Marco Tulio Michalick: 

“What will be your spiritual legacy?” 

The well-known Spiritist writer discusses here his new book – Seu Legado para o Mundo (Your Legacy to the World) – a collection
of beautiful and moving short stories  

 

	Marco Tulio Michalick (photo), who became a Spiritist in his teens, is the author of four books and an active member of the Spiritist Movement in the Brazilian capital, Brasília. He developed a passion for literature – reading and writing – since childhood. He has just published a remarkable book: (Seu Legado para o Mundo) Your Legacy to t
he World, a collection of beautiful and moving short stories where all the characters pursue a dream. The book has illustrations and additional theoretical information at the end of each chapter. It has received very good reviews and positive feedback. In the following interview, Marco Michalick discusses his new published work:

How did you come up with the idea for the beautiful short stories? 

I always thought about the legacy that each one would leave when we “departed”. Not the material legacy, which is perishable and may disappear in a flash, but the spiritual legacy, deeds that may have a positive impact on society. That was the underlying idea for the short stories. 

Where they written through mediumship, in trance (dictated by the Spirits)?  

No. But as a Spiritist I know that we are all inspired, or assisted, by the Spiritual Benefactors. It is important to understand that we never write a book on our own. We will always get the necessary Spiritual backing. 

The short stories bring about moving thoughts and feelings. What impact did they have on you? 

Each short story brings about a different emotion. The stories are all moving and they deal with typical matters of our times. Each one is unique and has its own essence, leading to a deep reflection on the events of our lives and mainly on our day-to-day behaviour. 

What about the idea of having drawing, illustrations in the book? How did that come about? 

From the beginning I wanted each chapter to have a main illustration, a drawing that would have an impact and was closely connected with the story. I asked a friend from the Spiritist Centre I attend – CELST – to do the drawings. It is interesting that I had a clear picture of what I wanted in my mind, but avoided talking about it so as not to influence her work. And at the end the drawings came out exactly as I had imagined them. 

What has been the reaction to the book since its publication? 

Amazing and surprising! People came back to me in all sorts of ways to say that they had enjoyed the book. A friend of mine from the Spiritist Centre I attend told me she hadn’t had the opportunity to read it because her teenage son had grabbed the book and would not let it go until he finished reading it. Another friend said that her daughter, who has cancer, had benefitted greatly from the book, which gave her better understanding of the Teachings. Some came back to say they had read and reread a few stories many times and had been deeply touched. People liked the book so much that they have been buying extra copies to give them as presents. All that comes to show that the book is achieving its goal, which is to get people to reflect about the issues at the centre of each short story. 

Each story touched you the most and why? 

I feel a connection to all of them, of course, but we all empathise and identify with the characters of particular stories. That is the case with “O Mar” (“The Sea”), which tells the story of a Palestinian woman who dreamt of swimming in the sea; “A Menina, o Músico e o Violinista” (“The Girl, the Musician and the Violin Player”), which shows that music can break unimaginable barriers and “O Doador” (“The Donor”), which tells the story a bankrupt man who tries to commit suicide, among so many others… 

Was there anything different or special during the time you wrote the stories? 

When I write, I like to hear edifying music, mainly classical music and new age. That helps me keep connected to the higher spiritual spheres. 

Tell us a bit about a previous book of yours, Coragem, Esperança e Fé (Courage, Hope and Faith). 

It is a book that, despite dealing with light issues, provides the opportunity for a debate on moral issues and how to put them into practice? Is happiness real? Why do we have hope? Will I be able to go beyond my limits? Can I do it? Why is it easier for us to remember bad events in our lives than good events? Why are some brave enough, or charitable enough, to donate their organs while others are terrorised by the idea? Why do we use our prayers to ask for so much and thank for so little? Why do we need to go through pain to develop spiritually? It is also a collection of illustrated short stories that try to answer many of our unsettling and ever present existential questions. 

What are your final thoughts? 

Firstly, I would like to thank the Spiritist writer and public speaker, Orson Peter Carrara, who had a key role in the success of the book, by writing its preface and the comments published at the end of each chapter. Secondly, I would like to invite the readers to buy the book, as I honestly believe that it will have a positive impact in your lives. And finally, I would like to leave you with a question: What will be your spiritual legacy? Have you ever thought about it? Not yet? Perhaps the time has come to consider that matter.