Leila Braga D'Ambrósio (photo) lives in the Brazilian city of Araraquara, in the state of São Paulo. She is a psychologist and a volunteer worker at the Obreiros do Bem Spiritist Centre, where she is the coordinator of study groups. In the following interview, she speaks about the importance of getting together to study the books from the Psychological Series written by the Spirit, Joanna de Ângelis, through the mediumship of Divaldo Franco.

Can we say that Psychology is the greatest ally of Spiritism?

Yes, the two walk together. Jesus, our Divine model, was and will always be our Greatest Psychologist. He gave us the Law of Love, which shows that without achieving self-conscience we won’t be able to reach perfection. The Gospel urges individuals to change their behaviour and attitudes. Psychology will give them the necessary tools to proceed on this journey, so they can continue to improve and eventually gain the peace we need to become who we really need to be in this world.

What do you think are the main dramas that we can go through in life?

The dramas and suffering we are currently going through are still the direct result of our ignorance, which makes so many of us prioritise material values over spiritual principles. As a result, selfishness and pride prevail, which makes us lose the true sense of our existence. We are still learning to love. We haven’t reached spiritual or psychological maturity. And, thus, we go on living our lives with the wrong approach and attitude. As a consequence of the Law of Return, when we do that we will go through difficult experiences in the future, so we can learn a lesson and improve. A psychologically mature person wants to love. An immature person wants to be loved.

How did Joanna de Ângelis begin writing what became known as her Psychological Series?

Divaldo Franco noticed at some point that the texts she was writing through his mediumship were beginning to change. She began using words and expressions clearly associated with the studies of Psychology. She then explained to him that she would produce a body of work that would suggest a set of behaviours to encourage humanity to get better emotional health. The aim was to help individuals on their journey towards spiritual development. That’s how her Psychological Series began, with 16 books in total.

How do the study groups that focus on her work are organised?

There’s been growing interest in recent years over the works of Joanna de Ângelis, especially her books on Psychology. Many groups across Brazil are dedicated to study her books, and they have different methods and approaches. Many use resources like videoconferences and YouTube channels. I recommend a series of classes recorded at Mansão do Caminho, the charity founded by Divaldo. You can easily Google it. I suggest that anyone who planning to start a new study group to get in touch with Mansão do Caminho for guidance, or with other older study groups that focus on the Psychological Series.

What results have those study groups yielded? Should we only study her work in group?

The aim of those study groups is to provide us with safe guidelines so we can reach our psychological maturity. And I believe we have been achieving that, both collectively and as individuals. That is the law of progress. By studying in groups, it will be easier for us to understand some of the more difficult concepts of her work. We gain more time to familiarise with the terms, then the language and finally to understand the concepts more easily.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about the books of the Psychological Series?

Joanna de Ângelis offers a new take on the work of the great thinker, the Father of Analytical Psychology, Carl Gustav Jung. She highlights the importance for humankind of keeping a physical and psychological balance to eventually reach a stage of wellbeing and peace. Her books contain important concepts of Transpersonal Psychology, making a connection with Spiritist Psychology. In the Spirit World, Joanna de Ângelis took part in the reincarnation process of Freud and Jung.

Do you think it is important to understand her work and even to overcome personal dramas to have open questions and answers in study groups? Why?

The study and the practice of her work encourage us to know ourselves and facilitate the process of individuation. When we achieve self-conscience we accept responsibility for our existence in its true sense. That makes it easier for us simply to be the being that we came her to be.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The work of the Great Benefactor, Joanna de Ângelis, sheds light on the concept of the psyche, helping us with such deep reflections and experiences that our quality of life improves as we read her books. “What you deny subjugates you. What you accept transforms you.” (Carl Gustav Jung)