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Important
advice
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those
who work
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mediumship |
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Marcus Amaral (photo), originally from the Brazilian city of Santos, is a veterinary surgeon in Porto Velho, in the state of Rondonia. He is a volunteer worker at the Irmã Clara Spiritist Fraternity, coordinating the institution’s study and lecture groups. He comes from a Spiritist family and began his involvement with mediumship practice and studies at a young age:
What can we learn from the practice of mediumship?
It allows us to understand how our future will be as, during mediumship sessions, we hear the accounts of Spirits who have already departed from this world and show, in our sessions, signs of the same flaws that we still have.
What advice would you give to mediums who are starting now?
No one gets to fully understand the importance of the work carried out by mediumship groups unless they study the core books of Allan Kardec. But studying, reading and revising alone is not enough. If that was the case, all the members of our mediumship group would simply read the books available, with the transcripts of so many previous messages from the Spirits. In order to truly reconsider our thoughts and attitudes, we need a combination of theoretical knowledge and to experience the feelings and emotions of discarnate Spirits. Nothing is achieved without preparation, study, hard work and perseverance. So, those who are willing to find a quick or miraculous solution to their problems are bound to fail. “God will repay each one according to their deeds,” as Jesus, the Master of Love, taught us.
What was the best lesson learned by you in all these years in Spiritism?
That we’re all able to change. However serious our mistakes may have been, forgiveness comes with the reparation of our faults. And the beauty of these Teachings is to understand that the reparation is not proportional to the harm that we’ve done. That becomes clear when we understand the criteria taught by Jesus: Love makes up for a multitude of sins (our mistakes). In other words, as we put love into practice, our burden becomes lighter.
What are the bad habits that those attending a mediumship meeting should avoid?
Discipline is a big challenge for many people. And that goes beyond arriving on time for the sessions. During the preparation for a mediunimic meeting, people need to remain silent, respecting the process, which is not really controlled by us. The practice of silent reading of edifying books also helps establish a harmonic connection between mediums and the Spirits, as well as between those who will be guiding the work and those who will be talking to the Spirits. All that should contribute to the success of such an important task, from which we all benefit as incarnate Spirits. The rest will come through hard work and dedication, with the help of divine mercy.
During a recent television programme you spoke about spiritual obsession, or attachment. What advice would you like to share on this issue?
Age and experience have taught me that there aren’t set rules when it comes to dealing with spiritual obsession, or attachment. In the past 40 years, we’ve seen many changes in the guidelines and practices, thanks to the experiences of so many mediums and the advice that we received from the Spiritual Benefactors. What I have learned is that time is a key factor to bring comfort and consolation to those who fell into the trap of pain and vengeance. Also, to respect their pain is more effective than coming up with some pre-prepared pretentious speech. Love is the tool that, without a shadow of a doubt, will take away and repair pain in all its forms. So it’s important that when we address the Spirits who come to the session we show sincerity and honesty in our words. We’re not there to impress them but to welcome and embrace them instead. If we manage to change their vibration pattern for only a few seconds, then they will be able to see the Spirits of their loved ones around them and they will be able to leave the world of darkness in which they’ve been immersed. The Gospel needs to be a part of our daily lives, not for us to show off our knowledge, but as a guideline that we must put into practice daily.
A recurring theme: what is a medium’s or a mediumship group’s main enemy or risk?
It's the presumption of knowledge and the belief in the infallibility of the medium. Also, it’s not being open to criticism. All that leads into what is called fascination, which is a first step for the disruption of the communications between the medium and the Spirits. And that can lead, eventually, to a rift or to the group being torn apart. We are, all of us, going through a learning process. We are imperfect Spirits and we must be aware of that. The Spirits’ Book explains that very well.
Is there any particular experience that you would like to share with our readers?
I’ll try to explain something that has helped me in my learning process as a medium. Every message and communication from a Spirit is important. Many people are scared of their mediunimic capacities and they shouldn’t be. All of those who have used my mediumship to send their messages have left a mark. But it wasn’t a mark of pain or suffering. It was a mark of gratitude, for the role I played in helping that brother or that sister change something in them during that brief contact. And during the most difficult exchanges I could feel clearly the love, protection and affection displayed by the Spiritual Benefactors. And on many occasions they honoured me by using my mediunimic capacities to send guidance or words of consolation to the whole group. That made me understand that all that was going on followed a carefully planned schedule. All I needed to do was to trust Divine Providence. Whenever we are focused on good deeds, Divine Providence never abandons us. After all, as we know, “Without charity, there’s no salvation.”
