The thought above is by Lânio Silvério Thomáz (photo), a businessman who was born in the Brazilian city of Anápolis and lives in Luziânia, in the state of Goiás. He became a Spiritist in 2005 and has dedicated his time to Spiritist music. He is a volunteer worker at the CEPAC Spiritist Centre (which stands for Love, Peace and Charity) in Luziânia. Since 2008, he has followed the Spiritist speaker, Ruy Meirelles, in a literary and musical partnership, as he explains in the following interview.
Tell us about your experience in Spiritism.
I was always curious about Spiritism, but I had a great deal of prejudice as I came from a devout Roman Catholic family. I used to criticise and condemn Spiritism without knowing anything about it. My first contact came through my wife, Silvana, who was a Spiritist. But when I first met her, I made her promise me that she would never invite me to a Spiritist Centre. She was disappointed, but respected my request. It didn’t take long, however, for me to accept Spiritism. It happened thanks to a vision a medium and speaker, Antônia Neri, had about me.
Where does your passion for music come from?
From a very young age I was passionate about music and I was obsessed about the idea of learning to play the guitar. While the children played, all I thought about was the guitar I wanted to play and I kept asking my dad to buy me a guitar. I finally got one from my mother at the age of 12. My uncle sold it to her and eventually taught me how to play. At the age of 17, I formed a country duo and began playing in bars and gigs. We became quite well-known in the area. When I was 27, I met my future wife, Silvana, and three months later I began doing the opening singing performance ahead of Spiritist meetings in a duo with Pauline, a singer, at Brasília's Comunhão Espírita. And I haven’t looked back since.
How important, do you think, art is for a Spiritist Centre?
I think art is essential in Spiritist Centres. And I believe that the Spiritist Movement should value that a little bit more, as music is a great help to people and cleanses the ambience. Depending on the state the person is, only music is able to calm them down. As a matter of fact, I have many times felt the presence of friendly Spirits next to me when I was singing. Spiritist speakers say they feel more balanced when someone sings in the venue before they start their talk or lecture.
Tell us a bit more about your work as a musician.
I have recorded two CDs. The first one, called Consolando (Consoling), was released in 2009. The second one was only finalised in February 2020, after a long and complicated process that began at the end of 2015. It was a big challenge, but every moment was worth it.
How important do you think music is for the work of Spiritist Centres?
In the anguishing times we are going through, music is like a balsam that helps ease the tension ahead of Spiritist talks as well as during study groups. It harmonises the ambience, calms people down and helps the work carried out by speakers. All music works as self-help. It is one of the most important tools that we have because it touches the hearts and souls of people very easily. I think music reaches corners of our hearts that words of wisdom and comfort very often can’t do.
What should songwriters, artists in general, writers and those in charge of Spiritist Centres do to improve the quality of the art production in their area?
All those mentioned above have a crucial role to play. As I said before, the quality of Spiritist music is not good. Spiritist songs are not well produced, well arranged, well played or well sung. There is a real shortage of good Spiritist songwriters and people who make music with their hearts.
What are your plans concerning Spiritist art?
I intend to carry on singing and taking my music to as many people as possible for many, many years to come and, of course, to record new CDs. That is my way of contributing to good causes and to the Gospel of love. My plan is to travel around Brazil and perhaps attend an international Spiritist congress, taking my work with me. It is plain and simple music, but it’s done with much love and care.

Editor’s Note:

You can find the songs by our guest on the YouTube channel “LÂNIO THOMÁZ Consolando Corações”:clik