JUNE NEWSLETTER 2020

HUMAN PROGRESSION

                     Written by Allan Kardec   

“Man cannot remain perpetually in ignorance, because he must reach the goal marked out for him by Providence; he is gradually enlightened by the force of things. Moral revolutions, like social revolutions, are prepared, little by little, in the ideas of a people; they go on germinating for centuries, and at length suddenly burst forth, overthrowing the crumbling edifice of the past, which is no longer in harmony with the new wants and new aspirations of the day.

“Man, often perceives, in these public commotions, only the momentary disorder and confusion that affect him in his material interests; but he who raises his thoughts above his own personality admires the providential working which brings good out of evil. Such commotions are the tempest and the storm that purify the atmosphere after having disturbed it.”

(The Spirits’ Book, Kardec’s comment regarding item 783)

SOCIETAL CHANGE

          Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges

We are ALL spirits incarnated as human beings that no matter our appearance, qualities, beliefs or whatever our characteristics, want to be treated with respect, dignity, compassion, fairly, without prejudice and we all want our civil rights equally respected, and to be able to exercise our natural human’s rights for the freedom and fair opportunity to reach our fullest potential in life.   

When certain groups of us face discrimination, intimidation, fear, abuse, injustice and outright violence for years, how can there not be outrage? The following movements are examples:

The #MeToo movement started more than 10 years ago and has spread to help girls/women to speak out with courage, who were victims of sexual harassment, abuse and violence, and know they are not alone. The TV, Hollywood, and sports industries were rocked. Some major corporations made changes. Some laws were implemented in different cities. Our social culture has definitely felt this movement’s impact.  

Black Lives Matter protests started in around 2013 and has spread from the US, to across the globe: all over Europe, India, Brazil, Australia and others. People are protesting in solidarity because they see racial injustice in all its aspects as a worldwide problem. Cell phones have recorded egregious acts of violence and murder by authority figures that hitherto would have remained hidden. The sports industry, some corporations and workplaces, and other entities are now showing solidarity, making changes to promote racial fairness and end racial stereotypes. Legislation is needed to address criminal justice reform, and problems of socioeconomic unfairness among people of color in employment, housing, healthcare, education and more.    

Societal Change - continued

The Gay Civil Rights movement in the LGBTQ Community has been actively protesting since the late 1960s and have gained various legal rights over many, many years. Out of hiding, now there exists Gay Pride Month celebrated in June throughout the country. Just this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gays/transgenders against discrimination.    

All social movements come with backlash, anger, misunderstandings, confusion and sadly violence. Since we are all imperfect, any changes will be imperfect, also hearts and minds will need to change. Yet, we must try to better ourselves and to treat others as we would want to be treated.

Our country has been through a Revolution, a Civil War, the Great Depression, WWI & WWII, the 60s protests, Civil Rights movements, various wars, many moral and violent conflicts, through sicknesses and disease, and we have suffered much, but our country survived.  

We will (although painfully) endure and get through these current times of social protests, the pandemic, unemployment and this recession too… because we must. We chose to be born during these times and the strength of our spiritual potential is limitless!

Material Life is a school where we all learn and are put to the test. Adversity forces us to give our all, to push us to our limits intellectually, morally and spiritually in order to adapt, make any changes, find solutions; and, in our difficulties, the process forces our spirits to grow more resilient, stronger and wiser. Pain and suffering, is what purifies the soul!

Our spirit guides and the superior spirits that watch over us and this planet provide inspiration, guidance and protection, as permitted, to us along the way. Have faith in the CREATOR-All LOVE and in the Divine Laws which are PERFECT.      

THE CREATOR and PRAYER

Spirit communication received

                by Yvonne Crespo Limoges

Have you forgotten that there is a Supreme Intelligence that influences all within this entire Cosmos? Do you think this Great Wisdom does not influence those on your planet? …

You go about your business in life and think you are the sole arbiters of your destiny…but prayers can also influence your destiny and the Supreme Will can concede to a request that does not break or disrupt the immutable Laws of the Universe. How prideful mankind is! Prayer is the instrument to your salvation!

In everything you do and in all that you propose, prayer to that Invincible and Almighty Power that exists, can provide you with what you need to sustain yourselves, to succeed in the courses of action if they are for the good of yourselves and others. If you also have the strongest faith in that Power, then even more so will come that unwavering assistance which ever awaits, for mankind to raise their eyes to God, instead of looking below for answers to those just as imperfect as yourselves…

Prayer is the Religion of your Creator! There are no human conditions set to it. Prayer is a simple powerful and sacred communion…when said with conviction, belief and from the heart… The merits of the action of prayer are always rewarded. You may not understand the results (for they may not be answered in the way you wanted) but it is always answered nevertheless, in many ways not yet understood by your imperfect intellect.

So wake up in your material world with a prayer upon your lips and with strong fervor in your heart that if your intentions are for good your requests will be heard, but trust the Creator to answer them with the Wisdom of the Ages and Knowing more than you, to do what is in your best interests. May God Bless all of you and pray!

A COLLECTIVE LOVE

Written by Fermín Hernández Hernández

Love, as a source of life, of feelings and emotions, is an unstoppable force, it is a much stronger and a broader emotion than we can imagine. It has no borders. It is in continuous expansion. It grows and grows without limit. When it awakens in the individual in a clean and spontaneous way it is like a fast-flowing river that looks for its channel to grow and reach the sea. It is the divine spark growing in search of its Creator.

Our love is clothed in countless clothes that prevent it from manifesting fully, it is limited by our own imperfections and by the selfishness that has accompanied us since time immemorial.

Fortunately, little by little, we become aware of our own spiritual nature and, with faith, work and enthusiasm, we progress slowly, detaching ourselves from that uncomfortable burden and, in each new life, we improve our ability to manifest authentic love, that which was taught by the greatest Teacher, Jesus.

We have been evolving imperceptibly, always thanks to the tests and expiations that we are receiving...due to the Law of Cause and effect…

But there comes a time in the life of every individual when something inside arises. It is the divine spark that impels us to search for truth, freedom and happiness, both personally and collectively.

We evolve individually and collectively, everything around us is transmuted, times and perceptions change; [with] new tests, new needs and new lessons to learn. This is the only way of progress and the path that Humanity needs. …

It is the Law of Progress that impels us to constant renewal…

We are also becoming aware that to coexist and maintain good relationships in society, we need to maintain a permanent state of Peace and Harmony…we all share the same home and destiny. That which affects the part influences the whole…This is the message that we bring to the fore and is entitled: Universal Solidarity.

It is not a trivial matter, it is the beginning of a new era in which we will learn that we are all equal, all brothers [sisters], regardless of color, race, religion [gender, etc., etc.] or country from which we come.

We have fully entered the Age of the Spirit, and the Spirit, has no color or distinctions, we are all fellow spirits. We share the same origin; we are children of the same Universal Father. The Law of Solidarity requires us to respect ourselves, tolerate each other and something more transcendent ... treat each other fraternally, as children of the same Creator that we are…

Let's wake up at once, stop thinking as isolated individuals! Let us begin to perceive the Humanity of our Planet as an Entity... This planet is the home of each…and belongs to all of us equally. We must focus our thinking towards protecting life, people and this habitat that gives us shelter…

We are living in a time of great and constant change that is not accidental, we are being tested in matters of universal solidarity, fraternity, the ability to differentiate between matter and spirit, between love and selfishness, between union and division, war and peace.

We come to progress… with a spirit of struggle and love, the trials that Divine Providence puts in our path.

So, let us know how to take advantage of them.

(Excerpts from as article from Association of Spiritual Studies of Group Villena in Alicante, Spain. Website www.amorpazycaridad.es  translated by Y. Limoges)

HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN MY BELIEF?

      Spirit communication received

                             by Yvonne Crespo Limoges

You must open your heart, sincerely and honestly, by starting a conversation through fervent prayer with God and His protector spirits. The fluidic link that this will establish, if you take the effort to do it, will allow the spiritual fluids [energies] to penetrate and surround you, this will inspire feelings you will have never felt before. These inspirations will lead you to believe in yourself and in All Powerful God. You will gain a spiritual strength of which you never realized possible!

Talk more consistently to God and your protector spirit. Ask for help and this belief you want, because you know it is good and will make you strong. God loves you and waits so patiently for all His children to reach out to Him. You will never be disappointed!

What can you say to Him? Start with…that you love Him for creating you and giving to you all those around you who love you. Thank Him for creating the beauty of Nature and the wondrous Universe. Thank Him for the many blessings you have, for there are always those worse off than you. Ask for the spiritual help you know you need.

A long time ago, Jesus said, “Seek and ye shall find” and this still holds true. You must make the first move. Ask for God’s help in understanding Him and in understanding yourself.

Prayer is the key to strong belief and strong faith. Only you, yourself, can start the process. But, when you do it with firm determination, you will be amazed on how strong you will inwardly feel…. Oh, how powerful and sure you will feel about what is right and wrong to guide your actions. You will be without fear! You will have no doubt that God is with you, and with that inner spiritual power, you can be and do anything if it’s for your own good and the good of others.

May God Bless you all and be strong! You all can do this! We, who are your spirit guides are with you and are waiting. Call on us!

SUMMERTIME

          Inspirational by Alysia Mikesell

Summertime is a time for the kids and family.

Yes, even in a pandemic!

So, take some time to spend with your family and children, make memories with them that you can think back on for a lifetime or to tell stories about on holidays.

Everyone needs breaks in life from school and work, to rest the mind and body, or perhaps get the mind and body in motion. Think of some things that you did with your parents, or come up with new ideas.

Even if major things, like vacations out-of-town, cannot be done due to certain health condition(s) or circumstance(s). If we put our creative minds to work, there is always something fun that can be done!

                            ****

PRAYER: Dear God, I feel the need to ask You   for the necessary strength so as to support the test that You have sent me…I submit myself with resignation, but I am so weak I fear I will succumb if You do not uphold me. Do not abandon me, Lord, because without You I am nothing. AMEN

(Excerpt from Kardec’s The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch. 28 and translated by Janet Duncan)

**********************************

Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director

E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com

 

Spiritist Society of Florida 

5042 22 Avenue North,

St. Petersburg, Florida 33710  

For our website, Google: Spiritist Society of Flo

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GRATITUDE: CONDITION OF THE HUMAN BEING

If we take a look at the world in general, would we say that society, most of us, are happy, or that we
get up with a full spirit of joy? Also, thanking God for being born and being here enjoying the
opportunity to prosper and progress, both materially and spiritually? Rather, it seems not.
I would say, a void (on many occasions shocking) settles within us that causes us a deep sense of
emptiness, of being in nothingness, of not even knowing what we are doing here. Apart from the
joys, material sensations and objectives of a typically human nature, we do not visualize anything
else.
This has an explanation: we have lost connection with our true source of life! Universality, as part of
a whole to which we belong, and the spiritual principle from which we cannot escape. Imagine a
child when he goes astray and loses the safety and protection of his parents. He feels alone and lost,
a heaviness of terror, of fear, uncertainties surprise him and he wants nothing more than to meet up
again with his parents. This same thing happens to the spirit in the early stages in the life of its
consciousness or self. However, since its internal reality knows the path and focuses its forces and
faculties on taking the right direction and course, it is filled with light, strength, satisfaction and trust.
He does not need his material parents to take him by the hand, but it is his by his own conscience
and individuality that marks the way and brings him closer every day to his Creator and humanity.
Each and every one of us is here for only one reason, “spiritual advancement.” To achieve this
advancement, for larger or smaller, we come to Earth with a program to carry out. Each according
to one’s degree of evolution, aspires to realize achievements that satisfy him or her, and at the same
time, catapult him/her for greater goals in successive lives.
That program, therefore, is very different from one another; it is personalized and seeks the path of
redemption and the search for light and happiness. For some it may be encounters with the reaping
from previous lives (full of errors and mistakes) that adjoin that spirit to spiritual misery, to be
involved within the planes of shadows and suffering. Recompence and the stronger tests must
temper him and make him understand and allow him to take responsibility for all his mistakes,
submitting himself more or less consciously to the law of cause and effect, to return goodness for
any evil caused and recover the path that leads to spiritual elevation, by means of the values ​​of the
good that forge that elevation.
For others, it involves facing new challenges, experiences that have not been lived and which are
being faced now to follow the hard ascension of spiritual progress. That different program will
present with new tests, responsibilities, commitments full of effort and work to acquire the values
​​and the faculties needed to continue feeling the hope, enthusiasm and healthy ambition of the desire
for progress.
Others, for their advancement and their love for humanity, commit themselves to serve as guides
and to direct many others to acquire the spiritual knowledge so necessary to avoid all the pitfalls and
stones that arise along the way; that path of progress that is so easy to avoid and abandon.

Therefore, we all have a thousand and one reasons to stick to life, and finding the meaning it has for
us.
Just as a child is becoming a young person and gradually reaching maturity, as spirits, we are
acquiring experience and wisdom in the course of our evolution, and thus our tastes, desires and
needs are also changing. Reincarnations are a long sum of experiences and each one of them helps
us to learn, correcting mistakes and adding values (principles) ​​deep within our conscience. Our
conscience is like a cabinet that we are filling thanks to the richness of the experiences that are given
to us in each new life, which strengthens us and helps us to differentiate good from evil, and drives
us to continue in the struggle for the discovery of ourselves, and give each other more and more
faith and confidence.
The biggest problem to avoid is forgetfulness. When we are incarnated, we are presented with
material life and the physical vehicle that is the work tool of our conscious being, our spirit. It looks
to all material aspects, except for the aspect of spiritual progress. It is like a runaway horse that is
about to be tamed, and if we fail to tame it, it rebels and takes us where it wants, breaking down the
goal for which we came to this material world.
Therefore, there is a very great struggle between matter and spirit. Our physical vehicle [our body]
has its needs, its attractions. It is gets comfortable and lazy, it is not so easily ready to work; you have
to take the reins well and know how to govern it, but it will try to take us where it wants to and to
what attracts it.
Also, as spiritual beings that we are, we have many tools to know how to cope with this issue and
focus in a disciplined way to achieve our objectives; those are mainly our will power, intuition, and
the great spiritual help that is always by our side inspiring and encouraging us towards work and
progress. And, especially the awareness that we have of being something more than a material being.
As we identify ourselves as part of a whole, as an extraordinary prodigious entity, as a spark from
that infinite creative flame that is the Creator, we are better able to get rid of our weaknesses,
ignorance and imperfections that prevent us from connecting with the source of light and love to
which we belong.
We all have without doubt that awareness, however profound it may be, that we are a transcendent,
an eternal reality, with a series of powers inherited from that cosmic grandiosity that we inadequately
call God, and that floods the entire universe with love and light. No human being can deny it
(although by ignorance he may believe so); he possesses that innate feeling that is deeply within him
and from which he cannot depart.
Another thing is, that we deny this because we are still in the infancy of our spiritual advancement;
out of foolishness, rebellion, comfort, materialism, everything we want, but the reality is that we
cannot deny ourselves. We are eternal and immortal and our destiny is laid out, to the
entrepreneurship and realization of our own self on a higher scale. We are like that plant that seeks
light, air, sun, water and all those energies that make it grow and expand incessantly. That is our
work, beginning and end of our existence here and now. Not to mention how much greater life is in
the higher planes and realms where matter no longer exists and progress continues to be made
outside of the physical worlds.

As much as we do not want to recognize it and enter a state of rebellion to face that reality, and
finally put ourselves on the path of evolution in a conscious way, we will not achieve that
communion with everything that our Creator puts at our disposal to break the veil that keeps us
asleep for the fullness of spiritual life and plunged into the web of illusions and fantasies that
material life presents to us, and that is nothing but a mirage, of true intangible happiness that awaits
us. This is a law that sooner or later we will all abide by. But unfortunately, many of us need to go
through the same experiences over and over again, burn out our efforts on the material planes until
we get tired and understand that what we really seek and need is to find our true own nature, and in
finding ourselves, to give our hearts to our neighbors.
There comes a moment in that ascension of the road in which we begin to feel the desire for
progress. We need a change, to get rid of many chains and the numbness that are a weight that
prevents us from grasping the momentum necessary to throw ourselves into the life of giving without
receiving, of learning and of being open and receptive to what life itself demands of us internally. It is
in those moments when we begin to discover that everything around us is a gift, a present and an
offering of nature for our good. Everything that surrounds us is part of a universal concert, and we
are a note that must go according to that concert so as not to break its harmony and beauty. Then
appears the phenomenon of gratitude that we feel for being a fundamental, important piece in that
set and that whole of which we are a part.
We appreciate life, we are thankful for existing, we appreciate being surrounded by all our brothers
and sisters, fellow travelers on this long journey of worlds to know. We appreciate everything and
ask the Creator to keep us awake and focused to make the most of our existence every day. In this
way, because of the feeling of gratitude that deeply penetrates our soul, everything that happens to
us, we begin to see it in a positive way. We all understand that it serves us as progress, if we focus
well and transform our feelings to enrich ourselves of all the experiences that we experience, for
both positive and negative things should serve us for spiritual advancement. It will depend on the
approach we give them and the reaction we take. If we are already aware of the arduous spiritual
path that we have to face, we will react positively most of the time, at least we must aspire to that.
We know that we need experiences of all kinds: the positive ones give us strength, courage and
confidence; and the less positive put us to the test, and if we act with righteousness and wisdom they
will strengthen us and make us temper our faculties to continue faithfully fulfilling our work,
resolving with heart and justice all the vicissitudes and circumstances that assail us along the way.
Everything that happens to us is definitely for our own good. We must be grateful, to those lives of
difficulties and suffering (if we know how to face them) for they are more profitable and help us to
progress faster. Easy lives often give us very little and numb our faculties. Difficult lives force us to
react and put into use all the resources that adorn our spirit that are there, but that we little put them
into practice.
Let us always be grateful, value everything that has been given to us, and if someone does any kind
of evil to us, think that it is due to ignorance and weakness. Let us set an example of wisdom,
forgiveness and let us help them understand the object of life.
By Fermín Hernández Hernández Villena Group of Spiritual Studies, Alicante, Spain – 09/20/2019