NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2017
***SS of FL - CELEBRATING 35
YEARS***
OUR
35TH ANNIVERSARY!
Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
This month we celebrate the end of our 35th
year of the Spiritist Society of Florida group
founded in 1982 by my father Edgar Crespo, although we started meeting since
1978.
My Father (a medium) came from a Spiritist
family: his parents Augusto and Angelica (a medium) Crespo with his sister
Angelica attended a Spiritist center called Centro
Libertad del Espiritismo [Center for
the Liberty of Spiritism]in NYC established in 1933, and his grandparents
were also Spiritists. His great grandfather Juan Ramon Crespo (a medium) was
one of the founders of a Spiritist Center established in 1903 called Amor al Buen (Love of Goodness).
My Father disincarnated in 2008, and we continued
meeting, studying and practicing Spiritism in accordance with the principles
laid out in the books by Allan Kardec.
We are proud of my father’s work in an American
English translation project by the Allan
Kardec Educational Study Group of Kardec’s The Spirits’ Book published in 1996; his own translation into
English and the publishing (the first in 2006, the second in 2007) of two
Spiritist classics from Spain, Memoirs of
Father Germain by Amalia Domingo Soler and A Practical Guide for the Spiritist by Miguel Vives for posterity.
In 2006, I served 3 years on the Board of
Directors of the Academy of Spirituality
and Paranormal Studies, Inc. and as an officer and a longtime member, shared
knowledge of Spiritist principles through discussion, my written articles in
their Journal and Bulletin, and at conferences.[i]
I was selected to take the lead in a translation
project with others, and edit, in my opinion, the most modern textbook in English
on Spiritism – Fundamentals of Spiritism
(published 2013) written by Latin American author, lecturer -Professor Jon
Aizpurua. All three books above available on www.amazon.com.
Also, my friend Antonio Leite in NYC and I were asked by the J. Herculano Pires Foundation to edit an
English translation (published 2014) of the book Mediumship written by famous Brazilian Spiritist author and
journalist J. Herculano Pires.
Our own Society’s monthly newsletter articles
have been published in Spiritist, Spiritualist, metaphysical and paranormal
publications in the US and other countries. Our newsletter circulates the
globe. We have been interviewed on Kardec Radio and have lectured at numerous conferences
and congresses in the US and other countries.
Grateful to God and our spirit guides, we
thank all who have supported and expressed appreciation of our activities. We
believe the moral philosophy we impart rationally explains spiritual realities,
Life’s true purpose, “the why” of human suffering and provides immense hope for
all of Humanity.
NEW TV SHOW – “THE HEALER”
Written by Yvonne
Limoges
A new TV
show on Mondays on channel TLC, Australian Charlie Goldsmith has decided to go
public with his ability to conduct energy healing which has either cured and/or
alleviated pain and various medical conditions. He has been studied by medical
doctors who are amazed regarding the measurable results he has been able to
attain in helping those who could not be helped by science. He does not charge
for his healings. I found him fascinating to watch. He appears to go into
trance. This link provides a more detailed article on energy healing, his healing
work and about him:
SPIRITUAL HEALING & MEDIUMS
From a
Spiritist perspective, healing is accomplished when superior spirits manipulate
a medium’s energies to administer treatment to a person. A healing medium is a
person whose physical make-up is more suited as an instrument for this type of spiritual
phenomena. Any medium can be used, but a healing medium, due to their unique
physical organization, makes the job easier for the spirits to accomplish their
tasks.
Healing by the laying on of hands, by passes, by touch, etc. is not just an interaction of the energy of the medium and spirit action, the medium can influence the healing affect.
Healing by the laying on of hands, by passes, by touch, etc. is not just an interaction of the energy of the medium and spirit action, the medium can influence the healing affect.
Healing Mediumship
should be practiced with sincere, serious respect. Spiritists believe healing
mediums especially should have the purest sentiments, love of goodness, an
ardent feeling to alleviate the sufferings of others, and finally strong faith
in God. Yet non-believers can also be healers. Spiritists believe healers should
try to have high moral qualities. The healing medium should use healing only
for good, without self-interest or to satisfy their own vanity or pride. If the
medium purifies him or herself spiritually, their energies are purer, which
will better attract the more superior spirits who can bring a more effective
cure to the sick individual.
This
healing, like all mediumship phenomenon, is the result of a combination of energies
emitted by the medium and by the energies brought by the spirits from the
spirit world.
However, healing
action can be further effective when the sick person has faith in the healing.
God recompenses the sick by their faith, with good outcomes. The patient,
without realizing it, helps to attract the good spirits around themselves
creating a more positive and spiritual environment conducive to the healing
process.
Long-term
benefits should not be expected or promised by mediums. Cure or improvement,
depends as much on spiritual treatment as on the patient’s merits and
attitudes. Every so often what one seeks, is not in one’s self-interest.
Therefore, both mediums and those who are sick should trust in the wisdom of
the Creator and the Divine Laws for all outcomes. Remember, we have chosen to
have an illness in our life as either a test and/or trial for our evolutionary
advancement.
In Spiritist
practice, mediums also use spiritual healing (with help from spirit guides) for
use in treating people with spiritual problems and spirit obsession. This has
been done before the times of Jesus, in a myriad of cultures around the world.
NOTE: Perhaps modern science will eventually prove
to their satisfaction and admit this healing exists, especially if individuals
like Goldsmith named above are genuine, and studied seriously with an open mind
and objectively. - Y.L.
(Information from Kardec’s
The Mediums’ Book mostly in Part Two,
Ch. XIV and from the Gospel according
Spiritism Ch. 26)
PAIN AND
DESPERATION
Pain and despair
are two old traveling companions. They are present in many of the circumstances
that we live as spirits, whether in the physical world or in the spiritual
world. Although it is paradoxical, they help us to grow, to understand
ourselves better, to understand the [moral and spiritual] evolutionary process
...
Pain opens our eyes, awakens our feelings, short or long-term, it forces us to reflect, to change our attitude, to really consider our situation ...
Despair is the height of pain, be it physical or moral. Understanding the rules of evolution is the best antidote to this feeling.
The understanding of the evolutionary process, always equivalent and eminently fair for all, helps us to face the hard and complicated circumstances that Life puts in our path to help and to test, also, our evolutionary reality. To many, it may seem strange that suffering is so many times the way that teaches us to improve ourselves. It would give the impression that such teaching would be better pursued voluntarily; but, we are still far from learning with the sole impulse of our [own] volitional capacity.
Pain opens our eyes, awakens our feelings, short or long-term, it forces us to reflect, to change our attitude, to really consider our situation ...
Despair is the height of pain, be it physical or moral. Understanding the rules of evolution is the best antidote to this feeling.
The understanding of the evolutionary process, always equivalent and eminently fair for all, helps us to face the hard and complicated circumstances that Life puts in our path to help and to test, also, our evolutionary reality. To many, it may seem strange that suffering is so many times the way that teaches us to improve ourselves. It would give the impression that such teaching would be better pursued voluntarily; but, we are still far from learning with the sole impulse of our [own] volitional capacity.
Furthermore, evil, as Dr. Gustave Geley [French paranormal researcher]
emphasized, is inherent in the inferiority of the worlds; and, ours, is still an
inferior world evolutionarily speaking.
And it is because of our evolutionary deficiency that we still suffer…
Does this mean that we have to settle for negative events because we are
inferior spirits living in an inferior world? Absolutely not.
In spite of everything, our planet - and its inhabitants, incarnated and
disincarnated - advance, even with hesitant steps. It is a matter of time that
Good will surpass Evil. Certainly, to a large extent, it depends on us, on our
efforts to learn. The help of the Superior Spirits who direct this School of
hard and complicated learning will also contribute to this overcoming.
From despair we must move to compassion, for those who suffer from
circumstances…all sufferers are equally important! And everyone needs help in
society…
Let's end with some glowing words of encouragement from the great [named and known as the “Apostle of Spiritism”] Léon Denis (from his book After Death, Conclusion):
Let's end with some glowing words of encouragement from the great [named and known as the “Apostle of Spiritism”] Léon Denis (from his book After Death, Conclusion):
“Remember that life is short. While it lasts, strive to acquire what you
have come to seek in this world: true perfection. When leaving, let your
spiritual being go purer than it entered. Beware of the snares of the flesh;
think that the Earth is a battlefield in which matter and the senses offer the
soul a perpetual assault. Fight with courage against vile passions; fight with
the spirit and with the heart; correct your defects, soften your character and fortify
your will. Let your thought be separated from earthly vulgarities and open it
towards the luminous Heavens!”
“Remember that everything that is material is ephemeral. The generations
pass like the waves of the sea; empires collapse, worlds themselves perish and
the suns go out; everything happens and vanishes.”
“But there are three things that come from God and are immutable like
Him; three things that shine above the mirage of human glories, namely: Wisdom,
Virtue and Love. Conquer them with your efforts, and, when you have achieved
them, they will elevate you above what is temporary and transient, to enjoy
what is eternal!”
(Excerpt from an Editorial written in the Oct/Dec
2017 issue of the Bulletin Flama Espirita
(Spiritist Flame) of the Barcelona Center of Spiritist Culture in
Spain. Translated into English by Yvonne C. Limoges)
GOOD-HEARTED CREATIVITY
Inspirationally Received
by Julie L. Harper
All of us hold spiritual gifts including
free will that is encouraged by the law of progression, influencing desire to
expand and creatively express. Artistic expression, whether it be through
writing, guitar playing, painting or any other form, allows you to connect to
yourself on a soulful level, and connect to the essence of the Creator. The soul
is soothed and in peace when in the flow of expression within a relationship to
Source.
Awe may emerge from tapping into new ideas
and in the realization, that we all share commonality within a creative space.
How wonderful it would be if we all connect to this peaceful and accepting
spiritual place of being. Perhaps humankind may unite within such an unlabeled
spiritual creative space to rejoice together in its peace without concern of
race, color, religion, or any other illusions of differentiation that humans
tend to believe.
Perhaps a world-wide New Year's resolution
is in order. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every person took even just a little
time each day to create in order to encourage a spiritual connection that
brings a calm and an accepting heart. (Of course, for those who do not feel
artistically inclined, prayer also brings good results.)
Expression with an open heart often
delivers new insights, openness, and healing. Maybe it's time to take a few
moments to play with finger paints, write a poem, hum a tune, or whatever else
that creatively brings you pleasure.
May your pleasure and peace from good
intentions and unbiased creativity expand its sentiment of grace unto our
collective society. May we have art for art's sake. And peace, for the sake of
peace.
A
PRAYER TO THE GOOD SPIRITS
Wise and benevolent Spirits, messengers of
God, whose mission is to help Man and conduct him towards goodness, uphold us
in life's tests; give us the strength to suffer without complaining; turn away
from us all evil thoughts, and do not allow us to give access to any ignorant Spirits
who may try to induce us to evil.
Clarify our conscience with respect to our
defects, and take away the veil of pride from our eyes which can prevent us
seeing them and admitting them to ourselves.
Particularly to our Spirit Protectors, who
watch over us, and all the rest of those spirits who take an interest in us, we
beseech you to help us to become worthy of your protection.
You know our needs; may they be attended to
according to the Will of God.
AMEN
(From Kardec’s
book the Gospel according to Spiritism
– slightly modified)
*****
This is our last newsletter of the year, and we send
our loving prayers and blessings to all this Holiday Season! May God Bless us
and watch over us now and in the New Year to come! We sincerely pray for more
Peace, Love, Charity and Spiritual Light in our world where so many suffer!
****************************************
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
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