Divaldo Franco and Rabindranath Tagore

This life is the crossing of a sea, 

where we meet in the same narrow ship. 

In death we reach the shore 

and go to different worlds. 

(R. Tagore, in Stray Birds, 1916 (4))

So I will sing and mine will be poems and songs of immortal kind. 

(R. Tagore, psychography Divaldo Franco, Pássaros Livres, 1990 (5)).

Certain things had happened to me 

when alone in my room which convinced me 

that there are spiritual intelligences 

which can warn us and advise us.  

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939).

According to A. Kardec, mediumship, as the faculty of "people who can serve as intermediaries between the spirits and men" (1), is not simply a hability to communicate and exchange information. Psychography in particular is the ability that mediums have to lend their minds so that spirits can use them for writing including for manifesting artistic content. In this process, the spirit mentally induces ideas and concepts to the medium who can then either write with his own words what he perceives or use entire semantical expressions suggested by the spirit author. In this sense, we conceive the existence of a scale of mental transparency between the medium and the spirit author so that some mediums may faithfully replicate what the author intends to write while others only poorly transmit what they mentally listen or see. The use of poetic language, however, is a good indication of an efficient "channeling" process between the discarnate and the medium because subtle elements of identification may be transmitted. Automatic writing is the name given to a very specific kind of mediumship. The term "psychography" encompass a much broader kind of writing experience than automatic writing. Therefore the preference for this term by spiritists. 

An example of such phenomenon is Divaldo P. Franco (1927-) (2) collaboration with Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). According to Divaldo, he never heard about Tagore when he was first visited by his spirit in the year 1949. The episode is described by Divaldo himself as quoted in the book Semeador das Estrelas (3)  

In the year of the first psychographic works by Marco Prisco in 1949, I was lying on the bed a certain night when I heard a music of indefinable beauty played by a kind of zither. With the sound of such mournful and plangent music, I had a beautiful vision of grassy and flowered gardens severed by a brook of clear water on which a boat was sliding. On the boat a honorable entity dressing a white robe with a dark skin showed me a face with large, black and bright eyes and a blanched beard where silver threads could be seen. - "I'm Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian poet and wanted you to write some of my thoughts", said the spirit. I woke up immediately and got some material for the psychography, entering psychic trance after a while. I could still hear the beautiful and pervasive melody while I was writing. I confess that I never heard about that name before, nor had read anything on that spirit. From that night on, for a certain period, Tagore dictated several messages that were gathered in a book only published in 1965 entitled Filigranas de luz.

The author of "Stray Birds" (4) returned to sing new birds in books like Pássaros Livres ("Free Birds", 5) and Estesia ("Aesthesia"), after the first cited work Filigranas de Luz ("Watermarks of Light") in 1965. There are no English translations for the verses or texts (prose) in these books so I decided to provide rather sketchy versions from some excerpts below.   

It has been said that Tagore works in English do not faithfully represent their original beauty in Bengali (6). The famous Irish poet W. Butler Yeats (1865-1939) said "Tagore does not know English, no Indian knows English" (6 and 7). Is it then possible that, by writing through Divaldo's mind, Tagore managed to convey his thoughts better than if he had used Bengali and then an English translator? Anyway, the original language here is Portuguese and is very probable that some noise exist in the Tagore-Franco "mental link" as in the poor translation that I provide. However, we can imagine the potential use of mediumship in the future when the great discarnate artist of the past could be back to transmit new works in the medium's own language.

For that aim, they need only a faithful medium instrument.

Free Birds

My singings are songs that the heart unfasten with rapture thrill.
My songs are melodies that tenderness liberates from my soul's depths and launches toward travelling winds to reach far distances.
My sensibility is sharpen by love and I release the sweet music of hope standing on the tiny window of my pettiness.
I spread through the air the scores of a pentagram chanted by life from the bottom of my being.
By searching my King and my Lord, I modulate my word, I call, I sing and implore.
Like free birds dressed in light they fly to reach open space toward the infinite.
During either the heavy monsoons or droughts, my birds in the same way sing in freedom, enhancing the landscape with sound and beauty.
My birds are living poems of love that liberate themselves from the narrow cage of emotion where they are born to earn the vastness, like birds of happiness.
Take my songs my Lord and convert them into peace carrying birds heralding the eternal springtime for all the unfortunate ones in the world.
So I will sing and mine will be poems and songs of immortal kind.

R. Tagore (Divaldo Franco's psychography. Original in Portuguese, Pássaros Livres, in Pássaros Livres, 5)

Place of love

In everyone there is
A bare, unfathomed
Soundless, deep
Spotless hedge.

In every being there remains
A holly and ignored
Never encroached,
Enriched of tenderness,
Watchful world.

In the abyss of every soul there is
A rock,
A place, an isle,
A paradise
A corner of wonder
To be discovered.

In every heart
Dawn takes an open space,
A wide field
To be worked on,
Land of God,
Place of dream,
A haven for the future.

In every life
There is place for more lives,
As on every happiness,
A sweet gloom hovers
Presaging distress.

There is a place in me however,
In the isle of my undisclosed feelings,
An abyss of longing,
An ocean of hapiness,
A cosmos of fantasy,
To offer you
My Lord!

Come my beloved
King and Lord
Master my mistress,
Lead me on the way
Of redemption.

And take this odd and lone land,
To reign and cast your heavenly lights upon it
And happily will I move forward
Until the end of my forces
Bound to your redeeming duty.

Come my King
Into my nook
And make my life
A hymn of service
And for you an everlasting
Song of love.

R. Tagore (Divaldo Franco psychography. Original in Portuguese, Lugar de Amor, in Pássaros Livres, 5)

Birds of recollections

My recollections reach the depth that my memory allows. 

They are like migrating birds which often run away from past winter, searching for the pleasant heat of current summer and hovering on greyish landscapes so difficult to be rebuilt. 

In the time of the ever fleeting today, they become the hallmark of permanence, covering the distances created by the relentless passage of time. 

Your presence shade me either with the sadness of commited mistakes or with the lights of ennobled actions like a magic kaleidoscope of returns and evasions. 

Tears of regret run down my eyes that a hot kiss of happiness wipes out when the birds of my recollections arrive. 

Yet, your presence reaches me up as much as the cage of my memories permits, setting them free.   

R. Tagore (Divaldo Franco's psychography. Original in Portuguese, Os pássaros das recordações, in Pássaros Livres)

Far away reality

I dreamed of a dream...

Where all was cheerfull and sweet fascination

Where pain, suffering, sadness and evil were diluted

like soap bubbles in the air of a singing spring.

Cascading rivers were coloured by rays of a long lasting light

and men, in chattering groups, 

Celebrated love.

Unsuspected communion was everywhere

and the work was voluntary.

The poetry of the good declaimed touching verses

that creatures used to better understand and complete themselves.

I recalled war and hate, plagues and punishments. 

But nobody answered me, 

when I asked the happy citizens of the paradise.

Young and wise they were all at their conquered ages,

beyond conquered times...

Neither shadows nor stains could I find

and I realized that the pervading and flickering glare

was born here and there,

never extinguished in a night of lying victory.

I dreamed about a dream of a future,

when the carriage of the King of Youth and Peace

will tear a road in the infinite toward the never end.

Beloved king, whom I wish so much, I always dream of you,

However, today I dreamed about a dream...

Reality came and woke me up,

and told me a song of hope:

Love and wait!

Tomorrow you will no longer dream

because your dream will ever be.

R. Tagore (Divaldo Franco's psychography. Original in Portuguese, Realidade distante, in Estesia)

When I left

When I left wishing to earn the world but never loosing peace, you said: "Go my son, I will be with you".
I was then very young. I strived to conquer everything...
At the door of a lodge adorned with orange blossoms I asked you: "Will you write me, my mother?"
And you replied: "I will send you my news, because I will always be with you".
I took infinite routes of time and waited for your letter that never arrived.
My hands became callous.
My feet bleeded.
My body bent down with the weight of time but your words never reached me.

Pouring monsoons came dozens of times and the burning of land killed the orchad dozen occasions.

I eagerly stood before the gate of hope, waiting for your news.

Now when the snow of the years decorates my head and my sight fades away with the glazing light, I came to realize that I am the letter and message you delivered to the world, my mother, so that hope and beauty never miss in the hearts.

R. Tagore (Divaldo Franco's psychography. In Pássaros Livres)

References

(1) A. Kardec (1861) "The Medium's book", Spiritist Vocabulary. Chapter 32.

(2) http://www.divaldofranco.net/

(3) S. C. Schubert (1989). O Semeador de Estrelas, "The Sower of Stars", 4th Ed., Published by Livraria Espírita Alvorada.

(4) http://www.kkoworld.com/kitablar/Rabindranat_Taqor_Kocheri_qushlar_eng.pdf (access May 2015)

(5) D. Franco (1990). Pássaros Livres. 2nd Edition. Ed. Livraria Espírita Alvorada.

(6) See Amartya Sen opinion cited in Wikipedia: "anyone who knows Tagore's poems in their original Bengali cannot feel satisfied with any of the translations (made with or without Yeats's help). Even the translations of his prose works suffer, to some extent, from distortion." Originaly cited work: Sen, A. (1997), "Tagore and His India", The New York Review of Books.

(7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore.

What death really is (by Andrew J. Davis)

"I do not promise to believe tomorrow exactly 

what I believe today, and I do not believe today 

exactly 

what I believed yesterday. I expect to make, as I have made, 

some honest progress within every 

succeeding twenty-four hours." A. J. Davis 

Beyond the Valley (1885) p. 134.

Andrew Jackson Davis (1826 – 1910) was a prominent American medium (1), regarded as "John the Baptist" of Spiritualism. We present an interesting text (2) by him below (extracted from his book "The Temple"), a report of his sights at the instant of death of a person. Obviously, his description below is not valid for every person and all types of deaths (he explains some conditions for this death in his text).  Even so, his vision transforms death into a glorious moment in the life of those who lived well to deserve it.

Death is the word used to signify "the end of life", spoken by persons who see not that seeming death is really ‘the beginning of life,’ and the opening of the sacred volume of eternity.  But let us peer through the seeming, into that which is within the veil.

The person is now dying; and it is to be a rapid death.  Observe something about temperature.  The feet are cold; the hands hot and white; a coldness pervades the entire cuticle.  See?  What is that accumulating in the atmosphere just over the pillowed head?  It is an ethereal emanation – a golden magnetic halo – a throbbing, almost self-conscious atmosphere.

The bodily temperature is now lowering rapidly.  The coldness has extended upward from the toes to the knees, and from the fingertips to the elbows; while, in exactly the same ratio, the emanation has ascended higher over the head.  The arms are now cold to the shoulders, and legs to the hips; and the emanation, although not higher in the air, is more expanded, with a compact white center, resembling the bright nucleus of a miniature sun. This brilliant central spot, is, in very truth, the brain of the new spiritual organism now forthcoming.

The death-cold steals over the heaving breast, and around on either side the temperature is greatly diminished.  Look now! The psychic emanation contains some proportion of every principle composing the soul – motion, life sensation, ethers; essences, vital magnetism, vital electricity, instincts – and, much enlarged by accessions, it has floated up in a compact mass, and now occupies a higher altitude near the ceiling. 

Now the lungs have ceased to breathe, the pulse is still, the physical heart is motionless; while the brain cells, the corpus callosum, the medulla, and the spinal cord and ganglia, are ablaze with contractive and expansive energies, which gently pulsate and seem to direct and govern themselves by a kind of automatic self-consciousness.  See!  The negative (gray) substance of the brain is interiorly throbbing – a slow, measured, profoundly deep throb – not painful, but massive and harmonious like the deep heart-beat of the sea.

Look up! The exalted emanation, obedient to its own changeless laws, is now elongated, and has attained a position at right angles with the horizontal body below.  Behold!  See how the outline of a beautiful human form is being fashioned within that emanation.  Beneath it is still tied by a white life-cord to the medulla and the corpus callosum within the brain.

You observe that a very fine vitalic thread still connects the vortices and central fibers of the dying brain with the lower extremities of the exalted outlined human being in the atmosphere. Notwithstanding the existence of this life thread, which acts like a telegraphic conductor – conveying messages in opposite directions at the same moment – you observe that the shadowy image enveloped in a golden emanation, continues almost imperceptibly to ascend skyward.

There! What do I now see?  A symmetrically shaped human head rising above the mass – slowly, beautifully rising out of the golden cloud of substantial principles.  And now appear the outlines of a spiritual countenance – a quiet face and full of beauty, surpassing the power of words to delineate.  Look again!  behold emerging the fair neck and beautiful shoulders; and see! as we gaze, out come one after the other, in a rapid succession, as if influenced and directed by the wand of a magician, all the parts of a new body – a bright, natural looking, yet spiritual image – only a little less than the deserted physical body, a perfect re-appearance of the person in the immediate heavens, prepared to accompany the celestial group of superintending intelligences to the Summerland.

What was that?  In the twinkling of an eye the vitalic electrical telegraphic thread was snapped – the yet lingering particles and principles were suddenly attracted upward and absorbed into the spiritual body – and lo! the new organization is free of terrestrial gravitations, is instantly and absolutely independent of the weights and cares that chained it firmly imprisoned to earth.  (Those only are free at death who have lived righteously. Any enthralling passion, the least feeling of duty undischarged, of injustice committed, holds the spirit to earth, as a ship is fastened by a heavy anchor.  Only the pure are free.)

Here now behold a true, substantial, immortal, spiritual body.  It was sown in darkness and dishonor; it is raised in beauty and brightness. Behold the contrast – the vastly wide difference – between the interior and outward.  Cast your eyes around the room.  There are many friends, aged relatives, and little children, in the death chamber; they mourn, without the comfort even of blind faith; they grieve, with only the whisperings of hope to the doubting ear; they gather around the prostrate, cold body; they press together the lids of the sightless eyes; in silence and in sorrow they withdraw from the scene; and now other hands commence those final preparations with which the living consecrate the dead.

But let us open our brighter eyes – the eyes that we shall all have when clothed with the deathless garment of immortality.  See! The newly organized spiritual body – surrounded by a group of guardian angels – moves gracefully off in the direction of celestial shores.  The arisen personality follows a vibrating thread of magnetic attraction, which while the dying mutations were in process we noticed penetrating the apartment and fastening itself to the earthly brain of the resurrected.  It comes floating down from the sensorium of superior intelligences – a golden fibrillous stream of telegraphic light – sent from on high, to greet with love and guide with wisdom the newly arisen.  The thought-laden love-thread tranquilly draws the new born higher up and farther away.

Over the velvet lands and flower fields of the celestial country the bending bow of eternal promise is visible, filling with indescribable beauty the boundless ocean of world-laden skies, which cover the infinite loveliness the immeasurable zone-lands of the Hereafter.”

References

(1) http://www.andrewjacksondavis.com/
(2) http://whitecrowbooks.com/michaeltymn/entry/the_death_process_as_described_by_andrew_jackson_davis 

Music sheets in video of discarnated composers (medium Rosemary Brown)

An unintentional search on the web made me find someone on youtube who has recently posted "video music sheets"  by famous discarnated composers under the mediumship of Rosemary Brown. As many people might know, we have already posted a text on her medium (1) who can be safely regarded as the most relevant manifestation of musical mediumship ever, a strangely and extremely rare kind of psychic ability.

These are the works I could find according to the spirit composer:

1) By Brahms:

Waltz in b-moll, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPlRGLqeHwY

2) By Rachmaninoff:

Lyric in h-moll, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bxuRekN0b0

3) By Debussy:

Danse Exotique in Fis-dur, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpZ1gBAxFWY

4) By Chopin:

Nocturne in As-dur, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JqnJ5qgDZI
Impromptu in f-moll, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-CzCd4AJyQ
Impromptu in Es-dur, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UT8dqabdf0

5) By Liszt:

 Lament in e-moll, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhYgZoQpak
Waltz in b-moll, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPlRGLqeHwY

Grübelei in Fis-dur, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h35zHcNz3I

Jesus Walking on the Water, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdPQj4pXovQ

7) By Schubert (and played by Leslie Howard):

Sonata in f-moll, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN3R_xwj1Rs

Schubert's sonata in particular called my attention because it is a complete work (not simply a "piece" as many Mrs. Brown's communications are presented). According to Wikipedia:

Sonata form (also sonata-allegro form or first movement form) is a large-scale musical structure used widely since the middle of the 18th century (the early Classical period).

The simplest sonata pattern has three phases: an exposition, a development and a recapitulation. The same reference explains:

The standard definition focuses on the thematic and harmonic organization of tonal materials that are presented in an exposition, elaborated and contrasted in a development and then resolved harmonically and thematically in a recapitulation. In addition, the standard definition recognizes that an introduction and a coda may be present. Each of the sections is often further divided or characterized by the particular means by which it accomplishes its function in the form. 

Regarding such Schubert sonata, it would be interesting to make a detailed musicological study in order to identify potential composer's signatures. Such study would remarkably demonstrate the influence of the discarnate mind, its intention and operational methods besides serving remarkable as new evidences of immortality.

References

(1) E. Bomfim (2014) Rosemary Brown and Psychic art, https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzdGM5lC6GhJRUY4R09UamxtSWM/edit?pli=1

The case for reincarnation (by Brian Foster)

The last one hundred and fifty years 

has commenced a quiet revolution, 

which is only beginning. The full extent has still 

not been revealed. The material disseminated so far 

is just the first push, to rebalance the equilibrium 

between materialism and spiritualism. For English 

speakers only a small percentage is yet translated. 

Hence, as each books is translated, new facets 

of spirit life and methods come to light.

Brian Foster, "The Case for Reincarnation - your path to perfection", Chapter 28, "Last Words") 

Brian Foster has just published his book "The Case for Reincarnation - your path to perfection" deserving some comments. Brian Foster is an American Spiritist who has been active in publishing several texts for the "Spiritist Knowledge" (1) blog, our repository of Spiritist articles. He is also the author of NWSpiritism (2) containing many illuminating articles about Spiritist books and fundamental concepts. Such fine analyses contribute to explain Spiritism to a wider audience in English speaking countries and, for this reason B. Foster is probably the American who best know Spiritism nowadays. 

The book scope is to answer some "easy" questions such as:

Why do we reincarnate;
How reincarnation works;
How many reincarnation we must have;
What memories are retained after reincarnation;
What kind of control do we have over the process;
Why suffering is necessary;
How to insure a better next life;
How many one must progress to become a perfect spirit.

Answers are given far from current controversies still existing in the Spiritualist movement and in such a way that they are one step ahead of present tentative explorations that only regard reincarnation as a hypothetical mechanism for anomalistic memories in children or in past life therapy reports. Foster has captured the inherent rational competence of Spiritist principles in explaining hidden aspects of the world around us - an ability requiring the recognition of what should be questioned first. Accordingly, only those who deeply know the principles can make the right questions in order to grasp and understand the true answers. 

Foster analysis are interesting because they show how the Spiritist knowledge can be assimilated worldwide, despite pessimistic views. According to some opinions, Spiritism was able to influence only a very restricted place in the world, namely, Latin America and, in particular, Brazil. The common argument is to invoke the adaptation of Spiritism - popular recognized as a religion - to the cultural Brazilian environment. This reasoning is however flawed because Spiritism is established upon solid philosophical (and not religious) basis. Therefore, Spiritism principles can be appreciated by any serious person, group of people or country, regardless the culture. 

Book Chapters

Brian's book is written as a manual of easy reading for the general audience. Some chapters, however, are even shorter in length than others. 

1. Reincarnation - Why is it important?
2. Why believe in Reincarnation.
3. How do we tie our spirit to our body?
4. Preparation for birth.
5. Childhood.
6. How you map out your trials on Earth.
7. Why we must go through multiple trials.
8. Interlude 1 - The past lives of Camilo Castelo Branco
9. Why are some burdened with disabilities.
10. Interlude 2 - The life of Amadeu Ferrari.
11. Reincarnation and families
12. Why are there difficult people in your life.
13. Interlude 3 - The past life of Joseph Mery.
14. How the process of reincarnation improves us.
15. Introduction to Spiritism
16. The power of thought.
17. The difference between anger and indignation.
18. Interlude 4 - The past life of Alfred and Ismalia.
19. How to ascend.
20. Types of trials which are not due to past wrongs.
21. Interlude 5 - Beggar Woman found by Prince Galetzin.
22. Trials of the rich.
23. Trials of the poor.
24. Trials of the middle class
25. Interlude 6 - Two lifes - Souria-Omar and Epaminondas de Vigo
26. Suicide - An undesirable method to escape your trial.
27. Reincarnation - What have we learned.
28. Last Words.

Chapter 24 was logically included by Brian since the world today is no longer divided between the "rich" and the "poor", there is fast-growing middle class. Also interesting are the "Interludes" where several practical cases are studied, providing a rich content for further discussions. Many of the chapter titles explain why the book may be considered a  "practical guide". 

References used by Foster are taken from the fundamental codification works by A. Kardec besides L. Denis (see "Bibliography"). The author also knows quite a lot about André Luiz whose works are cited in the book. Although the book scope is restricted to reincarnation, the book also touches other subjects of Spiritist interest and may be regarded as an introduction to Spiritism (See Chapter 15). What drew my attention the most was the peculiar way the author explains his understanding about the proposed questions. 

One can feel Brian Foster enthusiasm in his words cited in the beginning of this review once each new Spiritist book is translated into English. Far from confirming the thesis of immiscible cultural environments, the little impact Spiritim may have today on English speaking countries is probably cause by the lack of information transport: as new books are translated, a new world confirming and restating the reality of an American born movement and philosophical doctrine as Spiritualism is revealed (3).  

Such Knowledge together with recent Near Death reports and research on reincarnation will feed a very favorable future environment for a worldwide dissemination of Spiritist/Spiritualist principles - in line with the highest plans of moral reformation of our planet. This will take a lot of time, but the first steps were taken as revealed by Foster's book. 

Where to find the book

Here is the link for the Kindle version (Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Case-Reincarnation-Your-Path-Perfection-ebook/dp/B00O6CDV4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413127158&sr=8-1&keywords=the+case+for+reincarnation (February 2015)

Author's page on Amazon

•  http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Foster/e/B00O6JBO0G/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Notes

(1) See: "Principles of Good Government as implied by the Spirit World" e "On the way to the light: the spiritist story of Earth as told by Emmanuel".
(2) See also: https://www.facebook.com/nwspiritism

(3) On the other side, the "new world" is described in the peculiar way this knowledge is represented and assimilated in the Spiritist movement in Brazil. The principles are however, exactly the same of Spiritualism.

God and his causes III: unfolding a new image of the Universe.

In a series of previous posts, we saw that the Creation and the idea of God as described in "The Spirit's Book" (1) is significantly distinct from the commonly accepted notion of a personal God (according to most religions). The Spiritist notion is an alternative for those ideas in which God is not necessary (Atheism, for example), since the notion of God as a person - which make him an image of the human nature -  is not accepted by Spiritism. We explored the meaning in the concept of "primary cause" that can be applied even to the simplest phenomenon. Very often, the scope of scientific theories is the treatment of causes directly linked to phenomena, but scientific development can also lead to the discovery of more fundamental causes that should be regarded as primary ones.

The existence of a fundamentally distinct element in the Universe (the intelligent principle) has a complementary and paramount rule to play in the understanding of many phenomena around us, that are not directly accessible to our senses (see question #7 in (1)). The existence of such a principle was foresaw in question #23 of (1) as reproduced below:  

23.What is spirit ?

"The intelligent principle of the universe."

a) What is the essential nature of spirit ?

"This is impossible to explain in human language. For you, the spirit is nothing because it isn't tangible. For us, it's an objective reality as substantial as the body is to you. Know however: there is no such a thing as nothingness."

The more the spirit's existence and independence of matter are summarily ignored, the harder is to move forward, since in vain the causes of intelligent phenomena in Nature will be emulated by artificial and clever arrangements of matter. These simulations do not show that information can be generated by matter alone, but only that human intelligence is necessary to the task.  

On the other hand, a new way of understanding such totality - the base for future scientific development - will become apparent with the tacit acceptance of the intelligent principle as a fundamental and irreducible cause in Nature. 

Some comments about the Spiritist image of Creation

Fig. 1

Let us compare Fig. 1 with the equivalent image of the first post that invokes the Big Ban as the primary cause. Science has postulated the Big Bang as the primary cause of all that exist in accordance to the present scientific idea of "all". This cause not only generated the material principal (which is recognized as the only existent), but also the Universal laws at a very special moment of time. For the presently accepted cosmological theories, creation  was well determined process in "time" and "space" - in fact the Big Bang signaled the very creation of space-time.

However, the Big Bang is only an intermediary cause in creation. The origin of all is God, the true primary cause. Moreover, this creation is incessant (question #21, 1). Below God, there are three main causes that can be taken as "secondary": the material principle, the intelligent principle and Nature's laws. We saw that Nature's laws are also part of physical theories and by themselves they constitute a challenge for human understanding since not only an origin for matter is necessary but an origin for these laws must be found.

But, just as Nature's laws exist governing the relations among material ingredients in the Universe, there is also specific laws for the intelligent principle. Such laws dictate how this principle relates to other elements and how it evolves in time. Presently, we are incapable of speculating about the inner nature of this principle, but we know it exists. The attention of future science will be to study these new rules and to explain the spirit phenomena that derive from them. So, in the Fig. 1, we trace a parallel between how the laws relate to the material principle - resulting in purely material phenomena - and equivalent spirit laws that relate to the spirit principle and, therefore, cause the spirit phenomena.

In our present understanding level (2), Universal laws not only determine the relation among the principles, but how they interact. Therefore, we can foresaw an interface between spirit and mater that is governed by specific principles (see fluids, question #27,1).  This interface is full of rich phenomena and their own laws.

The primordial source of information in the Universe.

Acting on a higher level in relation to the principles that regulate matter, the intelligent principle is responsible for the perennial creation of information in the Universe. This information is transferred through a special language and a peculiar communication process convenient to this principle. In constant interaction with matter, which serves as sensory element, the intelligent principle evolves through a process we still do not dare to understand. After billions of years, this principle differentiated itself and became a Spirit, owner of a consciousness, personality and mental cosmos. 

Endowed with a conscience, the spirit starts to ask about its own existence. In an Universe of magnificent effects and infinite little causes, we find ourselves as part of Creation and, at the same time, creators at a microscopic scale. What secrets does Nature still hides from us on regard to our origin? On our level, we still grope in the darkness of our ignorance, but we can foresee our true heritage, the reason and destiny of our life - as far as we can know - an unreproducible act of love beyond any limits.

References and notes

1 - 'A. Kardec (1857), "The Spirit's Book";

 2 - We say "Nature's laws govern certain phenomena", however this is only a way to describe what we observe around according to our present level of understanding and sensory habilities. Very likely, there is a deep relation between the primary cause (God) and all things created so that "Nature's laws" are the way we apprehend tangibly the reality on our level of existence. In our "little world", everything happens as if "God were absent" since we have no special organs to sense him directly. (question #10, 1)

3 - God and his causes I - http://spiritistknowledge.blogspot.com.br/2014/07/god-ans-his-causes-i.html

4 - God and his causes II - Primary and secondary causes - http://spiritistknowledge.blogspot.com.br/2014/07/god-ans-his-causes-i.html

Academic study about the mediumship of Chico Xavier

The journal Explore (1) has recently published an article by Alexandre Caroli Rocha, Denise Paraná, Elizabeth Schmitt Freire, Francisco Lotufo Neto and Alexander Moreira-Almeida containing an interesting study about the mediumship of Chico Xavier.

Entitled "Investigating the Fit and Accuracy of Alleged Mediumistic Writing: A Case Study of Chico Xavier’s Letters", the work performed an analysis of 13 psychographic letters and searched for the degree of information accuracy in each of them against the chance of "normal" access by the medium to that information. The article abstract reads:

We identified 99 items of verifiable information conveyed in these 13 letters; 98% of these items were rated as “Clear and Precise Fit” and no item was rated as “no Fit.” We concluded that normal explanations for accuracy of the information (i.e., fraud, chance, information leakage, and cold reading) were only remotely plausible. These results seem to provide empirical support for non-reductionist theories of consciousness.

The complete article can be reached here: http://www.explorejournal.com/article/S1550-8307(14)00108-6/abstract. The work was supported by FAPESP (see 2, process #2010/11047-0).

References

(1) http://www.explorejournal.com/article/S1550-8307(14)00108-6/abstract
(2) São Paulo Research Foundation: http://www.fapesp.br/en/

Spirit Messages: Studies on Reincarnation (The Spiritit Magazine, February 1864)

The Spiritist Magazine, February 1864, Spiritist dissertations.

Spiritist Society of Paris, Medium: Mrs: A. C.

Limits of reincarnation

Reincarnation is necessary when matter dominates the spirit. But, from the moment the spirit has mastered matter and annulated its effects on moral, reincarnation has neither use nor reason to exist. In effect, the body serves the spirit in his progressive work, until he learns to manage the body, and project his will upon matter when the work is accomplished. Then another field of action is necessary for the spirit advancement toward the infinite way. Another circle of study is required, where gross matter of inferior spheres is unknown. Having purged and experimented all sensation on Earth or on similar worlds, the spirit is mature enough for a spiritual life and other studies. Having elevated himself above all bodily sensations, the spirit is free from all desires or necessities applicable to bodiliness: it is a spirit and lives only spiritual sensations that are infinitely more delightful than the most delicious bodily feelings.

Reincarnation and the aspirations of man

The soul's aspirations drive themselves to their realization which is accomplished during reincarnation, while the spirit is occupied with the material work. I explain. Let us take the spirit in the beginning of its human career. Foolish and unintelligent, he feels, however, the divine spark in himself, since he adores a material god in accordance to his bodiliness. In this being, still very close to animality, there is an almost unconscious instinctive aspiration toward a less inferior state. It starts by satisfying his material appetites and by envying those in a better situation. Then, in a following life, the spirit chooses by himself or is better pushed toward an improved body and always wishes, after every existence, a material improvement. Never feeling fully satisfied, the spirit wants to go up always, because the ambition for happiness is the great drive of progress.

As his bodily sensations increase in intensity and become more refined, his spiritual sentiments also awake and grow. Then, the moral work starts and the soul's urge for improvement follows the bodily aspirations to reach a superior state.

This state of equilibrium between body and spirit desires does not last very much, since the spirit will very soon elevate himself above matter and his wishes can no longer be satisfied. The spirit needs more, longs for something better; but then, having the body reached its sensitive perfection, it no longer can follow the spirit, which now dominates the body from which it increasingly detaches, as if dropping a useless instrument. The spirit then drives all its aspirations and longs for a superior state, he feels that material aspirations - a former source of happiness and amusement - are now a cause of annoyance and decadence, a sad demand from which the spirit hopes to set himsel free in order to enjoy, unimpeded, all spiritual luckiness he can now presages.

Action of fluids during reincarnation

Once the fluids are the agents of movement in their corporeal instrument, they are also the elements of our aspirations, since there are bodily and spiritual fluids and all must raise and join fluids of the same nature. These fluids compose the spiritual body of the spirit which, in the incarnated state, uses them to act upon the human machinery that the spirit is called to improve, since everything is a work of Creation and compete to general advancement.

The spirit has free-will and looks for what pleases and satisfies him. If he is a material and inferior spirit, he tries to satisfy himself in materiality when he boosts the material fluids which will dominate him, but make the spirit grow and improve materially. So, the desires of this incarnate will be material and, after returning to the spirit state, he will look for another incarnation in which he will satisfy his needs and material desires, since, note, the bodily aspiration cannot lead, as a realization, to anything different of a new materiality. But spiritual aspirations instead will only bind to the sensations of the spirit. This will be requested by the fluids that the spirit allow to materialize, and since in the act of reincarnation the fluids act to attract the spirit to the body that is formed, occurring then fluid attraction and fusion, the reincarnation takes place in accordance to conditions that satisfy the aspirations of the spirit's former existence.

However, when the spiritual has conquered the material, the spirit, which judges everything differently, will choose or is attracted to distinct sympathies. Since it needs depuration, which is only reached through work, the selected incarnations are progressively more grievous than the former ones, since, after the state of matter and fluid dominance, the spirit will fight to master the material. Therefore we see these painful existences that seem to be unfairly administered to such good and intelligent spirits. They are on the last corporeal phase and will enter, after leaving this world, the superior spheres where the high aspirations will finally be fulfilled.

Earthly affections and reincarnation

The dogma of indefinite reincarnations finds opposition in the incarnated and loving heart because, in the presence of infinite existences, each one producing bounds, he wonders with scare what would become the particular affections; if they would not melt in a single general love, destroying the persistence of individual relations. He wonders if these individual affections are only a way of advancement, and then despondency takes hold of his soul, because true affection expects the need of an eternal love, feeling that it would never tires of loving. The thought of those millions identical affections seem to him impossible, even admitting love to be the greatest of all faculties. 

The incarnated being who seriously studies Spiritism with no preconceived ideas on regard to a given system, will be attracted to a new existence by the justice that comes from spirit progress at each new life. However, when he studies from the point of view of his heart affections, he doubts and get astonished. Since he cannot cope with both feelings, he declares the presence of a veil on these matters, and his working thoughts calls the spirit's light to his help. 

I have already said that reincarnation ceases when materiality is abrogated. I showed how material progress in principle refines the bodily sensations of the incarnated spirit; whose spiritual progress, in the sequence, counterbalances the influence of matter and then subjects it to its will and that, by reaching the spirit degree, bodiliness has no reason to exist after the work has been accomplished. 

Let us now examine the issue of affections from the material and spiritual points of view.

To begin with, what is affection, love? Still fluidic attraction uniting two beings in the same sentiment. This attractiveness has two distinct natures, since the fluids have different natures. But, for affection to endure eternally it must be spiritual and uninterested; abnegation and devotion are necessary, no personal sentiment must be involved in such an appealing drift. Provided there is personality involved in the sentiment, there will be materiality. Now, no material affection persists in the spirit domain. So, any affection resulting from animal instinct and selfishness will be destroyed with earthly death. So, how many beings who proclaim themselves to be loved are forgotten in a short time after separation! You have loved them by yourself not by them who no longer live, since you have substituted and forgotten them. You have looked for consolation in oblivion, you are indifferent to them, you no longer love them. 

Contemplate Humankind and see how scarce are the true affection on Earth! So, one should not wonder the multiplicity of acquired affections. The true affections are a relative minority, but they exist and the real ones will persist and perpetuate under several forms; first on Earth, then in the spirit state, as a friendship or an unchangeable love that continuously grows and elevates itself even more. 

Let us now study the true affection, the spiritual love.

The spiritual affection is based on fluidic spiritual affinity and, acting alone, gives rise to sympathy. When this happens, the soul loves the soul, and this affection is only increased under the manifestation of soul's sentiments. Two spirits spiritually bounded seek one another and tend to approach one another. Their fluids are attractive. If they inhabit the same globe, they will be urged to each other. If they are separated by earthly death, their thoughts will be united in memory and meetings will be held during sleep. When the time of reincarnation arrives to one, the other will try to approach his friend, entering what can be called material affiliation. This will be even easier, the more affine is the perispiritual connection in the material body of the incarnate who give birth to the new being. So, a new addition of affection, a new manifestation of love. The spirit friend who has loved you as your dad will loves you as a son, a brother as again a brother and the bounds will grow at every new life and will be perpetuated in a unchangeable way until when, after the work is fulfilled, you live the life of spirit. 

But such true affections are rare on Earth and matter tends to slow them down, to cancel their effects as matter dominates the spirit. Since true friendship and true love are spiritual, everything concerning matter does not belong to its nature and nothing will contribute to spiritual identification. Affinity persists in a latent state until the spiritual fluid dominates and a new progress of affinities occurs. 

In summary, the spiritual affection is the only one enduring in the spirit domain. On Earth and on other spheres of corporeal work, it contributes to the moral advancement of the incarnate spirit who, under the influence of affinity, will work miracles of abnegation and devotion for his loved ones. Here, in the heavenly spheres, affection is the full satisfaction of all aspirations and the greatest happiness a spirit can enjoy. 

Progress blocked by indefinite reincarnations. 

Here reincarnation has been regarded too much prolonged. One has not considered that such duration of corporeity, even if less material, would lead however to necessities obstructing spirit advancement. In effect, admitting the persistence of new generations in the superior worlds, corporeal needs are associated to the incarnate spirit; material occupations and duties are given to the spirit, tasks that secure and detain the impulse for spirit studies. Why such handicaps are necessary? Can the spirit enjoy the happiness of love without body diseases ? Even on Earth, this sentiment exists by itself, quite independently of the material part of our being. No matter how rare they are, there are sufficient examples to show that it should be felt even more frequently among the most spiritualized beings. Reincarnation determines the union of two bodies. Pure love only determines the union of two souls. Spirits are bound through affections started on inferior worlds and they work together to their spiritual progress. They have a fluid organization that is totally distinct of those resulted of their corporeal instruments, their works are exerted on fluids and not on material objects. The spirits go to the sphere that have completed the material period, dematerialized places that have underwent a superior transformation, placing them in conditions to undergo new modifications, but in an entirely fluidic sense. 

Now you can understand the immense power of fluids, a power that you can only determine but cannot see or touch. In a less dense state than you are now, you will be capable of seeing, touching and working on this fluid which is the great agent of universal life. 

Why is then necessary for the spirit to enter a body for doing a job that is not the scope of bodily understanding? You would say that this body is in accordance to the new works the spirit must fulfill, but, admitting these works are entirely fluidic and spiritual in the superior spheres, why the difficulties of the bodily needs are necessary? Therefore, as I stated, reincarnation will always requires generation and nourishment, that is, the need to satisfy matter but, on the other hand, imposes barriers to the spirit. 

You should understand that the spirit must be free in his fly toward infinity; that having the spirit just stopped wearing the nappings of matter, he wishes, as a child, to walk and run unimpeded, and that such early necessities of the first childhood education are redundant to the grown up child and unbearable to the adolescent. 

Do not wish then to remain in childhood. Look yourselves as students who are in the last phases of school and eager to enter the world, to have in it your status and to start to work on another level resulted from your earlier lessons. 

Spiritism is the lever that will allow a spiritual jump to every incarnate who, understanding and practicing it well, will be able to dominate and annihilate matter, become its master. Every spirit of good will is capable of conquering the spirit state definitely after leaving this world. Faith and active will are only required. Spiritism provides plenty of both to those who want to understand its moral sense. 

The Medium's protecting Spirit. 

Observation: this communication has only the signature above, showing that, in order to dictate good things, no famous name is necessary.

We can note some similarity with Sen's communications and the first part of the message above which is surely more developed, but the fundamental idea about the need of reincarnation is the same. We cite both messages to show that the great principles of the Spiritist teachings are taught everywhere and that this is the way Spiritism will find its unity and strength. Such agreement is the best benchmark for truth. One should note that eccentric and systematic theories dictated by pseudo enlightened spirits are always circumscribed to an individual and limited circle, what constitutes the reason for their lack of preponderance. This is also the reason for not fearing them since they all have temporary existence, which fades away like a weak lamp in day light. 

As for the last communication, it would be dispensable to emphasize their range both in principle and in form. It can be summarized as follows:

Regarded from the point of view of progress, the Spirit's life has three main periods:

1. The material period: in which the influence of matter dominates the Spirit. This is the state of the brute and fleshly passions of men, of lustiness, whose aspirations are exclusively earthlike, bound to temporary goods or unruly to spiritual ideas. 

2. The period of balance, in which the influence of matter and spirit operates simultaneously; in which, while submitted to material needs, man feels and understands the spiritual state, when he works to emerge from the bodily state.

3. The spiritual state, in which, having completely dominated matter, the spirit no more needs an incarnation nor material work. His works are entirely spiritual instead. This is the state of the spirit in the higher worlds. 

The ease by which certain people accept the spiritist ideas, about which they seem to have an intuitive notion, shows that they are already in the second period; but between this phase and the other periods many degrees exist, that the spirit transposes rapidly as he approaches the spiritual phase. In this way, from a material world like Earth, he can inhabit a superior one like Jupiter, provided his moral and spiritual advancement is sufficient to exempt him from the intermediary stages. It depends therefore on man to leave Earth forever, as a world of tests and atonements, or to return to Earth in mission. 

Allan Kardec

Spirit Message: Rebirth (by Urbain Grandier)

"Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep." (Luke, VIII, 52)

Humankind, to you I address these words! To you, who say lost, those who try to read you future! To you, annihilated by unbelief, frozen by skeptical selfishness, befogged by doubt! On you, poor daughter of Jairus, many exclaim: "No use calling, the girl is dead !!!"

But the Master gets in the house and moving closer says: "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep!"

Humankind, near this deathbed, where passions bind you, the Master has deigned to approach and, followed by some of his dear ones, has extended to you his divine hands and said: "My child, get up and walk! Leave this lethargy, this apathy so common to those approaching death, get up and walk!"

Get up Humankind and leave this deathbed of agony, the cause of your sufferings! Leave selfshness that restricts and smothers your noble passions; leave your pride, the thirst of gold erasing the generous pulsation of your heart! Renounce hatred, the desire that binds you, get up! Shake the shroud that keeps you captive, ignorance and lack of faith!

Get up and awake with the mighty blow, the divine blow, and hey you are reborn, you are rewarmed, you are saved again. Now, is the material life far from you, because you are a soul, you are an intelligence that was brough back to life?

You are indeed so surprised with the aspirations you feel within, your amazed glance search for help and for a new pathway.

Here my daughter, here is the new path, the path of love, of hope and faith! Walk, the truth will be your guide, science will be your torch, compassion your support, perfection your goal!

Walk toward this light, the sunshine of a homeland, now reaching you. The light will lead you to this homeland where one lives by love, work and justice!

Walk, the spark of transformation has just fallen upon you, daughter of Jairus, poor humankind, and has made this obscure world a sun of truth, life and love!

Your day has come! In vain passions of despair fight to keep you captive, we extended our hands to you and neutrilized the effect, you can now shake the yoke!

This divine breath, this spark of life, this powerful hand extended to the Earth, you can now recognize my friends, it is Spiritism! This young, powerful and sound grafting coming out of the old trunk diverted; it is the sublime belief, such an enlightened and wise philosophy that will give devotion to the strong, help to the weak and happiness and piece to all!

Urbain Grandier (1, 2) 

August, 1874

References

(1) On the Spirit author: Urbain Grandier (1590-1634) was a French Catholic priest burned at the stake in the famous witchcraft case of the "Loudun Possessions". In fact he was a victim of the political turmoin in France at his time. His process was a fraud enacted  by Ursuline's nouns. More about Grandier can be read here. 240 years after his death, his spirit is back through Mrs. Krell as one of the authors in many Spiritualist articles about the future of Humankind and the new era of Spiritualism/Spiritism.

(2) Spirit communicaton by Mrs. W. Krell, "Rayonnements de la vie spirituelle". Original source and text in French:

http://spirite.free.fr/ouvrages/rayonnements/rayon.htm

Renaissance

Août 1874 « Cette fille n’est pas morte, elle n’est qu’endormie.» (St Luc).  

Humanité, c’est à toi que j’adresse ces paroles ! A toi, que disent perdue ceux qui essayent de lire dans ton avenir ! A toi, anéantie par l’incrédulité, glacée par le sceptique égoïsme, engourdie par le doute ! A toi, pauvre fille de Jaïre de laquelle chacun crie : « il n’est plus temps d’appeler, cette fille est morte !!! » 

Mais le maître entre dans la maison et s’approchant il dit : « non, cette fille n’est pas morte, elle n’est qu’endormie ! »  

Humanité, près de ce lit de mort où te retiennent les passions, le maître a daigné s’approcher, et suivi de quelques-uns des siens, il a étendu vers toi sa main divine en te disant : « ma fille, lève-toi et marche ! Sors de cette léthargie, de cette torpeur que tous prennent pour la mort, lève-toi et marche ! »  

Lève-toi, humanité, et laisse sur ce lit d’agonie les causes de ta souffrance ! Laisse l’égoïsme qui t’étreint et étouffe tes nobles aspirations ; laisse l’orgueil, la soif de l’or qui éteignent les palpitations généreuses de ton cœur ! Rejette la haine, l’envie qui te tiennent ; lève-toi ! Secoue le suaire qui te retient captive, c’est l’ignorance, c’est le manque de foi !  

Lève-toi, je t’ai éveillée par un souffle puissant, un souffle divin et te voilà vivifiée, te voilà réchauffée, te voilà sauvée. Loin de toi maintenant la seule vie matérielle, car c’est une âme, c’est une intelligence que je viens de rendre à la vie ?  

En effet, tu es surprise des aspirations que tu sens au-dedans de toi-même et ton regard, étonné, cherche un appui et un chemin.  

Voici ma fille, voici la voie nouvelle pour toi, la voie d’amour, d’espoir et de foi ! Marche, la vérité sera ton guide, la science ton flambeau, la charité ton soutien, la perfection ton but !  

Marche vers cette lumière, rayon du soleil de la patrie, qui arrive aujourd’hui jusqu’à toi, elle te reconduira vers cette même patrie où l’on vit d’amour, de travail et de justice !  

Marche, l’étincelle qui doit te transformer vient de tomber sur toi, ô fille de Jaïre, pauvre humanité, et faire de ce monde obscur un soleil de vérité, de vie et d’amour !  

Ton jour est venu ! C’est en vain que les passions luttent avec la rage du désespoir pour te retenir, en étendant la main vers toi j’ai neutralisé leur effet mortel et dès maintenant tu pourras secouer le joug !  

Ce souffle divin, cette étincelle de vie, cette main puissante étendue sur le monde terrestre, vous l’avez compris, ô mes amis, c’est le spiritisme ! C’est cette jeune greffe saine et vigoureuse, sortant du vieux tronc dévié, c’est cette croyance sublime, cette philosophie éclairée et sage qui donnera aux forts le dévouement, aux faibles l’appui, à tous, le bonheur et la paix !  

Urbain Grandier. 

The Spiritist Magazine by Allan Kardec in English

As announced in the blog NWSpiritism, we can now read some historic editions of "La Revue Spirite" (originally published in French, 1) by Allan Kardec in English. The formal name of the work in English is "The Spiritist Magazine - Journal of Psychological Studies". This achievement is just the beginning of a monumental translation work still under preparation by IPEAK (Allan Kardec Institute of Research) and carried out by Luiz A. V. Cheim. IPEAK website is a bilingual page (in Portuguese and French) which we hope will bring more content in English in the future.

This is surely a relevant endeavor, since A. Kardec was one of the pioneers of the psychic research but he is widely unknown to English speaking people. There are several cases of hauntings and psychic communications analysed by Kardec as a first read through "The Spiritist Magazine" can reveal. 

The Magazine also was a key tool in the beginning of Spiritism, since it contains many introductory texts where Kardec developed basic principles of Spiritualism and their relationships. For example, Kardec was the first thinker to understand the relation between reincarnation and the processo of soul evolution, linking these concepts to Christian ethics as many articles in the Spiritist Magazine show. 

Reincarnation in psychic communications already in 1857.

An interesting example can be found on page 99 of the February 1858 edition (2). Entitled "Conversations from beyond the grave - Evocation of Ms. Clary D." the full text is reproduced below in blue and show the presence of reincarnation ideas in a Spiritist work already in 1857.

Note: Ms. Clary D... was an interesting girl, who died in 1850 at age 13, who has since then stood as the genie of the family, where she is frequently evoked and where she gives a large number of communications of the highest interest. The conversation we reproduce below occurred between us on January 12th, 1857 through her brother, who is a medium. 

1. Do you have precise memories of your corporeal existence?
The spirit sees the present, the past and some of the future, according to their perfection and their proximity to God. 

2. The condition of perfection is relative only to the future, or it also
refers to the present and the past?
The spirit sees the future more clearly as they get closer to God. After death, the soul sees and embraces, at a glance, all past migrations, but can cannot see what God prepares. For that we need to be fully in God, there are many existences. 

3. Do you know when your reincarnation will be?
In 10 or 100 years. 

4. On Earth or another world?
On another. 

5. The world where you will be, compared to Earth, will have better conditions, same as on Earth or inferior?
Much better than on Earth. One is happy over there. 

6. Since you are here among us, are you in a particular place? Where?
I’m ethereal in appearance. I can say that my spirit itself extends much further. I see many things and I transport myself far from here with the speed of thought. My appearance is right by my brother’s side and guides his arm. 

7. This ethereal body which dresses you up allows you to experience physical sensations, such as heat and cold?
When I remember much of my body I feel a sort of impression, as when a blanket is removed from you and, for some time, you still keep the sensation that you have it on. 

8. You said you can move with the speed of thought. Isn’t the thought the soul itself, which detaches from its involucre?
Yes 

9. When your thoughts move to a given region, how does the separation of the soul take place?
The appearance vanishes. The thought goes alone. 

10. Is it therefore a faculty that stands out, the actual “being” stays put?
The form is not the being. 

11. But how does this thought act? Is it not always through matter?
No. 

12. When your thinking faculty stands out, don’t you act then by means of matter?
The shadow fades away and reproduces wherever the thought may guide it. 

13. Considering that you were only 13 years old when your body died, how can you give us answers beyond the reach of a child of that age, about such abstract questions?
My soul is very old! 

14. Among your previous existences can you mention one in which you had raised your knowledge most?
I was in the body of a man who I made a virtuoso. After his death I was in the body of a girl whose face stamped my own soul. God rewards me. 

15. Could we be allowed to see you here as you are now?
You could. 

16. How could that be? It depends on us, on you or on those closest to you?  

On you. 

17. Which conditions should we satisfy to obtain that?
You need to seclude for some time, with faith and fervor; you need to be in a small group; you need some isolation and a medium like Home.

Then, the following article is an essay by A. Kardec about the mediumship of Daniel D. Home.

References

1 - Original texts of the Spiritst Magazine in French can also be read at the French mirror  site of Ipeak. Just click on the French flag on top and go to the link "Revue Spirite" (left menu "Oevres d'Allan Kardec").

2 - Only two links to 1858 and 1859 editions are provided:

•  (1858) http://www.ipeak.com.br/site/upload/midia/pdf/spiritist_magazine_1858_-_diagramada.pdf
• (1859) http://www.ipeak.com.br/site/upload/midia/pdf/spiritist_magazine_1859_-_diagramada.pdf