Chico Xavier's Psicography
Spiritism has evolved since the middle of the 19th century and now has an organisation with over 15
million followers in South America alone. Its development has been a dynamic process founded upon
mediumship. It started with Allan Kardec, a French educator and author, who asked the spirits over a
thousand questions about our lives and received answers from the spirit world via automatic writing
mediums from around the world. The resulting 'Spirits Book' is generally regarded as one of the most
profound and important examples of automatic writing. Allan Kardec's next project was to enquire about
Jesus and the Bible, and under the supervision of 'an editorial board' of spirits 'The Gospel According
to Spiritism' was published explaining the moral teachings of Christ. From these beginnings the
evolution of Spiritism has continued to be guided from the spirit world. Over a thousand books of spirit
communication received by Spiritist mediums have been published to date. Nowadays thousands of Spiritist
Centres exist around the world, with youth and children's sections, crèches, soup kitchens, and regular
distributions of food and clothing, etc., which all go to form part of the activities found in these
Centres. Spiritists also run psychiatric hospitals, professional, vocational and literacy training
courses, as well as organise homes for the elderly and orphanages.
Spiritism is distinctive in that its teachings focus primarily upon the spiritual development of the
individual and the recognition of spiritual reality, reincarnation (karma), and takes very seriously the
problem to the individual of spirit obsession (negative spirit influence). Mediumship is conducted in
private groups devoted to trance, rescue and disobsession work. All mediums undergo comprehensive
training. The impact and acceptance of Spiritism within South American society has been profound. The
Brazilian government helps to provide funds to run Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals and educational
institutions. There are also many professional organisations such as the Brazilian Medical-Spiritist
Association, Spiritist Association of Magistrates, Spiritist Association of Journalists, Military
Spiritist Associations, who hold their meetings within the various barracks, and even a Spiritist-Police
Association. Many meetings of commemoration are held in political assembly rooms, directed by leading
politicians in the capital Brasília and elsewhere.
The World Spiritist Moviment
World Spiritist Congress 2004
The Spiritist Movement first began in Paris in 1857, with the publishing of THE SPIRITS' BOOK
compiled by a French scholar from the school of Pestalozzi, who later came to be known as Allan Kardec.
Subsequently he was guided to prepare five other books, these being The Mediums' Book - What is
Spiritism? - The Gospel According to Spiritism - The Genesis - Heaven & Hell. His Posthumous
Works are a compilation of his own writings, including personal messages received from Spirit,
offering invaluable information on the actual organisation of the Movement. He passed suddenly from a
heart attack in March of 1869.
Spiritism as a movement grew from a single copy of the Spirits' Book sent to Brazil soon after
publication, which was quickly translated into Portuguese. Today there are some ten million adepts in
Brazil. South, Central and North American countries have several million more adepts. There are also many
Groups set up in places like Australia, Angola, Zimbabwe, and now in almost all of the European countries
you can find groups springing up, including nine in the UK.
The medium Divaldo Franco
In 1992, at the instigation of some forward thinking Spiritist workers from various countries, the
INTERNATIONAL SPIRITIST COUNCIL was founded in Madrid by the representatives of nine countries: Brazil,
Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Now there are already some twenty-
three member countries, which include most of the South and Central American countries, Mexico and the
USA. Most of the European countries have also joined as members of the council. Elsewhere various other
countries are participating as observers.
In August 2000, representatives from the Brazilian Spiritist Federation and the International
Spiritist Council together with the well-known Brazilian speaker and medium, Divaldo Franco, were invited
to attend THE MILLENNIUM WORLD PEACE SUMMIT held in New York and organised by the UN. This was a
gathering of religious and spiritual leaders from around the world, who each offered their various
contributions towards world peace. It was a time of profound prayer and positive thought for the well
being of the planet.
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ALLAN KARDEC STUDY GROUP-UK
