"If death were really the end of everything, this would
be a great deal for the wicked, because when they died
they would have canceled all the evils not only of their
body, but of their soul." (Sócrates)
The influence
of the arts on our earthly trajectory has always been
noticed and copied. The universal success of the great
classics through the centuries is a fact. In this month
of September, the media agreed to talk about the “yellow
September”, regarding those who attempt or interrupt
their lives in the physical body. I propose a brief
reflection on two magnificent works that have
significantly marked our history.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, in 1774, wrote a novel
entitled “The Sorrows of Young Werther”,
narrating a tragic story in which young Werther, loved
Charlot who also loved him, but married Albert. This
event deeply shakes the psychic and emotional structures
of the young man who takes his own life using the
executioner's weapon.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in 1791, composes “Magic
Flute”, an opera whose character, Papageno, afraid
of losing the woman he loves, Papagena, decides not to
live any longer, since she was the only reason to
continue living. Close friends manage to dissuade him
from the idea by presenting other alternatives for the
outcome of the matter.
Two situations where life is being put in check.
First, Werther abandons the physical body, anticipating
the return to the spiritual plane, committing himself to
the Law of Cause and Effect. An unusual act that was
considered at the time a stimulating factor for so many
other people in despair, to follow their "example". As
happens nowadays, when distinguished figures repeat this
practice, there is a considerable increase in attitudes
as wrong as that of Young Werther.
The second with Papageno, the scenario is altered with
the intervention of friends who draw his attention to
the importance of life, showing how significant it is to
value the opportunity to be inhabiting a body that was
temporarily provided by the cosmic treasury, with all
resources natural and spiritual that you need to
complete your stay on Earth as an incarnated spirit,
regardless of the setbacks suffered, which in essence,
strengthen and improve the spiritual character of the
Being. A demonstration of love and human solidarity that
is the duty of everyone who trusts the designs of a
superior vibrational force, which is beyond our command
and understanding of its mechanisms of action. The
context of the first story was known over the centuries
as the “Werther effect or contagion effect” (stimulus
for the consummation of the act). The second as the
“Papageno effect” (stimulation to remove the idea
ofthe act). Searching current statistics from the WHO
(World Health Organization) we found data stating that
every 40 seconds a Werther interrupts life in the
physical body. I am not using the word common to this
act here, so as not to serve as a contagion to alert
possible attacks and missteps. I take this opportunity
to leave a warning to anyone who may be asked to explain
about this issue to take the necessary care not to make
apologies and not to show any encouragement in the
qualification of this social disaster. And at the same
time, forward some tips when circumstances come face to
face with a case of hopeless people that suggests
special attention: Listen with cordiality. To be cordial
is to listen with the heart to the person and what is
important to him/her; treat the other's story with
respect. That's what the person is living; that is their
own story. It's what the person believes to be the
truth; use of empathy. It is trying to feel what the
other is feeling. To experience the complaint as if it
were your complaint, to feel the pain as if it were your
pain; when you notice that this person is at risk of
life through the narrative, do not promise secrecy of
the case to please them, immediately look for someone
who is directly or indirectly responsible for the person
to provide help. Close relative, friend, or preferably,
refer a qualified professional to proceed with the
approach. This attitude dissuaded Papageno from
committing the greatest of all human follies, being the
author of the discontinuity of the incarnation.
There are always alternatives to allay hopelessness. In
the words of Viktor Frankl (1) "We can
discover the meaning of life in three ways: by doing
something, experiencing a value or love, and suffering".
In my opinion, it is not necessary to suffer to find the
meaning in life. To be a masochist is not to be heroic.
What we call suffering can be linked to a selfish and
proud behavior, blocking the perceptual channels that
human nature offers us in interpersonal relationships,
favoring the awakening of new directions and paths to be
taken and obstacles overcome. I believe the only way to
access another human being in the depths of your soul is
through love. Desiring and doing to the other everything
we would like to be done to ourselves.
The Spiritist Doctrine codified by Allan Kardec is
permeated with clarifications and safe vectors to deal
with these issues. In the introduction to The Book of
Spirits, part XV, we find the following quote:
“Among the most common causes of cerebral
over-excitation, that is, of mental imbalance, there are
disappointments, unhappiness, frustrated affections,
which are, at the same time, the most frequent causes.
This is how the true Spiritist sees the things of this
world from a higher point of view; they seem to him so
small, so petty, in the face of the future that awaits
him; life is for him so short, so fleeting, that
tribulations are, in his eyes, only unpleasant incidents
of a journey”. (2) The subject can be
extended in questions 948 and 949 of the same work and
also in The Gospel According to Spiritism,
chapter V, item 16, emphasizing moral cowardice and
moral courage. (3) To love it is
necessary to live.
Live, love and live.
Bibliography:
1 – Frankl, Viktor, In Search of Meaning, 42nd edition,
Voices.
2 – Kardec, Allan, The Book of Spirits,
Introduction, chap. XV, 182nd Edition, IDE.
3 – Kardec, Allan, The Gospel According to Spiritism,
chap. V, item 16, 113th edition, FEB.
The author is a Clinical Psychologist, International
Spiritist Exhibitor, and a Founding Member of AME-RIO
and AME INTERNACIONAL (Medical Spiritist Association of
Rio de Janeiro and International Spiritist Medical
Association), Hypnotherapist - Founding Member, Director
of Editorial and Marketing and Therapist Accredited by
the Brazilian Society of Therapy of Past Life (SBTVP)
Campinas SP/1994/5/6/7, Advanced Training in Ericsonian
Hypnotherapy in Brazil – Hypnosis In Time-limited
Therapy III – Milton Ericson Foundation in Phoenix
Arizona USA, taught in Brazil by Dr Jefrey Zeig,
Supervisor at CESM (Center for Mental Health Studies) of
the Pedro de Alcantara Psychiatric Hospital (Rio de
Janeiro since 2016) International lecturer and columnist
in newspapers, magazines, blogs and YouTube.
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