José Ricardo
Honório da
Silva:
“We need to
turn our most
intimate search
for the
awakening of
consciousness”
The founder of
the Spiritist
Group Peixotinho
talks about the
proposal and
creation of the
group
 |
José Ricardo
Honório da Silva
(photo)
has lived in the
Brazilian
capital,
Brasília, for 10
years. His first
contact with
Spiritism came
in 1983, when he
was 19 and was
in the air force
in the city of
Recife. He was
given a
Spiritist book
by a friend,
Sergeant João
Vieira. He is
now involved in
a number of
activities in
the Spiritist
Movement in
Brasília. He
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|
works as a
volunteer at the Spiritist Group
Peixotinho (GEP)
and the
Spiritist Centre
Casa de Lázaro.
He is also a
Spiritist
speaker and he
gives talks and
seminars in
Brasília and
surrounding
areas. |
What led you to
create a
Spiritist Group
inside an air
force compound
in Brasília? And
why is the group
called
Peixotinho?
When I began to
work at the
Brazilian Air
Force
headquarters in
2004, I found
out that there
was a space for
religious
activities. They
held a Catholic
Mass there and
an Evangelical
ceremony. We
asked if we
could use it for
the study of
Spiritism. They
agreed and we
began the group
on February 21st
2005. The name
was suggested by
the Spiritual
Benefactors in a
message dictated
to the medium,
Suely Calazans.
They told us
that we were
being guided by
the Spirit,
Francisco
Peixoto Lins (Peixotinho).
That should be,
therefore, the
name of the
group.
Peixotinho was a
captain of the
Brazilian Army.
What are the
main challenges
facing Spiritism
in Brazil at the
moment?
Joanna de
Angelis, the
Spiritual
Benefactor, says
that Spiritist
Centres must put
the Teachings
into practice,
without being
tempted by
temporary trends
and fads. They
must also have
well trained,
qualified
volunteers
working. And it
must humanise.
There are still
many
shortcomings in
the Spiritist
Movement and the
reasons of most
problems are
pride and
vanity. That
leads to a cult
of
individuality,
with people
getting an
overvalued idea
of themselves
and becoming
self-centred.
But we are all
learning the
Gospel and we
must bear in
mind that Jesus
is in charge.
Is it important
to have
Spiritist Groups
meeting in the
workplace?
Yes, that is
very important.
Jesus said that
whenever two or
more people were
gathered in his
name he would
also be there.
The benefits of
such groups for
their
surroundings are
the same of the
Gospel in the
Home. The lights
that emanate
from such
meetings travel
through the
whole area,
creating an
atmosphere of
peace and
harmony. Alcione,
the daughter of
Peixotinho, said
there is a
Spiritual
mezzanine where
Spirits gathered
to attend our
meetings, guided
by the
Benefactors.
What are your
plans for the
group?
It is important
to say that a
study group
cannot be opened
without proper
planning,
commitment of
everyone
involved and
leadership. The
members need to
have some level
of understanding
and affinity.
You cannot thing
about targets,
the number of
people attending
etc. A Spiritist
group is not a
Spiritist
centre. I see
the GEP as a
mother who
nourishes the
children at home
so they shine
elsewhere. We
discarded the
idea of
“promoting” the
group to a
Spiritist
centre. But we
have founded
another group to
study mediumship,
under the
guidance of
Peixotinho, who
wrote to us: “As
God does not
abandon anyone,
I will never
abandon you, for
as long as the
work goes on”.
So, after 10
years, our plans
are to continue
studying The
Spirits’ Book
for at least
another 10 years
(laughter).
Is there
anything else
you would like
to tell our
readers?
Brothers and
sisters who work
in the fields of
Spiritism, God’s
third revelation
to humankind:
Spiritism is
above all the
opportunity we
have to work and
to learn. The
Spiritist centre
is the workshop
where we train
and practice for
the challenges
of our daily
lives. We are
students who
have failed
repeatedly over
the millennia.
Let us make the
most of this
divine blessing
and let us not
stain it with
our
idiosyncrasies.
Let us break the
chrysalis of our
ignorance and
let us
strengthen our
intellect and
spread good
feelings through
unconditional
love for our
neighbours and
humanity as a
whole.
