The influence of the medium in the communications  

We present in this issue the topic #118 from the Systematized Study of the Spiritist Doctrine, that is being presented weekly, according to the programme elaborated by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB), structured in 6 modules and 147 topics.

If the reader uses this program for a study group, we suggest that questions proposed be discussed freely before the reading of the text that follows. If you would like to study alone, we ask you to try to answer the questions at first and only then read the text that follows. The answer key can be found at the end of the lesson. 

Questions

1. Can we consider normal the influence of mediums in the communications they receive?

2. What is a passive medium?

3. Is it possible to be totally passive?

4. What is the main difference between the intuitive medium of psychograph and the mechanical medium of psychograph?

5. Besides the contribution of the medium related to the execution of the communication, can the medium also influence morally in the execution of communications?

Text

A medium is passive when he/she doesn’t mix his/hers thoughts with the spirit’s thoughts

1. Mediumship is the communication process where the medium himself/herself is an intermediate. It’s natural to understand that the medium will have a bigger or smaller influence on the communications depending on the medium. This is what Spiritism teaches us and this is what practice shows us. The medium’s soul exercises an influence in the spiritual communications and he/she could alter its contents and associate them to their personal thoughts and ideas.   

2. This complex aspect of mediumship can lead the most dubious followers to incredulity. We should understand, however, it’s because of its characteristics that this influence is natural in the way that mediumship works. Because even when the medium is really passive, he/she should keep control of his/hers functions at all times. The mediums should always have control of activities during communications.

3. The concept of passive mediumship is discussed in the book “The medium’s Book” in the item 223, where we learn that mediums are passive when they don’t mix their thoughts with the communicating spirit’s thoughts. We should understand, however, that mediums should never totally lose control over their functions and they are key participants in the process, even if they are mechanical mediums. In fact, total passivity from the medium’s part doesn’t exist.  

4. In the process of unconscious mediumship, where the spirit communicates without making the communication go totally through the medium’s thoughts, the level of influence of the medium is lower. This is very different from conscious communication when the communication is transmitted through thoughts from the spirit to the medium. This is why Spiritism classifies psychograph’s mediums in three different categories: mechanical mediums, semi mechanical mediums and intuitive mediums.

There are many similarities between intuitive mediumship and inspiration

5. In the case of mechanical mediums, the spirit communicating acts directly upon the mediums hands to write. In these cases, the medium doesn’t know what his/hers hands are writing as writing doesn’t depend on his/hers will only, according to what the spirit communicating wants. Let’s keep in mind that even in these cases, the medium’s participation isn’t non exist.

6. In the case of the intuitive mediums, the communicating spirit uses the spirit of the medium to transmit the message, connecting with the medium and transmitting his/hers ideas and will. In this type of mediumship, the medium is able to know what he/she will be writing beforehand.

7. However, a curious fact happens in this type of mediumship. Even though the medium senses the presence and thoughts of the spirit, he/ she finds it difficult to separate their thoughts from the thoughts of the spirit who wants to communicate. When doubt is an issue, the communication can be damaged. In this type of mediumship, the medium influences the communication a lot.

8. There are many similarities between intuition and inspiration. The difference is that the first one is related to contemporary matters where the medium can talk by intuition about things that he/she doesn’t know about. Inspiration relates to a vast group of matters and usually is present to help in the worries and necessities of the incarnated spirit.

The medium who is semi mechanical knows what he/she is writing at the same time its being written

9. In the case of the semi mechanical mediums, also called semi intuitive mediums, there is an intermediate level between mechanical and intuitive. The spirit who is communicating acts directly upon the mediums hands and, at the same time, allows the medium to know what he/she is writing as soon as the words are written. In this type of mediumship, the medium also influences moderately. This means that the influence is not as evident as in the case of intuitive mediums, but it’s not as minimum as in the case of the mechanical mediums.

10. Besides this influence which it’s related to the practice of mediumship, there is a bigger influence of the medium in the moral aspect of its practice. Every spiritual communication happens according to the synchronicity between medium and spirit.

11. When the medium is morally superior, the more he/she will have synchronicity  with good and wise spirits and the more he/she will be able to transmit better quality messages.

12. This is the reason why the instruction in the item 227 in the Spirits Book was given. We should cultivate virtues which attract the good spirits such as generosity, simplicity of heart, love to others and the disconnection from the material things. And we should avoid everything that can send them away such as pride, selfishness, envy, jealousy and everything which connects us to materialism.

Answer Key