In this issue, we continue the study of the book, What is Spiritism, launched in Paris in July 1859. This study will be divided into 19 parts. The pages cited in the text and suggested for reading refer to the 20th edition published by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (Federação Espírita Brasileira). The answers to the questions suggested for discussion can be found at the end of this text.
Questions for discussion
A. What is obsession?
B. What is the impression that the evil Spirits produce in us?
C. Does the psychic faculty depend on the moral qualities of the medium?
Reading Text
143. Without harmony, which can only be born from fluidic assimilation, communications are impossible, incomplete or false. (Chapter II, item 64, page 173).
144. The fluidic assimilation is much needed in communications by typtology, as well as for writing, since both are a transmission of thought of the Spirit. But the fluidic assimilation is sometimes utterly impossible between certain Spirits and certain mediums. Other times - and this is the most common case - it is only established gradually with time. (Chapter II, items 65 and 66, page 173).
145. You cannot impose a medium to the Spirit, who wants to manifest; he will choose the instrument through which he will manifest. It is always necessary, however, that the medium has previously identified with the Spirit, by gathering and by prayer, or even for a few minutes, and even many days before, if possible, so as to cause and enable fluid assimilation. This is a way to alleviate the difficulty. (Chapter II, item 67, pages 173 and 174).
146. The personal qualities of the medium play an important role, by the nature of the Spirits that he draws. The most unworthy mediums can have powerful faculties, but the most reliable are the ones that have the sympathy of the spiritual world. (Chapter II, item 68, page 174).
147. The practice of Spiritism, in the experimental point of view, presents numerous difficulties and drawbacks for those who do not have the necessary experience. It is essential to distinguish the different kinds of Spirits that may be present. (Chapter II, item 69, page 174).
148. Do not mistake obsessional subjugation with pathological madness. In madness, the cause of evil is internal; there is an organic lesion and we need to restore the body to its normal state. In subjugation, the cause is external and there is the need to freeing the patient from an invisible enemy, not fighting it with material medicines, but with a stronger and higher moral strength to his. Never in such a case did exorcism produce satisfactory results; on the contrary, it aggravated the situation. (Chapter II, items 73 and 74, pages 176 and 177).
149. Indicating the true source of evil, only Spiritism gives the means to fight back obsessional subjugation, morally educating the obsessor. By prudently advising the obsessor, it is able to make him better and to do so he voluntarily renounces to tormenting the patient, who then becomes free. (Chapter II, item 74, page 177).
150. Obsession, whatever is its nature, is independent of mediumship and it is found in all degrees in a great number of people, who never even heard about Spiritism. Mediumship is not a cause, but the simple way of manifesting that influence. Without mediumship, the influence is manifested by other effects often attributed to mysterious illnesses that elude medical research. By mediumship, the evil spirit denounces his presence; without it, it is a hidden enemy, of whom you do not suspect. (Chapter II, item 76, page 177).
151. As the obsession is never the product of a good Spirit, it becomes an essential condition to recognize the nature of those that manifest. The medium, not enlightened can be fooled by appearances, but the prudent medium recognizes the least suspicious sign, and the Spirit, seeing that he can do nothing, leaves. The prior knowledge of the means of distinguishing the good from the bad Spirits is therefore essential to the medium, so that he is not trapped. (Chapter II, item 78, page 178).
152. The good Spirits, wanting to give everybody a useful education, use the instrument at hand, but soon leave it, if they find another one that is more willing and learns their lessons better. If the good Spirits leave, the lower Spirits are then free. This causes the imperfect mediums, morally speaking, and those who do not try to correct themselves, sooner or later, become prey of the evil Spirits, who many times lead them to greatest misfortunes, still in this life. (Chapter II, paragraph 81, page 179).
Answers to the proposed questions
A. What is obsession?
Obsession is the domain that certain Spirits have over mediums and they are classified into three types according to their degree: simple obsession, fascination, and subjugation. (What is Spiritism, Chapter II, items 70 and 71, page 175).
B. What is the impression that the evil Spirits produce in us?
The impression that they cause in us is of an intense suffering, they tire us and many times are unpleasant; besides, they cause a feverish agitation and sudden and disorderly movements. (Ibid, Chapter II, item 72, page 176).
C. Does the psychic faculty depend on the moral qualities of the medium?
No. The psychic faculty is a property of the organism and it is developed both in worthy and unworthy people. The most unworthy mediums can have powerful faculties, but the most reliable are those that besides their psychic faculties, they also have the sympathy of the spiritual world. (Ibid, Chapter II, items 79 and 80, page 178).
