Silvia Helena Visnadi Pessenda (photo) is a Certified Accountant who retired as a bank employee in Brazil. She was born in the city of Adamantina and lives in Rio Claro, in the state of São Paulo. She works as a volunteer across most Spiritist Centres in the city, as a very popular public speaker. But her main connection is with the Casa dos Espíritas (House of the Spiritists) Group, where she developed her studies of the Teachings. In this interview, she speaks about her experience in the Spiritist Movement:

How did you discover Spiritism?

I was born into a Spiritist family and attended Spiritist Evangelisation groups from the age of six. Later I joined their Youth Groups and have carried on as a volunteer worker. 

What strikes you the most in Spiritism?

I think the most remarkable aspect of the Spiritist Teachings codified by Allan Kardec – a researcher and a free-thinker – is the freedom that they give us to accept or reject any of its proposals. It also gives us independence (before God and His laws) to make our own choices, reminding us, however, of our responsibility to face the consequences of our decisions. 

So, the Spiritist Teachings encourage spiritual independence in all of us. That frees us to go ahead in our journey with a degree of autonomy that will allow us to enjoy the satisfaction of our triumphs. In my understanding, that is how Spiritism prompts me to develop the divine essence inside me, so that I’m able to tune into that higher form of wisdom through the gradual development of my potential. 

Has Spiritism had a direct impact in your personal life?

As I’ve been a Spiritist all my life, I haven’t really been able to perceive the direct impact of the Teachings in a particular period of my life. That is easier for those who become Spiritists later in life,  to “replace” a previous set of beliefs or religion. But what has always been very clear to me was the effect that Spiritism had in the formation of my conscience and in helping me understand that we must dignify our lives through good deeds and make this a productive existence. That has been a big source of motivation for me. 

What is the most important aspect of your volunteer work as a Spiritist speaker, considering the preparation demanded for it and the interaction with the public?

What really strikes me is the degree of responsibility that we, Spiritist speakers, have towards the public – incarnate and discarnate. As I’m a perfectionist, I always get anxious during the preparation, the study and the presentation of my talks and lectures. After all, I get really scared of letting everyone down, both those who are in this world and those in the Spirit World. I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity of visiting other Spiritist Centres and learning about their dealings and plans. There are so many dedicated people out there, each one of them working hard, in their own way, for the Spiritist cause. Regrettably, I think that many of us are still unaware of how many good, amazing people we have in our Spiritist Movement. And those remarkable individuals that I meet everywhere are a big source of inspiration for me. I’m hugely grateful for being a Spiritist and for having the opportunity of giving talks and lectures! That really fills my heart in a very special way. 

What are your favourite themes? And how do you prepare your talks bearing in mind the huge diversity of the public across different Spiritist Centres?

In Spiritism the choice of themes is quite important. When I prepare my talks or lectures, I try to follow a behavioural approach, so that I can illustrate the principles of Spiritism with events and observations from our daily lives. That is particularly important when we focus on raising awareness and overcoming our imperfections. When I read any Spiritist book, I make notes and write a summary, which is archived in my personal index. That enables me to go back and look for themes and issues in the books that I’ve read. I use other tools as well, such as my computer and the internet. The aim is always to prepare a lecture that is dense in information, but easy to understand. The talks and lectures are like a patchwork that I sew and knit until it eventually becomes a beautiful and interesting piece. I’m not sure I always manage to achieve that, but that’s how my heart feels during the process.  

What would you like to share with us from your experience in the Spiritist Movement?

To be a Spiritist worker, if I can describe myself in that way, is to have the opportunity of going through countless experiences to develop self-knowledge and spiritually. It’s an indescribable blessing. In my daily prayers I always ask for keeping a clear mind and good health until the last day of my life, which I hope is a long time away, so that I can work hard until the end. I always went along with my parents in their activities in Spiritist Centres, since I was a child, and that was a great source of joy for me. As I face so many challenges in my life now, I’m making a concerted effort to enjoy everything that I live in the Spiritist Movement. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?