JULY NEWSLETTER 2019

EDITORIAL: UNITED
Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
We are all spirits equal before our Creator, ALL
children of the same GOD. Unfortunately, as
morally imperfect spirits, at different levels of
spiritual development, we argue and disagree. We
can be extremely divisive, but we can also be
lovingly caring, compassionate and united. It’s
been like that throughout our long human history!
This month, as I watched some baseball and the
FIFA women’s soccer games (USA won!), I
noticed the diversity of the various peoples
watching the games in the stands cheering on their
teams, as well as, the diversity of the players
striving together to win the game for their team...
They had all come together UNITED... with
passion, enjoyment and cheering at these games.
Race, ethnicity, gender, etc., etc. did not matter.
All the spectators wanted their team to win, and,
all the players tried hard to win their games.
Similarly, on the 4

th of July weekend We the
People of our diverse country, no matter our
immigrant roots (Irish, English, Spanish, African,
Mexican, Middle Eastern, Chinese, French, etc.),
most Americans got together with their family and
friends to enjoy food, drinks and watched the
beautiful fireworks celebrating our Nation, in
UNITY across our country...
Happy Birthday America! And, God bless!

THE MOON AND BEYOND
Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
We should reflect this month on the 50th
Anniversary of American astronauts landing on
the moon; the first celestial body beyond Earth.
This was a huge and momentous achievement for
humanity!
NASA continued with the Viking and Voyager
missions and more; exploring Mars, the solar
system and beyond. The Shuttle Program allowed
our space craft to go into space and return. Next,
through cooperation of the U.S. with Russia,
Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency -
the International Space Station was built for use
by scientists. Further, powerful telescopes were
launched into space; the Hubble, provided
breathtaking pictures of galaxies and many new
discoveries were made. Currently, a new James
Webb Space Telescope is scheduled for launch in
2021. www.nasa,gov The human exploration of
space continues!
Now we know the universe contains more than a
hundred billion galaxies, there are other solar
systems and over 4,000 exoplanets have been
found. How small one feels, compared to the
immensity and grandeur of the discoveries made
so far that is Creation! Humans have imagined
how we might live in outer space, on other
planets, and about discovering intelligent life out
there. I believe it is only a matter of time before
we will experience all these firsthand.

Spiritist Society of Florida, July Newsletter 2019 2

COMPASSION
“Compassion is the virtue which draws you closer
to the angels. It is a sister to charity, which also
conducts you to God. Ah! Allow your hearts to be
moved by compassion before the spectacle of the
miseries and sufferings of your fellow creatures...
“Compassion and pity, when deeply felt, are acts
of loving; love is devotion; devotion is the
forgetfulness of self and it is this, combined with
abnegation in favor of those less fortunate than
ourselves, which is the height of virtue...
“The most appropriate sentiment for making
mankind progress, by dominating its selfishness
and pride, which predisposes the soul towards
humility, beneficence and the loving of one
another, is compassion!
“This is the same compassion which moves deep
inside when you lay eyes on the suffering of your
fellow creatures, which impels you to extend a
helping hand and which brings tears of sympathy
to your eyes...
“Accordingly, never stifle this celestial emotion
within your heart. Do not proceed as do those who
are hard and selfish, who turn aside from the
afflicted because the sight of their miseries
perturbs their cheerful lives for an instant...
“...the compensation is great, however, when
compassion suffices to give courage and hope to
an unhappy brother or sister, who are moved by a
friendly handshake and so turn to you
affectionately with tear-filled eyes, perhaps from
emotion and gratitude, even before they raise
these same eyes to Heaven, in thanks for having
sent someone to console and sustain them in their
hour of need...
Spirit of Michael (Bordeaux, France -1862)
(These are excerpts from spirit communications in
Kardec’s The Gospel according to Spiritism, the first
one - Ch. 13, item 17 & the second from Ch. 11, item
14.)

CHARITY FOR CRIMINALS
“True charity constitutes one of the sublime
teachings which God has given the world...
“Those who are unfortunate...by this we mean
criminals, should be loved as God’s creatures
which they are. Pardon and mercy will be given to
them, just as much as to you...
“Do not judge! Oh! Never make a complete
judgement, my friends. In as much as the verdict
you pronounce will be applied even more severely
to yourself, so you will need indulgence for those
sins you so unceasingly incur.
“Those who are unfortunate [remember, NO ONE
on earth is without faults], should be loved as
God's creatures, which they are. Pardon and
mercy will be given to them, just as much as to
you...
“It is your duty to help those of whom I have
spoken with your prayers; that is true charity...
“Take note of that model on whom we should
base ourselves - Jesus. What would He have said
if He found one of those unfortunates at His side?
He would have wept over them and considered
them to be sick, and therefore deserving of pity
and would then have extended a helping hand...
“...at least you can pray for them and help their
spirits during the time they still have to pass on
Earth. Perhaps they will be touched by repentance
if you pray with all your faith. They are our
neighbors just as much as the best of mankind.
“Their souls, having strayed and become
rebellious, were created as was your own, to be
perfected. Help them then, to get out of the
quagmire and pray for them.”
Spirit of Elizabeth of France (Havre, France - 1862)
(All the humans on this planet need forgiveness, charity,
love and prayers - Y.L.)

Spiritist Society of Florida, July Newsletter 2019 3

CHARITY FOR ALL
Inspirationally received by
Yvonne Crespo Limoges
If criminals are to be shown charity as in the spirit
communication above (according to Jesus’
teachings and actions upon the Earth) this duty
includes comfort, care and humane treatment for
all unfortunates: the mentally ill, the addicted,
prostitutes, the poor, the disabled, the sick, the
homeless, the starving, people fleeing violence
and poverty, etc. To follow Jesus’ teachings, is to
assist all our fellow human beings, no matter who
they are or where they come from.
Accountability, Trials, and Endurance
Inspirationally received by Julie L. Harper
We are held spiritually accountable to the degree
of our intent and comprehension of spiritual laws;
however, those laws that are ignored or unlearned
will be presented at some point within one's
existence as a challenging lesson in order that
they be learned. It is mandated that we progress,
and as we do, each one of us is held accountable
for every thought, word, and deed.
The conditions of our lives reflect the degree of
progress we have made; however, do not judge
another by appearances because a morally sound
individual within this life-time may be undergoing
a difficult trial in reparation of a past-life error in
order to advance his or her soul progression.
While some trials may be extremely difficult, we
are never allowed to experience more than what
we can handle. Remember, God is all loving.
Pre-incarnate undertaking agreements are made
before earthly life, and the most severe agreed
upon trials indicate a brave and well-intentioned
soul. Instead of perceiving error or weakness due
to the challenges of others, we would be better to
commend their courageousness!

Not one of us is without fault or personal
difficulty as we progress on our individual paths
of growth, whether caused by a previous life
transgression or by a mistake within a current
existence. Always be compassionate and loving
toward others under all circumstances whether a
problem is apparent or not. Even that which may
seem trivial to you, may be very difficult for
another. Your kindness helps to alleviate
emotional suffering of others, and it further
blesses you with spiritual merit.
We must manage trials with fortitude, faith, and
resignation to God's will designed to advance our
being. Even when an unwanted outcome may
result, it is lovingly allowed because it is
necessary toward promotion of one’s soul
growth. By trial, God is blessing you with
opportunity to advance!
We may hold gratitude within this wider spiritual
perspective.
Do the best that you can, as God helps those who
helps themselves. Pray for spiritual assistance,
and find strength in knowing that your spirit
guides and the good spirits are always ready to
support you with comfort and love.
You are loved and you are never alone.
AN ENERGY LINK TO THE DEPARTED
Inspirationally received by Julie L. Harper
The departed still communes with you by your
spirit’s energetic sentiments, so do not hold the
discarnate in sorrow because it saddens them to
feel your pain. Instead, honor the joy of shared
love since just as the departed lives on within you,
so you do within them. Rejoice in the beauty of
shared love. You may take comfort in knowing
that though physical conditions change, each soul
and all love shared is never gone...for life and
love is eternal.

Spiritist Society of Florida, July Newsletter 2019 4

TALK ABOUT DEATH
Written by María Luisa Escrich
Do Spiritists speak of death naturally and openly,
which relates to those who know of it? I sincerely
believe that we Spiritists have not yet realized the
great transcendence that it can have to speak of
death freely.
Sometimes, when on some occasion a
conversation has arisen in which it was alluded to,
there was a silence, as if even mentioning the
name [death] could cause us, at the least, a
problem of a spiritual order.
When [I was] at the last Iberian-American
Congress of Spiritism, on April 2018 held in Vigo
[Spain], this topic was precisely discussed.
I remembered what happened to me some time
ago talking with some colleagues. We talked
about the degradation of the body as the years go
by, and in other circumstances, as I (with a
degenerative disease) set myself as an example of
that natural law, due to my many years. I
commented with all naturalness how my time was
shortened, and I also did it in a calm tone, which
is how I really feel.
My surprise was considerable when they told me
that I should not speak that way, given that our
lives are in God's hands and that death comes
when He decides. Is it possible to doubt the
Divine Will by the mere fact of talking about that
you are approaching precisely the fulfillment of
the Divine Will?
The really important thing is to be prepared for
when it’s decided, and one of the ways to be
prepared is precisely accepting, from the
beginning, that the time must come; and that
preparation is not done overnight, but must begin
by recognizing that, from the moment we reach
this world, we undertake a race, more or less long
in time, that brings us closer to the end.

Talking about death since childhood is liberating,
because the myth of the “mourning lady” bearer
of life-scythe [or Grim Reaper] is destroyed, and
the ancestral terror that surrounds every human
being is eliminated.
Fear disappears when death is changed as a
transition to another dimension where the
immortal soul continues to live, as it cannot be
otherwise, before the certainty of an existence
infinitely superior to this.
That we talk about death emphasizing “physical
death” can be a revelation to those who listen to
us, giving rise to the conviction that “after” ... we
will enter another dimension where the soul
follows its progress, thus fulfilling the Divine
Law.
(An article dated July 19, 2019 from the Villena Group
- Association of Spiritual Studies in Alicante, Spain.
www.amorpazycaridad.com and translated from the
Spanish by Yvonne C. Limoges)
NOTE: The more Spiritists and others who know
about spiritual realities speak of “death” as a mere
transition of the spirit and only the end of physical life,
the better for those who fear death. So many can’t talk
about it or won’t make Wills because they think that
will bring it on prematurely. I even find some Spiritists
reluctant to talk about aging/very sick relatives and
their eventual physical demise. These I know it is
mostly due to not wanting to think of their beloved
relatives gone from their side, but it is better to be
mentally and emotionally prepared. So, talking about it
like it is a natural process, just a transition, is much
better, for we know we can reunite again when
appropriate. - Y.L.
****************************************
Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director
E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com
Spiritist Society of Florida (est. 1982)
5042 22 Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com

06 - Data límite, mi opinión

JUNE NEWSLETTER 2019

CAN I HAVE A “READING”?

             Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges

By now most people in our culture basically know what a medium/psychic is and they seem (to a certain extent) believe in them or want to, and due to this, I am encountering more people who are regularly visiting them (for a fee) to ask them questions about their futures, their love life and what to do regarding important life decisions.

A psychic possesses extrasensory perception and involved in psychic phenomena AND a medium can communicate with spirits in the spirit world.  Most of these have both abilities in various degrees.

Now, if we assume for the sake of this discussion, those giving what is generally referred to as a “reading” are legitimate psychic/mediums, one needs to discern their moral quality (like attracts like) and if their intent is good, or for strictly self-interests (pride or monetary). Just because a psychic may give you psychic evidence, doesn’t mean they are qualified to give out life advice.

There are good people who have these faculties who do not belong to a religious/spiritual group or belief system that incorporate their abilities. They work on their own and also whose intent is good; trying to help others according to what they believe is right. However, there are others who are the complete opposite (manipulative, unreliable, they say things so the person keeps coming back to pay them money, and some tell clients what they want to hear, etc.).

Commonsense and wise judgement should be used by anyone visiting psychics and mediums, even when at religious/spiritual groups or centers. Spiritists tell people to use their own judgement, decide for themselves and reject whatever they do not accept by their reason.

Why I am bringing up this topic is that the purpose of material life is to progress, we have freewill and we need to make our own decisions in life. Some people can’t or won’t make a decision before getting a “reading” and can become dependent going to these psychic/mediums; to the point they are running their very lives.  

Good spirits never tell us what to do, they only suggest. Spiritist mediums go through a period of extensive education and exercise of their faculty, provide services for free, and work in groups which provides a check and balance on each other, and corroboration. Emphasis is on spiritual and moral teachings: personal responsibility, right conduct, existence of the soul and afterlife, the process of reincarnation, evolution of the soul, the power of prayer, and, also helping troubled spirits.     

Therefore, I recommend all be very discerning about what anyone says. Mediums/psychics are imperfect people, too. One can listen to advice, but make your own decisions. Also, study up on mediumship/psychic phenomena. Lastly, have more faith in yourself and in the Creator!

SPIRITUAL SCIENCE

“Spiritism’s fundamental principles deal with the nature, origin and destiny of spirits as well as their relationship and interaction with the material world.”   

            Allan Kardec, Codifier of Spiritism

             Educator and Paranormal Researcher

POWER OF PRAYER

   Inspirationally received

                       by Yvonne Crespo Limoges  

The power of prayer is a reality, it has a genuine effect and can be very powerful. The more positively you believe in it, the stronger and more beneficial the influence.

Fervent and sincere thoughts for goodness and to request help for ourselves and others radiate mightily, and are seconded by the good spirits who want to help us.

Prayers are always answered; yet not always how we may like, but in a way we justly deserve.   

OBJECTIVE OF LIFE

       Written by Sebastián de Arauco

We must rise above the suffocating materialism that surrounds us, and make our spirit vibrate in a more subtle tonic.

Even when the needs of our present human life absorb most of our time, we need to put to the background the material aspect of our life (without neglecting our obligations), if we want to move forward; if we want to fulfill the true purpose of Life, which is to spiritually progress through evolution towards states of consciousness of greater happiness. Material goods will never satisfy the cravings of our spirit.
More than once we have heard someone ask:

What is the purpose of life?

What have we come to this world for?

The true object of human life is spiritual progress in its various aspects, according to the evolutionary needs of each one. We have come to this world because it is what belongs to us by law.

We are in this world, not to eat, sleep and have fun, as some that are little evolved think; but to perfect ourselves; not to continue being what we were or what we are, but to go closer towards what we should be.

Spiritual science holds that the object of human life is to progress, to evolve, to continue ascending the scale of the worlds, towards the goal, which is perfection. Acquire experiences, knowledge and develop intelligence, strengthen the spirit and purify the soul, eliminating imperfections; so that, at the end of that human journey, we will return to the spiritual world, which is where we belong, enriched with greater progress.

And all this, is it acquired by living a life of vices, comfort or isolation? NO. It is in the struggle of human life, overcoming temptations and difficulties; it is through the action performed, through constant effort that we develop the faculties contained in the essence of Life received from the Divine Creator and we become strong and great.

It is true that every ascension requires effort; but it is also true that, in each of us, there are resources and internal forces that we do not know, and that put into action, can lead us to great achievements.

LET’S NOT FORGET IT.

(Article dated 06/5/2019 from Association of Spiritual Studies of the Villena Group in Alicante, Spain at www.pazamorycaridad.com and translated from Spanish by Yvonne C. Limoges)

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TOLERANCE 

Inspirationally received 

                               by Julie L. Harper

If you find yourself offended by another person’s words or actions, you are allowing that person to personally affect you. Offensiveness often results in defensiveness and criticism that causes conflict and separation from love. 

When not within agreement with love, one’s personal health and relationships can weaken...or worse, if not corrected.

Everyone is imperfect and each of us are spiritually required to correct our own faults.

Focusing on another's perceived error, or even their differing lifestyle choice, is a diversion from the needed work on one’s own transgressions.

Energy is far better spent on personal improvement because you, just as your adversaries, will be solely held spiritually accountable for each action, making for an immense job, just to attend to one’s own conduct.

Ultimately, other's actions and words are of no consequence to your accountability except in how you respond.

Every human is born into earthly life because conditions here allow for experiences that enable growth and expiation of prior wrong doings.

Each person is of different moral, spiritual, and intellect within our spiritual progression, but all pass through like trials and lessons within a divinely designated lifetime.

Therefore, do not judge....as another’s mistake and lesson are likely ones that you may have experienced within your existence or will at some point during your soul’s growth.

Whether it appears so or not, another’s trial is often as difficult or even more of a challenge for them than yours is for you.

Instead of disharmony, we influence kinship by maintaining compassion and by following a higher path of morality.

Practice tolerance and forgiveness for yourself and for others; our humanness causes us to act many times in error. We must try our best, and begin again when we falter.

An innate imprint of good conduct lies within our being, and also, Jesus and other prophets have given us superior guidance.

The core of tolerance is as simple as the practice of the Golden Rule: love one and another.

CHARITY

From Kardec’s The Spirits’ Book, item 886 & 888, from Anna Blackwell’s English translation:

Question: What is the true meaning of the word charity as employed by Jesus?

Spirit response:

“Benevolence for everyone, indulgence for the imperfections of others, forgiveness of injuries.”

Question: What is to be thought of alms-giving?

Spirit response:

“To be reduced to beg degrades a man morally as well as physically; it brutifies him. In a state of society based on the law of God and justice, provision would be made for assisting the weak without humiliating them; the means of living would be insured to all who are unable to work, so as not to leave their life at the mercy of chance and of individual good-will.”  

YOUNG BIRDS MUST LEARN TO FLY!

           Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges  

We love our children. They are forever young in our eyes, and we want the best for them always.

We want to give them more than what we had (if we can) to get them off to a good start in life.

Each child is very different and some need more help, guidance and support than others (some for life; if disabled or with other serious problems).

Some kids are very cooperative, but some seem to fight our best efforts to assist them. Being a parent/caregiver is NOT easy! Our hearts (our love), can rule our heads (our commonsense)! We have all made mistakes or decisions we regret.

We may even criticize them and hold them back from expressing in really harmless ways their own individuality (although we may NOT like/agree with their choices – I think each generation has this problem). However, remember they are still exploring and learning who they are!

I have 3 kids in a wide range of ages and the condition of the times when they were young people are very different. I have an older one who only needed a beeper; rent, a car, and insurance were relatively cheap. I also have a millennial; and now rent, insurance and college costs are higher, and more expensive technological devices are practically a basic necessity.   

When we try to micromanage/help our older children (there is a difference between needs and wants), sometimes letting them make more of their own efforts to try, even fall, and make an effort to get back up, and learning to stand on their own is more beneficial for their emotional growth. However, deciding when to help them or when to let go is very difficult.

There should be some accountability on their part.

We need to try to teach them responsibility, how to be self-reliant and be resilient, to know about finances (especially savings), and, the ability to confidently think and decide matters enough to sustain themselves through everyday struggles, trials, tests and disappointments… because life is difficult. The rich and famous suffer, too.

Providing them a belief system to contemplate (whether they believe it now or not) may provide inner comfort and solace during very trying times.

The odds are we will leave this earth before them, some much earlier due to accidents or illness. Are our children able to sustain themselves during the storms of life and live independently without us?

These spirits have been placed in our care as a mission in this existence for us to love and teach them by our words and our behavior to be a good person, help others as they are able, and to be a productive adult in society.

In addition, parent/caregivers with spouse/partners are the first example to children of what a couple should be - a unique personal relationship. Is it a loving, affectionate and mutually respectful one, an angry and abusive one, or one that is distant and indifferent? You can be sure our children are observing us…and are affected by what they see, or don’t see.        

In conclusion, if we have done our overall best, that is all that is expected. None of us is perfect.

                            

                               *****

Sending our prayers to ALL the children of the world, some suffering in abysmal conditions!

   

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

Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director

E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com

 

Spiritist Society of Florida

5042 22 Avenue North,

St. Petersburg, Florida 33710                                                Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com

Reencarnación El caso de James Leininger

06 - ¿Es el espiritismo la tercera revelación? / ANÁLISIS DE LA OBRA DE ...

11 - Jesús y la casuística judía

RADIOGRAFÍA de la Tergiversación - Desfiguración - Manipulación – Desnaturalización – y Distorsión – Del ESPIRITISMO en Brasil.
“Como documento histórico de relevante importancia publicamos en la parte de abajo algunas opiniones de figuras de bien, conocidas en Brasil, con respecto al tema señalado en el título de este artículo, sobre lema o rotulo de los siguientes textos, de autoría del Sr. Carlos de Brito Imbassahy”.
La distorsión del Espiritismo comenzó tan pronto como se instaló en Brasil. Los primeros espíritas no tuvieron estructura mental y emocional para absorber el pensamiento de Allan Kardec. Ellos derivaron para el evangelismo, atendiendo la satisfacción de las propias tendencias: fruto del roustainguismo.

El movimiento espírita gateó por lo menos 50 años hasta que vino el "auge" de Chico Xavier. Desde entonces se verificó que el roustainguismo estaba visceralmente infiltrado en el pensamiento espírita brasileño, influenciado por Bezerra de Menezes y sus socios, con la fundación de la Federación Espírita Brasileña. Esto se debe a Emmanuel, guía de Chico Xavier.
El sólo hecho de acentuar este cambio, hace que se funde oficialmente la religión espirita y la ratificación de la cristolatría inaugurada por el Ángel Ismael. Ambos afirmaron, como supuestos “Espíritus Superiores”, que el Espiritismo tiene por misión restaurar el evangelio y como tal existe entre él y las iglesias cristianas un lazo muy fuerte, aunque éstas lo rechazan.
Esta desviación de la estructura real del espiritismo original dado a Kardec ocasiono u originó una sub doctrina espirita, un pseudo-Espiritismo, cuyas bases reposan o se encuentran claramente en las ideas de Roustaing, Emmanuel y otros vinculados o ligados al cristianismo. Lo cual se hizo que se vuelva aceptada, porque los dirigentes espíritas de todos los niveles, en su gran mayoría, ignorantes doctrinarios, desconocían y desconocen el pensamiento de Allan Kardec.
Todos Oriundos del Catolicismo se sienten como "en casa" con esta derivación mediúmnica-evangélica, el cual redujo en su totalidad el diseño inicial del fundador del Espiritismo.
La imagen del Espiritismo brasileño es religiosa, confundida con la umbanda y cultos afro-católicos. El esquema de toda actuación se encuentra en los supuestos del catolicismo, es decir, la culpa y el castigo y ese es el pensamiento central de este pseudo-Espiritismo.
Además de Roustaing, otros personajes entran en esta historia: Emmanuel (Chico Xavier) Joanna de Angelis (Divaldo Franco), Edgard Armond y hasta Pietro Ubaldi, así como otros que nada tienen en común con el pensamiento de Kardec.
De hecho, Kardec es el gran excluido.
http://www.espiritnet.com.br/Abertura/Ano2001/redacmar.htm