Rosana Voigt Silveira (photo) is a counsellor at IDEAK, the Allan Kardec Institute of Spiritist Dissemination. She has been married for 31 years and is the mother of two daughters. She is also a teacher, translator and manager at Brazil’s state-owned bank, Banco do Brasil. She did an MBA in Business at the UFRGs in Brazil and did a further degree at the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain.  She began studying Spiritism in 1991 and has taken part in activities at many Spiritist groups in Brazil and abroad. She translated into Portuguese the book, A Luz do Caminho, by Amalia Domingo Soler, and has recently published Kardec para Mulheres (Kardec for Women).

In this interview, she speaks about her recently-published book, Kardec for Women, and other issues.

When did you become a Spiritist?

During my childhood and youth, I used to go both to the Catholic Church, taken by my mother, and to the Lutheran Church, influenced by my father. But I was always very curious about spiritual matters. My first contact with Spiritism came in 1986, when my then boyfriend, José Miguel, gave me The Gospel According to Spiritism. I began attending a Spiritist Centre and study the Teachings in 1991, after moving to the city of Londrina.

When did you begin feeling the urge to write?

I don’t consider myself a writer. The two books were produced without much prior preparation. The first on,A Luz do Caminho, was translated at the request of my friend, Astolfo Olegário. Amalia Domingo Soler was indeed a great Spanish writer, a woman ahead of her time. The book I’m launching now is basically a research on the work of Allan Kardec. I didn’t have the pretension of explaining his books. I only organised the book using his texts as answers to a number of questions that I had.

How long did it take for you to write this book?

It took me about two years, between the first time when my friend Lilian Massi challenged me and the publication. That is how long it took me to research the issues and find the relevant answers in the work of Allan Kardec.

The title of the book, Kardec para Mulheres (Kardec for Women), caught my attention immediately. Tell us a bit more about you are aiming to achieve.  

I always heard many questions, particularly from women, in the study groups, talks, and daily chats with friends, colleagues and relatives. They asked questions about specific problems, their concerns and doubts. With the huge changes society is experiencing, we are facing new problems, which I never had to deal with it. And dealing with the new is always difficult. The question I heard more often was: “What does Spiritism say about this?”. Rights, equality, work, family, children, divorce, abortion, violence, happiness, illnesses, cure, mediumship, friendship and other issues were frequently mentioned. After carrying out a long research in the works of Kardec about the rich and beautiful female universe, I managed to produce 55 chapters. They deal with issues that matter specifically to women. I can say then that this is “Kardec speaking to the women”. It is not, obviously, a book for women only, as we know that Spirits have no gender. What we aim to do here is to encourage everyone to study Spiritism and use the Teachings to build a happier life.

What are your next plans and projects?

I do believe that Spiritism can help us have a better life on Earth and also return to the Spiritual World in a better condition, having progressed a bit. I always try to encourage people to study and to put into practice the Teachings. That is what I have been trying to do in my life, but I know it is not easy. On the IDEAK website, www.ideak.com.br, we have a few projects to help the dissemination of Spiritism. I want people to know more about Allan Kardec, this noble Spirit, who has done so much for humankind.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to the our friends at O Consolador magazine and to ask the Spiritual Benefactors to inspire us so we can find the pathway to light. Let us study, always, and be happy today! Thank you very much!

Translation: 

Leonardo Rocha - l.rocha1989@gmail.com