My husband began reading Spiritist novels he borrowed by a friend and began talking to me about some passages of the books. One day he picked up “Nosso Lar – Our Home” and was taken aback by it to the point of giving me a summary at the end of each chapter. We started to go to a Spiritist bookshop until one day I realized it was time to join a Spiritist Centre. And I’ve never looked back. 

What impact Spiritism has had in your inner self? 

The first impact was my desire, from one day to the other, to work in order to become a better person. As I got to know more about Spiritism, I came to realize that there are no miracles and that all the Teachings from the Spiritit World would help me indeed, but that the transformation would take time, probably my whole existence. I understood that our spiritual development depends only of our acts. 

What is your assessment of the Spiritist Movement in your area? 

Despite the efforts of Spiritists in São Paulo state, the Spiritist Movement in our city is still small and not very dynamic. Things are much better now than they were 20 years ago, but there is still a lot to be done. We have good Spiritist leaders. Our main problem is the lack of initiative from most people. 

What is the main aspect of Spiritism in your opinion? 

Spiritism has given us wonderful guidelines and it is hard to highlight a particular aspect, but I would say that the philosophical and religious aspects of the Teachings mean more to me than its scientific side.   

What have you learned as a coordinator of the Study Group in your Spiritist Centre? 

I am fascinated by the studies, but I am saddened by the fact that many people look for the books only in difficult times of pain and sadness. When things get better, they return to the routine of having healing and attending talks only. Our Study Group is 20 years’ old and I am amazed by the number of people who have attended it and left before finishing even one book. So, unfortunately, I have learned that most people are not interested in learning. 

How about the wider public? 

I notice that many people still come to Spiritist Centres looking only for the phenomena. Very few will go on to study and learn in depth about the Teachings. 

What is your assessment of the public talks and lectures? 

I have to confess a bias here, as giving talks is one of the things I like to do the most. And I have had positive feedback in the five Spiritist Centres where I regularly give talks – 5 in Santa Bárbara and one in Piracicaba. 

Is there any special aspect of your activities in the Spiritist Movement that you would like to share with us? 

All that I do is done with love and dedication. At each new talk or lecture, I see a new face, I make a new friendship and I see the message of hope these beautiful Teachings convey. I just regret that so many people may think that we are better than all the others just for the fact that we are on the stage giving a talk. 

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

I would like to say that even though the Spiritist Teachings have not been as yet unveiled as a whole, as we are still not capable of understand everything, Allan Kardec is and will always be at its core. We need to get to know the work of Allan Kardec, to read his books, to study them and, more importantly, put the teachings and lessons on those books into practice.