The Death of Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail - Allan Kardec

Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail (October 3, 1804, Lyon-FR, March 31, 1869, Paris-FR) was a French educator and researcher. Under the pseudonym Allan Kardec, he was the codifier of Spiritism.

Educated at the Pestalozzi School in Yverdun (Switzerland), he became one of the most eminent disciples of the teaching method. Later, he became a member of the European learned society of the time. From 1835 to 1840, he founded, in his home on Rue de Sèvres, free courses in Chemistry, Physics, Comparative Anatomy, Astronomy, among others, at a time when few had the opportunity to receive this level of education.

It was in 1855 that Allan Kardec began to experience spirits and adopted his pseudonym, which originated in previous incarnations. He carried out the missionary task of codifying, that is, presenting in methodically, didactically and logically organized, commented and explained books, the postulates of the Spiritist Doctrine.

On April 1, 1858, he founded in Paris the first regularly constituted Spiritist Society, under the name of the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies, whose exclusive purpose was the study and contribution to the progress of the new science.

His main works on this subject are: The Spirits' Book (1857), concerning the philosophical part; The Mediums' Book (1861), concerning the experimental and scientific part; The Gospel According to Spiritism (1864), concerning the moral part; Heaven and Hell (1865), the justice of God according to Spiritism; The Genesis, the Miracles and the Predictions (1868); The Spiritist Magazine, a journal of psychological studies, a monthly periodical that began on January 1, 1858, among others.

International Study: Consulting the Things of the Spirits

(Credits: Marleen de Witte)

Today, I bring to our dear readers an international article entitled "Consulting the Things of the Spirits: Evidencing the Invisible Presence in Missionary Collections", which talks about how an entry point to unravel ancient artifacts from Africa in missionary collections.

As part of an international work to unravel the composition of ancient collections of African spiritual artifacts in missionary collections by the Pressing Matter and the Legba Dzoka Project, Marleen de Witte and Birgit Meyer wrote an article entitled “Consulting the Things of the Spirits: Evidencing the Invisible Presence in Missionary Collections”, which was recently published in the journal Museum Anthropology, on March 6th.

An original abstract of the article in question:

Contributing to ongoing efforts to address the colonial legacies of museums, this article takes the question of evidence as an entry point to unravel the multilayered composition of African spiritual artifacts in missionary collections. Focusing on Dutch and German missionary collections of legbawo and dzokawo from the Ewe region of Ghana and Togo, we analyze how such artifacts were subjected to “evidentiary practices” by multiple parties over a period of 120 years. These collections enshrine coexisting and conflicting forms of evidence: multiple possibilities of knowing (about) the items, their trajectories, and their relationships with humans and nonhuman beings. In addition to analyzing the missionary and museum structures imposed on these artifacts, we investigate contemporary Ewe religious practitioners’ ritual technologies of knowing about the presence, identities, and desires of spirits as alternative modes of evidencing invisible presences. We argue that the pluralization of evidence offers opportunities for decolonial critique and for rethinking established museum and research structures.

The article in English can be read here.

Written by Márcio

Plurality of Worlds

55. Are all the globes that revolve in space inhabited?

"Yes; and the people of the earth are far from being, as you suppose, the first in intelligence, goodness, and general development. There are many men having a high opinion of themselves who even imagine that your little globe alone, of all the countless myriads of globes around you, has the privilege of being inhabited by reasoning beings. They fancy that God has created the universe only for them. Insensate vanity!"

God has peopled the globes of the universe with living beings, all of whom concur in working out the aims of His providence. To believe that the presence of living beings Is confined to the one point of the universe inhabited by us is to cast a doubt on the wisdom of God, who has made nothing in vain, and who must therefore have assigned to all the other globes of the universe a destination more important than that of gratifying our eyes with the spectacle of a starry night. Moreover, there Is nothing in the position. size, or physical constitution of the earth to warrant the supposition that It alone, of the countless myriads of globes disseminated throughout the infinity of apace. has the privilege of being inhabited.

56. Is the physical constitution of all globes the same?

"No; they do not at all resemble one another."

57. The physical constitution of the various worlds not being the same for all does it follow

that the beings who inhabit them have different organisations?

"Undoubtedly it does; just as, in your world, fishes are organised for living in the water, and

birds for living in the air."

58. Are the planets furthest removed from the sun stinted in light and heat, the sun only

appearing to them of the size of one of the fixed stars?

"Do you suppose that there are no other sources of light and heat than the sun? And do you count for nothing the action of electricity which, in certain worlds, plays a very much more important part than in your earth? Besides, how do you know that the beings of those worlds see in the same manner as you do, and with the aid of organs such as yours?"

The conditions of existence for the beings who Inhabit the various worlds must be supposed to be appropriate to the sphere in which they are destined to live. If we had never seen fishes, we should be at a loss to understand how any living beings could exist In the sea. So in regard to all the other worlds, which doutless contain elements that are unknown to us. In our own earth, are not the long polar nights illumined by the electrical displays of the aurora borealis? Is It impossible that. In certain worlds, electricity may be more abundant than in ours, and may subserve, in Its general economy, various important uses not imaginable by us? And may not those worlds contain in themselves the sources of the heat and light required by their inhabitants?

From The Spirit's Book - Chapter III - Creation - Plurality of Worlds - Ed Federação Espírita Brasileira FEB

The cure of obsession

You are an adult and a conscientious human being, responsible for your behavior. Control your ideas, reject the inferior and disturbing thoughts that influence your good tendencies and repel the negative ones. Take care of yourself.

God has granted you jurisdiction over yourself; it is you who possesses the control over yourself in the pathways of life. Do not act as a spoiled child. Learn how to control yourself at every instant and on every circumstance. Experiment with your powers and you will see that it is greater than you imagine.

The cure of obsession is a self-cure. No one can free you of the obsession if you do not want to get rid of it yourself. Start by ridding yourself now, by repeating to yourselves: “I am a normal person, endowed with the power and the duty to command myself. I know my duties and I can fulfill them. God supports me.”

Always repeat this when you feel that you are disturbed. Repeat and practice what you said. Make the decision to behave as a normal person who you truly are, confident in God and in the power of the natural forces that are in your body and your spirit waiting for your command. Be the guide of your life.

Reformulate the concept that you have of yourself. You are not a poor abandoned soul in the world. Even the worms are protected by natural laws. Why would you not have protection? Eliminate from your mind the idea of sin and punishment. What they call sin is the error, and errors can and must be corrected.

Correct yourself. Establish the control over your own self, little by little, patiently and confidently.

You do not depend on others; you depend on your own mind. Keep an open mind, by opening wide the windows to the world, breathe with certainty and walk with firmness. Think about the blind people, the mutes and the deaf, the crippled and disabled who often improve their condition by trusting in themselves. Develop

your faith. Faith is confidence. The Divine Faith exists, which is the confidence in God and in His Power that controls the Universe. Can you rationally doubt this? There is the human faith that is the confidence of the person in himself. Do you not trust your intelligence, your common-sense, and your capacity to act? Do you believe you are an incapable person, thus being carried away by diminishing ideas

regarding your own self? Change this way of thinking, because it is incorrect.

When you come to the disobsession meetings, come with confidence. Those who wait for you are willing to assist you. Be grateful to those who are interested in you, and help them with your good will. If you follow this advice, your

obsession is already in process of being eliminated. Do not be afraid, be courageous.

From The book "Obsession" by Jose Herculano Pires - Translated by Jussara Korngold & Marie Levinson

Freud and Kardec

Obsession - What is obsession? - Guidance for the treatment of cases of obsession

Many psychologists and psychiatrists accuse Spiritism of invading their scientific domains in cases of mental and psychic disturbances. Unfamiliar with the Spiritist Doctrine and its history, they do not know that exactly the opposite has occurred. They claim that obsession is a disturbance resulting from endogenous imbalances, that is, from the patient's own psycho-mental structures in relation to environmental factors. They attribute almost everything to the patient's constitution, to organic and particularly cerebral or emotional dysfunctions. The unconscious is generally the seat of all psychic disturbances. They understand that Spiritists confuse the imaginary ghosts generated by the patient's pathological manifestations with real ghosts from the oldest magical and religious superstitions of Humanity. They believe that Spiritism represents a process of returning to the world of superstition.

Freud was only one year old when Kardec raised the problem of the unconscious in scientific terms, in his research on spiritual phenomena, today scientifically called paranormal phenomena. Kardec went deeper than Freud on the subject, reaching the problem of individual and collective archetypes, which only Adler and Jung would later research. In researching the problem of animism in mediumistic manifestations and psychic infiltrations in real manifestations, Kardec duly emphasized the importance of manifestations of the unconscious in individual and collective behavior. Freud approached the question of dreams within the limits of his doctrine. For no less than twelve years, Kardec had already carried out intensive research in experimental psychology (an absolute pioneer in this field) at the Parisian Society for Spiritist Studies. Today, parapsychological research, carried out in the largest university centers around the world, fully proves Kardec's accuracy. We provide this historical information solely so that victims of obsessions and their families do not allow themselves to be misled into fatal mistakes in difficult cases of obsession. Spiritist Science does not oppose Material Sciences in any field, but only tries to help them with the necessary complementation of their own research and achievements. It is easy to verify the truth of this information by simply consulting Kardec's works, including the reports on obsessions and disobsessions in his works published in the collection of the Spiritist Magazine, now entirely translated and published in our language. 

(From the book: Obsession: the Pass – the Doctrine - Chapter I - Obsession What is obsession? - Guidance for the treatment of cases of obsession.)

The 17 lines of spiritist conduct

 The 17 lines of spiritist conduct

I - Being calm and moderate

II - Help the next one with all the strength

III - Use but not abuse, material goods

IV - Do not judge the similar, for only God knows the secret furniture that makes him so act.

V - To not impose on anyone their way of understanding life and respecting that of others. He does his own experience.

VI - Clarify the next and be indulgent.

VII - To remember that a man's life does not belong to him. Be discreet.

VIII - Recall that a bad thought is a force that hurts or heals.

IX - Don't forget a bad thought turns against you projecting it.

X - Not to think about evil, because who is really good should not fear, and if not, seek to improve.

XI - Trust, during doom, in Divine providence, who wants your spiritual advance.

XII - Repay tranquilo when your work was a meritory.

XIII - To remember that suffering is to make you better understand the unhappiness of others.

XIV - Do not reject the ordeal, saying, "My God, give me the strength to bear it," for with sincerity, she will not prevail.

XV - Being humble and compassionate.

XVI - Pray.

XVII - Help yourself, because the High will help you.

(Extracted from The Portuguese "Livro do Medium Curador - By José Lhomme)

Reviewed and translated by Márcio Varela

Difficult relatives

We ought to accept difficult relatives based on generosity and understanding, in the certainty that God's Laws do not bind us to one another without a just cause.

The relative that causes us difficulties is always a test to examine our spiritual evolution.

Often, the complicated individual who joins our family brings the marks of suffering or deficiencies we imposed on them in past reincarnations.

Don't demand behavior like yours from family members different from you, for each of us is characterized by advantages or losses accumulated in our souls.

Don't try to get rid of difficult relatives by requiring unnecessary hospitalizations in nursing homes at the cost of money.

The real disconnection will come in the processes of nature when you have settled your debts with the Greater Life.

In the trials and conflicts of our earthly home, we are frequently paying through the installment system for debts incurred wholesale.

(By the medium Francisco C. Xavier, spirit Andre Luiz)

Frederick von Stein - Doctors of Space

In the cover image, the German medical spirit Frederick von Stein

Just as in the early days of the work at Lar de Frei Luiz, when beings from various backgrounds were embodied by mediums, passing on messages in favor of charity, love and fraternal help, the materialization meetings for healing began to have collaborators from different astral spheres. To operate or even support the activities with different teachings, in order to strengthen the harmony of the environment, entities materialize who present themselves as Catholic friars and priests, old blacks, Indians, Buddhists, Hindus and Arabs – such as Pradahana Ahmed, who was photographed on February 8, 1969 (see photo book). The master of pacifism, the Indian Mahatma Gandhi, has already been seen by some participants in these sessions, as well as Francis of Assisi.

However, amidst these experiences that demonstrate the ecumenical spirit of the Home founded by Frei Luiz and Luiz da Rocha Lima, an extraphysical being has been standing out in the work since 1970: Frederick von Stein. However, until he decided to collaborate, helping many people to cure various illnesses, some very serious, either through the medium Gilberto or through materialized operation, this German who had passed away during the Second World War went through a slow and difficult process of becoming aware.

Many, in a tone of ironic disbelief, trying to discredit countless healing works, ask why we hear about so many “spirits of Germans” working in Brazil. The story told by Frederick helps to shed light on this issue. With their culture, the birthplace of Nazism, some Germans served in life to strengthen the forces of evil, war, and destruction. Thus, it is only natural that, upon passing away and making their atonement for their guilt, they decided to work in Brazil and other places with serious social and economic deprivation. A task of learning and giving in favor of his ascension in astral spheres.

This is the case of Frederick von Stein.

The first manifestation of this spirit occurred on April 2, 1960, in a disobsession meeting with 13 participants, at Rocha Lima's house. Suddenly, a being speaking German took over the medium Alberto Benaion. Luckily, among those present was Antônio Prodon, who spoke German fluently and was able to understand this disturbed spirit who said he was called Frederick von Stein. Laughing out loud, without realizing that he was already dead, since he thought he was still living in his residence in Berlin, he boasted about his dissolute life, fueled by alcohol and relationships with several women, including virgins.

Frederick was an example of what happens to many who disincarnate abruptly and are extremely attached to earthly things. By projecting the unconscious desire to remain alive as matter, they end up creating a “real” scenario around them, spending a long time deluding themselves, as if they were still on Earth.

When he was indoctrinated so that he would understand his new reality as a disembodied being, Frederick reacted by shouting: “You have to know that you are talking to a noble German and not to some man of inferior race.”

In his second manifestation, a week later, he would talk about cruel bombings and battle fronts in the Second World War. He would then make the medium stand up and, in a military position, salute his beloved Hitler. As the guidance work continued, however, he would begin to moan and cry, complaining of a strong pain in his right shoulder, caused by a bleeding wound. In his third incorporation, on April 16, he would reveal that his parents and siblings had been killed in a bombing of Berlin by the Allies. Still stewing in hatred, he would arrogantly state: “The murderers will pay for the bestiality they committed.”

Finally, in his sixth manifestation, on May 28, his conversion would occur, when for the first time he would recognize that he had already disincarnated. Amidst advances and setbacks, in which he praised men like Hitler, Goebels and Goethe – “They are the gods of Germany, and each country has its own” –, he ended up falling into the reality that he had so feared and, in a strong fit of crying, sobbing, he said: “Oh! my God!... Forgive me; forgive me, oh! my Jesus!... Forgive me for my wickedness!...”

At that moment, he made the medium Benaion open his eyes and, astonished, looking around the room, he said in German: “I want to see!... I want to see!... That which I did not believe!... Thank God, it is true! I am a spirit and I am free!” Then, upon looking at a painting by Frei Luiz, he groaned, somewhat terrified. Feeling strong pain in his right leg, he made the medium limp, almost falling. Finally, he washed his head with water from a bowl and said firmly: “I want to leave here clean!”

Later, in June, he would return to the medium and, embarrassed because he could not yet speak the Brazilian language, he said: “I need to learn Portuguese so that I can narrate all the scenes I have observed and experienced in my spiritual life.” Then, addressing Rocha Lima, he added: “I will come to narrate many things and bring you many gifts, Luiz.”

The members of the group would only hear from Frederick again on December 7, 1967, when Friar Luiz, in a direct voice through the trumpet, warned that it would be necessary for the medium Gilberto to prepare himself, remaining calm, because “a brother” who had been “a great doctor” on Earth wanted to work in the spiritual world now, but was finding “some difficulty” in manifesting himself.

At that time, Gilberto, then 26 years old, felt strong pain in his right leg. Pain that had been with him for years, without him being able to identify the origin. “It was a pain I couldn’t bear. I had to get up, my leg hurt,” he recalls. After that meeting in December 1967, Rocha Lima himself would also begin to feel pain in the muscles and tendons of his right leg. Finally, in the materialization session on February 15, 1968, the entity that calls itself Father Zabeu would respond directly, through the trumpet, that the pain was caused by Frederick’s presence. Gilberto recalls that, in a meeting at Rocha Lima’s house, he received the spirit of the German doctor, who, already speaking in Portuguese, apologized for the pain in his leg. “Frederick said that his mission was with me, and that whenever I felt that pain, I would ask for forgiveness, but it was a spiritual identity to incorporate itself into me.” Then, a pain so intense that he fainted. “The pain was so bad that I even urinated. It was terrible. Then, I passed out.” This occurred due to the proximity of Frederick and Gilberto's electromagnetic fields, causing the medium to assimilate the pain that the German still felt, trapped in the energetic vibrations of his physical wound before he disincarnated.

It would take Frederick until October 17, 1970, to begin to effectively operate at Lar de Frei Luiz, whether incorporated in Gilberto or materialized, with basic help from the ectoplasm of this medium of physical effects. Always limping on his right leg, as Rocha Lima reports, he never used any scalpel or sharp instrument to perform his extraphysical surgeries. Using mental and ectoplasmic force, he basically operates through the process of atomic disintegration of tumors and other diseased parts of the patient.

Later, at the end of 1972, Frederick would begin to give more details about his death in his last incarnation on Earth, which would explain his problem with his right leg. A medical researcher and officer in the German army, he had killed many people. One night, after one of these macabre investigations, he was heading home with authorities from the Third Reich when his car was shot at by Allied aircraft. The jeep he was in overturned, and he was thrown into a swamp with his right leg mangled. Speaking directly through the trumpet, he explained his terrible end:

“I suffered, my brothers, for almost two days, thrown into a swamp! My medicine bag was far away, and I could not put an end to my suffering, because it contained injections of hemlock. With a small dose, I would end my life, disembodying. I suffered for three long days with my leg gangrenous from bullet wounds, in the swamp.

When he died, he would face a long and tortuous learning process. Attended by beings of light, he would end up being informed that he would have to help needy children to regenerate himself, performing spiritual surgeries at the Lar de Frei Luiz. In this way, according to his words, he would have the opportunity to go through a “true school of love and affection, so that he could learn techniques that I now apply in dematerializations and materializations, processes that you will only be able to understand when you come here!”

Revised and compiled by Márcio Varela

(Excerpt from the book in Portuguese "Os Médicos do Espaço: Luiz da Rocha Lima e o Lar de Frei Luiz / Ronie Lima. – 6th edition")

In Portuguese here