities.
Elevated music
has the capacity
to take us to a
higher sphere.
When it is
associated with
poetry, the
harmony is
complete. It is
our duty, as
artists and
mediums, to pray
and be vigilant,
to make the
right choices
and to be
vigilant as to
whom we connect
with, so that
our art work can
remain as a
channel
connecting us
with God. Many
incarnate and
discarnate
brothers and
sisters have
changed their
attitudes after
being touched by
the arts. They
have opened
themselves up to
receive help and
to become
valuable,
important
workers. Art is
the expression
of beauty in its
most complex
aspect. Beauty
inspires us to
understand again
that we are
godly beings
created for
love.
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