Neiva Amarante (photo) is a retired Portuguese and English language teacher in the Brazilian city of Americana, where she is linked to the Paz e Amor (Peace and Love) Spiritist Centre. She has worked in many other cities of the state of São Paulo as a teacher and as a volunteer Spiritist. In the following interview, she talks about her experiences along so many years in the Spiritist Movement:  

How did you become a Spiritist?

I was born into a Spiritist family from parents who came from humble beginnings. But I was privileged to have parents who truly fulfilled their duties. They were people who kept a high moral and spiritual ground and who brought me up in an environment that prioritised education, ethical values, unconditional support and the importance of understanding others. I was able to pass on those principles and values to my two wonderful children (Rodrigo, a civil engineer, and Raquel, a paediatrician).  

What is the main legacy of your life within Spiritism? 

I have very strong memories of my childhood and youth in the 1940s and 50s, when we received the frequent guidance of the great Spirit, Antonio Gonçalves da Silva, known as Batuíra. [NT: Batuíra was a pioneer of Spiritism in Brazil who moved from his native Portugal at the age of 9. As a young man, he was given the nickname of Batuíra, an agile and restless native shorebird. He passed away in São Paulo in 1909 at the age of 69, having found Spiritism after the death of his stepson.] He communicated with us through the remarkable medium, Josephina Ignacio de Campos, or Dona Josepha. He gave us advice as well as homoeopathic prescriptions and medical guidance on the use of herbs and plants to treat ailments. Dona Josepha lived in the neighbouring city of Limeira but used to come to Americana and ended up introducing Spiritism to our city. She eventually moved to the state capital, São Paulo, and I continue to seek the help of Batuíra through her. 

And tell us about his homoeopathic prescriptions?

I inherited a persistent cough from my grandmother, who came from a cold region in the north of Spain. She migrated to Brazil precisely to treat that cough in a tropical climate. Seeing that I had the same problem, my parents began asking Dona Josepha if Batuíra could help me. He prescribed a number of treatments for the cough, including teas and homemade syrups made with a wide range of plants and fruits (watercress, onion and papaya baked with sugar), which helped alleviate the symptoms during periods of crisis. But it was his last prescription that rid me forever of that cough: raw goat milk with a spoonful of honey. Dona Josepha had an extraordinary connection with Batuíra. 

And how was the ambiance during these sessions?

It was serene, calm and I felt comforted just for being there. Our energies were rebalanced during the session and even the atmosphere there felt different. The advice we got on those occasions gave us a boost to deal with the problems we faced in our daily lives. One curiosity: I remember being told something I’d never heard before. “Don’t polish inside your aluminium pots with a hard brush as the residues are very harmful for the digestive system.” I was persuaded by that and began using a soft brush to clean inside my pots and pans. 

What have you learned from those experiences with Batuíra?

All the experiences that I’ve been thorough are irrefutable evidence that we are not alone and that we have been abandoned. Help is at our reach and all we need is to remember the words of Jesus, our guide and role model. We must make a concerted effort to love our neighbours and to get rid of the feeling of selfishness, which is still deep rooted inside us. We must become aware of how small we are and carry on aiming for the heights and the light, even if we stumble along the way. One day we will be filled with light and will be in a position to help others in the same way these selfless Spiritual Benefactors do now. 

What is your assessment of the Spiritist Movement and its development in Brazil and abroad?

I can see that Spiritism has been advancing and taking a new direction. I think the coronavirus pandemic has played a part in that, with the proliferation of live broadcasts online, which have allowed us to interact with so many people who were stuck at home during lockdown. We were able to take a huge amount of information about Spiritism, as well as a sense of hope and consolation to people all over the world via the internet. And it’s impossible these days not to find information on Spiritism in its triple aspect (philosophical, scientific and religious - without dogmas or  rituals). 

Is there anything else you would like to add?