O Consolador: Where were you born? 

I was born in the Capital of São Paulo; August 1951. 

O Consolador: Where do you live nowadays? 

I live in the north of the city of London, United Kingdom. 

O Consolador: What made you move to London? 

I was in London between January and February 2004. I came here to give some lecturers and really liked it. I made new friends and felt there was a lot of work that could be done here. I fell in love with the city and decided to come back for good, in March 2005. 

O Consolador: What is your education level? 

I studied law at the University of São Paulo. I worked as a Family law solicitor for 30 years. 

O Consolador: What roles have you performed in the Spiritist movement? 

I have started my spiritist activities at the Spiritist Federation of the State of São Paulo (Feesp), where I did a course on how to be a Lecturer in 1988. I then started to give lectures at Feesp in 1989. Since then I worked in other areas at Feesp. In the last 12 years I was living in Brazil, I gave lectures on Spiritist Philosophy and worked with Spiritist Counselling. I was always working giving healing. I have also given lectures in several spiritist centres in São Paulo and in the countryside. I also went to other states in Brazil. 

O Consolador: What are you doing at the moment? 

I am a simple worker at the Solidarity Spiritist Group. I work as an assistant of the Teaching Department, lecturer and healer. I have also given lectures in other spiritist centres in London. 

O Consolador: When was your first contact with Spiritism? 

My first contact with Spiritism was during the time I was studying law in São Paulo. I used to pass by a stall that sold used books everyday where I used to check every book that was sold there. I then found some books from Allan Kardec placed at the highest shelf. I felt attracted to those books since the name really drawn my attention to it. 

O Consolador: Was there a special event in your life that allowed this contact? 

Apart from the fact I felt attracted to Allan Kardec’s name, there was also something else. In 1975, I met a solicitor who has been spiritist since birth and used to comment on points she read at spiritist books. In 1982, I went on a tour to Foz do Iguaçu, where I met a lady who worked at a spiritist centre in Rio de Janeiro. She sent me the first spiritist books I ever read, such as The Spirits' Book. It was love at first sight! In 1987, I signed up for courses at Feesp and then in 1989, I started to work in the spiritist movement. 

O Consolador: What was your family’s reaction? 

My family got to know my decision to stick with Spiritism when I started to work at Feesp. My mother was very surprised and asked how much they paid me to teach there. She was even more surprised when I said I was volunteering. She nowadays supports my work 100%. 

O Consolador: Which of the threes aspects of Spiritism (Science, Philosophy or Religion) attract you the most? 

I really enjoy the whole aspects combined but I do have a slight inclination for the philosophical aspect. It penetrates all parts of the human knowledge. 

O Consolador: What are your favourite Spiritist authors? 

Allan Kardec is my favourite. Besides him, I really like reading Léon Denis, Herculano Pires and Hermínio Miranda. I would also highlight Chico Xavier, Yvonne Pereira and Divaldo Franco. 

O Consolador: What books do you consider indispensable for those who are starting off in Spiritism? 

The Spirits' Book and The Gospel According to Spiritism should be top priority. What Is Spiritism? (Qu'Est-ce Que le Spiritisme, in French) Paul and Stephen (Francisco Cândido Xavier; by the Spirit Emmanuel) and The problem of the being and the destiny (Le Probleme de l'Etre et de la Destinie, in French). 

O Consolador: Which one is your favourite one and why? 

Paul and Stephen is my favourite as it shows the example of the awakening of Saul in Damascus, Syria. It’s a moving story, full of deep and encouraging teachings. This can be applied to the most critical moments of our existence. 

O Consolador: How important is it for you to study the Spiritist Doctrine? 

The Spirit of the Truth said, at chapter VI of The Gospel According to Spiritism: “Spiritists! Love one another, that is the first precept; educate yourselves is the second. ...”

The study of the Doctrine is imperative; without it we could never be true spiritists; nor do the inner reformation preached by Jesus. 

O Consolador: The doctrinal differences in our movement are not many. One of them talks about the secular Spiritism. Is Spiritism a religion for you? 

I believe it’s not a considered to be a religion, according to the meaning of this word, since it doesn’t have any rituals, casts or hierarchy... Allan Kardec in December 1868, at The Spiritist Review, said that Spiritism is a religion, without a doubt. He then added: “in the philosophical sense, spiritism is a religion, and we glorify for this...” This means Spiritism is a religion in the inner sense, without the external practices done by traditional religions. Spiritism prevails the feeling of being religions, which is an attribute of the spirit; rather than the formal meaning of religion.  

O Consolador: Once, in one of your lecturers, you said a lot of people come to the spiritist centre as if they were going to the Sunday mess. Can you please explain what you meant by this phrase? 

Yes, that’s true. Well, a lot of us still have strong habits, linked to our past religious practices. In order to get into the Spiritist Doctrine, which is purely rational and stimulates us to rethink our patterns of behaviour, we need to go through a complex process of change.  

O Consolador: Another subject in the Spiritist practice sometimes presents differences related to so-called standardized passes, proposed by Edgar Armond. Though we know the most common procedure is the laying of hands as José Herculano Pires, what’s your opinion about it? 

In fact, Herculano was against the so-called standardized passes. He said the spiritist healing should simply be by laying of hands, as Jesus used to do. With all do respect, I think the group should all give healing on the same format. This way will show that every person working at the centre gives healing on the same way; it doesn’t allow the work to be seen as being different from one person to another. 

In London, every group I have been to proceeds laying of hands; even at the group I am involved with, the Solidarity Spiritist Group. Due to time and space limitation, the spiritist centres in London work in a very similar way. If tomorrow things change and there is a need to create other types of healing, perhaps it would be time to create new groups. In summary, the management of the spiritist centre should orientate the workers in regards to healing. 

O Consolador: How do you see abortion and the discussion that is going on around this topic?  

I think the main task of Spiritism should be focused on the consciousness of those who search for the doctrine at the spiritist centres and its courses. There are representatives of the Spiritist movement who are requested to give their opinion on several topics, due to the respect the Spiritist Doctrine has conquered through the example of Chico Xavier and others. There are TV channels and spiritist radio programmes reaching a great audience, books and articles being published everywhere... These initiatives have been taking the doctrine to a much broader audience.  

In the United Kingdom, it’s been quite complicated to regularize the spiritist centres, due to the laws in place at present. It would even be more complicated to imagine taking our opinions and debate it with the governmental authorities.... Plus, the UK is a very liberal society. The abortion is well accepted since the National Health System approves its practice. Medication is even provided so that the woman can do it on her own. It is important to highlight there will be severe consequences to his terrible practice. 

O Consolador: Have you had contact with the Brazilian Spiritist Movement? Is it advancing as it should or is it below the expectations? 

I believe it’s extremely active; the most active of the planet. It’s been penetrating several aspects of the Brazilian society. I believe it’s doing a fantastic job. The communication mediums have helped massively the spiritist movement to grow intensively.   

O Consolador: When and how has the spiritist movement started in England?

After the disincarnation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1930, Spiritism went forgotten in the United Kingdom. Therefore, at the time of Kardec and even after his disincarnation, great mediums and researchers appeared here, who became known for dealing with the spiritist phenomena. At the end of the 80’s, Spiritism emerged again thanks to Janet Duncan and her love for the Doctrine. In the 90’s, it was the time for the Brazilians and Portuguese who live here to create new spiritist groups. The number of the spiritist centres has been increasing ever since. I think now it’s time to prepare for the future. The study of the Doctrine needs to be done in a large scale. We now have in London around 8 active spiritist groups. There are others being formed at present.

O Consolador: Is it well-accepted by the British people? 

I feel the acceptance of the Doctrine, amongst the younger generations, is high. Every week we can see newcomers to Solidarity. Some of them already want to help at the spiritist centre, even. 

O Consolador: How do you see the level of criminality and violence which appears to increase everywhere in our country and worldwide? How can spiritists collaborate to change this situation?

I think God commands everything, through His laws and wishes. The existing criminality is a consequence of our past actions. There is a reason why we are involved in it. In one side, there are our trends; our debs. In other, there is the transformation of the world, which will be a consequence of the moral transformation done by each of us. Spiritism needs to make everyone aware of their duties and responsibilities, through the practice of Jesus’ teachings. Without the practice, we might live around criminality and violence for a very long time. 

O Consolador: The preparation for the advent of a world of regeneration in our planet already gave its first steps, as we are aware of. How long will it take for Earth to stop being a world of tests and atonements, and become a world of regeneration where, according to Saint Augustine, the word love will be written everywhere and social relations will be perfectly fair? 

As we know, the spiritual benefactors do not work around time limitation. We can’t precise how long this will take to happen. Time is only important for man, but not for the spirit. Allan Kardec said the process of world transformation already started in the previous century with the advent of Spiritism. Therefore, the transitional phase from being a world of tests and atonements to becoming a world of regeneration has already started three centuries ago. As for how long it will take us, this will only depend on our own inner efforts to change ourselves. 

O Consolador: In regards to the problems that the earthly society is facing, what should be the top priority for Spiritism worldwide? 

Everyone’s priority should be: make efforts to become a better being; study the Doctrine more and act in accordance with Jesus’ teachings; defend the purity of the Doctrine and apply it on its activities. 

O Consolador: What is Spiritism for you? How important is it to your life? 

Spiritism is, for me, the experience of life. It is true that we are not perfect, but we should always make the best whenever possible. Spiritism makes me extremely happy. It gave a sense to my life and allowed me to work closer to Jesus. Plus, I have also met great friends. I know that if I am healthy, that’s because I should not avoid my work at the spiritist centre. If I am happy, I should show my brothers and sisters the love for the study of the doctrine. I trust the future, due to the confidence I have that our inner development will continue endlessly. I own this to Spiritism, which is my unbreakable fortress.