Guaraci de Lima Silveira (photo) was born in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, in the town of Oliveira Fortes. He moved to one of the state’s main cities, Juiz de For a, in 1966. He has been a Spiritist since his childhood. Thanks to the support and education received at the Spiritist Centre “Casa do Caminho” he has been able to develop his mediumship and study the Doctrine in a systematic manner. Guaraci is an active member of the Spiritist Movement in the city. He is also a member of the Associação Espírita Paz e Amor, a Spiritist Centre where he gives healing and puts his mediumship to the service

of the community. He is also a Spirist speaker and the author a published book of poems and a collection of short stories, both written through his mediumship. He has also written some 200 plays – three of which have been published. His answers to our questions in this interview provide us much needed guidance on many relevant issues.

How did you begin to write short stories? 

I began writing them when I was young. I used to read them out at literary meetings. What I realised at the time is that I enjoyed writing them. One of those early short stories was titled A Felicidade Exited (Happiness does exist). It was well received at the time. Later the theatre came into my life and I stopped writing short stories. But eventually I had the idea of adapting them to the theatre. One of them, Estranha Caixa (Odd Box) was awarded at a Theatre Festival here in Juiz de Fora. Meanwhile, I was adapting the other stories and setting up the plays, performed at local Spiritist Centres. I have more than 120 short stories written more recently, waiting to be published. They will become seven books. The first of them has actually been published: Destinos, Marcas e Respostas – Contos Inspiradores para Elevar a Alma (Destinies, Marks and Answers – Inspiring Short Stories to Lift the Soul). Another short story from that book, Suarrina, has also been taken to the stage. 

Where do you get your inspiration? 

I just open the computer and let it happen. I don’t prepare anything, I just feel the emotions and the story just comes up. I can hear entire sentences that I then type in. That’s how it has been lately. My spiritual mentors generally tell me what type of story will be written. I’ve just written 18 short stories that will be published in the book Tocados por Ele (Touched by Him). It depicts 18 moments in the lives of anonymous people who had some sort of contact with Our Master Jesus during his incarnation on Earth. I receive the proper preparation to deal with the emotions involved, as the stories are really moving. 

What has been the most interesting experience from all your years in the Spiritist Movement? 

There have been a number of interesting situations. Just before making my commitment to working for Spiritism, I had written a letter to the great medium, Chico Xavier. I asked him to guide me on how to deal with my mediumship. Chico Xavier never replied – at least not formally. Six days later, a man I’d never met took me to a Spiritist Centre that welcomed me. In the first day of our open meeting, I sat on a chair and asked to myself, mentally: “Jesus, who are you?” The meeting began straight away and the lady who was chairing the meeting, Dona Isabel, said in her opening line: “Jesus is that brother who rolls up his sleeves when he sees we are in trouble and help us walk.” I realised the answer was meant for me. I would finally be able to share my life with the Master in a more direct way. Something I admire in the Spiritist Doctrine is its empiricism and the opportunity to understand more about it as we study human behaviour from all the stages of human existence on the planet. 

After decades of work in the Spiritism Movement, how much do you think the Doctrine has become part of people’s lives and thoughts? 

I see a mixed picture. The Doctrine is very rich, but few people want to dive into this ocean of light. Most people prefer to stay on the shores. That reminds me of Emmanuel, Chico Xavier’s spiritual mentor, who said: “To begin with, enthusiasm is enough, but more is needed if one wishes to go forward.” I believe, however, that as the years go by humankind will become increasingly aware of Spiritism, this wonderful treasure that Jesus allowed us to receive. 

How much aware you are of spiritual support while you are writing? 

I throw myself at the arms of the writers in the Spiritual World. We have enjoyed a full, rich coexistence since I was a child and I began seeing them. Aged six, I began speaking to discarnate spirits. Now they are next to me dictating the text while I write. I don’t do automatic writing; all the information goes through my mind, where it is processed. It flows naturally. 

How do you think your short stories will help people understand the meaning of life and all the important connections and actions behind it? 

Small strokes on the big canvas often enrich the whole picture and catch your eye, touching the feelings of those who are able to appreciate it. That’s how I see the short stories. Brief moments of immersion into something that happened, stories; they can help people understand the whole picture due to their intensity. Short stories take the facts directly from the sender to the receiver. The brain apprehends a short story in an easier manner, and more detailed conclusions can be drawn by the reader. It works in the opposite way as novels. They are both very beautiful literary formats. Short stories take the message to the person’s door. Novels knock on the door, go in and even stay for a drink, for a glass of fresh juice. 

How did the theatre come into your life? 

I began writing plays at the age of eight, in 1958. I have always been passionate about drama. I have written dozens of Spiritist plays, children’s plays, and corporate plays. They have been staged across the country. I am now engaged in directing educational plays. I am the founder of ART-VIDA – Educational Theatre Group. Some 400 private and public institutions have already hired us. And with great satisfaction I saw my name mentioned in a recent book about the history of the theatre in Juiz de Fora in connection with the first Spiritist theatre group of the city. That was really gratifying. 

Let’s talk about lectures and public speeches. What reaction have you got from the public? 

If there are no interruptions or distractions, people really manage to focus on the information we provide. But unfortunately people still get distracted easily. They follow whoever comes in or out of the room with their eyes. And bear in mind that our talks are not long. But many come to me at the end to ask further questions. It is an important job, enriching for both those who listen and for the speaker. 

What is your advice to those who attend open meetings in Spiritist Centres? What do they need to do in order to make the most of the occasion? 

They must concentrate fully on what is being said. The speaker prepares his talk and has a particular aim, to highlight some particular point. Could you believe I’ve already heard Spiritist Centre directors saying that open meetings, public talks are unnecessary? What a pity! Whenever I am not speaking, I am down there listening, every day of the week, and every single day I learn something new. What I could add is that audiences need to be quieter and listen more carefully. That is the only way they will be able to take that knowledge to their day-to-day problems in the future, outside the Spiritist Centre. 

What else would you like to add? 

That it is simply wonderful to be reincarnated. It is a glorious experience to be an incarnate, studying the Spiritist Doctrine. Without it, life gets smaller and our power to understand the world, a great deal more limited. I would like to tell everyone how much good Spiritism has done to my life. It made me a conscious being, someone who understands the need to Christianise. To be a Spiritist is to move away from the Christian label and to begin working in a conscious and harmonic way. That is how it should be. I must express my deep gratitude to Allan Kardec, Chico Xavier, Divaldo Franco and so many others, as well as the spiritual benefactors who work constantly to help us achieve intellectual and spiritual progress. 

Your final words, please. 

They are words of gratitude, especially for this opportunity to reach your readers. May Jesus give his blessings to all your readers. And I will ask all the readers to research, study, challenge, ask questions, come up with ideas and suggestions. Spiritism is the light that becomes brighter as we go deeper, unlike the dark tunnels that get darker and darker as we carry on with our preconceived ideas and outdated, arcane ideas and actions.