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Mediumship practiced in the light of Spiritism is a permanent source of blessings and harmony
"(...) Before becoming a medium of common phenomena, do not forget that everyone who gives himself the simplest collaboration in the work of good is Jesus' instrument in the improvement of the world". – Agar1
Mediumship allows the confirmation of two basic points of Spiritism: The Communicability of Spirits and the Immortality of the Soul. It is rooted in the "Comforter" aspect of the Doctrine of Spirits, since there is no greater joy that a heart ulcerated by the pain of separation can receive, than the proof of the survival, beyond the grave, of a loved one that left behind an emptiness not capable of being filled by its physical presence.
Without fear of mistake, we can say that mediumship is the mother of the Spiritist Doctrine; and we can also conclude in the same way that - nowadays - the daughter (Spiritist Doctrine), already emancipated, must take great care of her mother (mediumship).
In unison with the Master of Lyon, Alberto adds2: “(...) mediumship is a blessing in any aspect considered, because it makes available the confirmation of the survival of the Spirit over the molecular disjunction; this is fundamental for a behavior compatible with the factors that generate happiness. Soon after, it offers valuable opportunities for the exercise of self-illumination, based on the instructions – given by the medium as a carrier - and practicing them first for himself, and then for others. Finally, being able to exercise a special type of charity, which is to assist in clarifying those who linger in ignorance of their reality after disincarnating, gaining exceptional friends and brothers, who become part of his affectivity. Mediumship, therefore - exercised with the logic derived from the Kardec’s Coding, constitutes a valuable asset for enlightenment and peace. The medium, therefore, is a transient recipient of unique opportunities for fullness, and the levity of using this noble resource in a compromising, vulgar, senseless manner cannot be allowed...
Joanna de Ângelis3 reminds us of the following: “(...) the apostle Paul correctly stated that there is a diversity of gifts, but the spirit is the same (Cor. 15: 4-10), thanks to which the phenomena that come from God, through the word of wisdom, writing, prophecy, languages, healing, all as a manifestation of the Spirit. Later, on the occasion of the Codification of Spiritism, Allan Kardec, studying mediumistic faculties, demonstrated that they present themselves with variety and polymorphism. Even when it is an expression that typifies it in all individuals, it varies in quality according to the instrument by which it manifests itself.
(...) Mediumship is a neutral faculty, presenting itself through both dignified and frivolous people. The phenomena it produces always result from the moral qualities of its bearers.
It is understandable, therefore, that the mediumistic mandate is embedded in enlightenment and spiritual wholeness in everyone who wishes to live with wisdom, especially when he is committed to the Spiritist activity.
The medium should never allow himself to be systematically in tune with the entities of vulgar conduct, aiming to distract and please the public, both idle and irresponsible, always ready for the championship of frivolity. Never forget that mediumship should be considered as a holy instrument and that it should be used in a holy and religious way.
Mediumship is a bridge through which immortals return to living with reincarnated creatures, warning them, comforting them, preparing them for survival to death.
To channel its energies in a wise and elevated manner is an unquestionable duty of everyone who, as an ostensive or a natural medium, has one or more mediumistic facets.
Become truthful, and the phenomena through you, as an intermediary, will be authentic. Make yourself responsible and serious, and the medium occurrences that you give rise to will deserve credibility and consideration. Live as recommended by the noble Spirits, and those who participate in your mediumistic experiences will strive to live properly. Exercise charity and renunciation, helping yourself and your neighbor, and the good Spirits will elect you to instruct in their ministry of human enlightenment... Jesus, as the Medium of God, fully lived what He taught in order to seek heavenly glory”.
Léon Denis teaches4: “nothing truly important can be acquired without work... A slow and laborious initiation is imposed on those who seek superior goods. Like all things, the training and exercise of mediumship encounter difficulties, many times already mentioned; we should insist on this, in order to warn the mediums against false interpretations.
Causes of Error and Discouragement
Since, through a preparatory work, the medium's faculties acquire a certain flexibility, the results that at the beginning are obtained are almost always due to the relations established with the lower elements of the invisible world. A multitude of Spirits surround us, always eager to communicate with us. This crowd is - above all - composed of souls that are not very advanced, of lightheaded Spirits, sometimes evil, and the density of their own fluids keeps them tied to the Earth. The elevated intelligences, animated by noble aspirations, coated with subtle fluids, do not remain enslaved to our atmosphere after carnal separation takes place: they go higher, to regions that their degree of advance indicates to them. From there they descend to Earth many times - it is true - to watch over the beings that are dear to them; meddle with us, but only for a useful purpose and in important cases, which means that beginners almost never get nothing but worthless communications, mockery, trivial, sometimes inconvenient responses, which make them impatient and discourage them... in other cases the inexperienced medium receives dictations signed by famous names, containing apocryphal revelations that capture his confidence and fill him with enthusiasm. The invisible inspirer, knowing his vulnerable sides, flatters his self-love and opinions, overexcites his vanity, showering him with praise and promising him wonders. Little by little, he is deviating from any other influence, from any enlightened examination and leads him to insulate himself in his work. It is the beginning of an obsession, of an exclusive domain, which can lead the medium to deplorable results.
These dangers were, since the beginning of Spiritism, pointed out by Allan Kardec; every day, we are still seeing mediums get carried away by the suggestions of deceitful Spirits and fall victim to mystifications that make them ridiculous.
Initial care
Many disappointments and annoyances would be avoided if it were understood that mediumship goes through successive phases, and that, in the initial period of development, the medium is, above all, assisted by Spirits of a lower order, whose fluids, still impregnated with matter, adapt better to his and they are appropriate to this more or less prolonged sketch work, to which every faculty is subject.
Only later, when the mediumistic faculty - sufficiently developed - acquired the necessary malleability, and the instrument became soft, can the High Spirits intervene and use it for a moral and intellectual purpose.
The period of exercise, of preparatory work, so fertile often in gross manifestations and mystifications, is, therefore, a normal phase of development of mediumship: it is a school in which our patience and discernment are exercised, in which we learn to become familiar with the way of life of the inhabitants of the Hereafter. In this phase of proof and elementary study, the medium must always be on guard and never depart from a prudent reserve. It is necessary to carefully avoid idle or self-interested questions, jokes, all in short that has a frivolous character and attracts frivolous Spirits.
We must not let ourselves be weakened by the mediocrity of the first results, by the abstention and apparent indifference of our Friends from Space. Beginning mediums, be sure that someone watches over you and that your perseverance is put to the test. When you have reached the required point, higher influences will come to you and your psychic education will continue.
Mediumship: A Sacred Gift from Heaven
Do not look to mediumship for an objective of mere curiosity or simple amusement; preferably consider it a gift from Heaven, a sacred thing, which you must use with respect, for the sake of your fellow men. Raise your thoughts to generous souls who work for the progress of humanity; they will come to you and support and protect you. Thanks to them, the difficulties of the beginning, the inevitable disappointments that you will experience will not have unpleasant consequences; they will serve to clarify your reason and develop your fluidic forces.
Good mediumship is formed slowly, in a calm, silent, withdrawn study, far from worldly pleasures and the tumult of passions. After a period of preparation and expectation, the medium reaps the fruit of his persevering efforts: He receives from the elevated Spirits the consecration of his faculties, matured in the sanctuary of his soul, under the suggestions of pride. If you keep in your heart the purity of act and intention, you will come, with the assistance of your guides, to become a very useful co-worker in the work of regeneration they have been carrying out.
After the first phase of the development of his faculties is finished, the important thing for the medium is to obtain the protection of a good, advanced Spirit, who guides, inspires and preserves him from any danger.
Most of the time, he is a relative, a missing friend who performs these functions with him. A father, a mother, a wife, a son, if they have acquired the necessary experience and advancement, they can direct us in the delicate exercise of mediumship. But their power is proportioned to the degree of elevation they have reached, and their tenderness and solicitude are not always enough to defend us from the onslaught of inferior Spirits.
Worthy of praise are the mediums who, due to their lack of interest and deep faith, have been able to attract, as a kind of allies, the best quality Spirits, and participate in their mission. To lower these Spirits from the exquisite regions; to decide to immerse you in our thick atmosphere, you need to offer them skills, remarkable qualities. Their ardent desire to work on the regeneration of mankind, however, makes this intervention much less rare than one might imagine.
End of the first part - continues in the next edition.
2 - FRANCO, Divaldo. Tormentos da Obsessão (Torments of Obsession). Salvador: LEAL, 2001, cap. “Informações Preciosas” (Precious Information), p. 89-100.
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