tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63005567031802350792024-03-13T07:31:32.068-07:00Explore SpiritismHere, we're all about understanding and reflecting on life, taking inspiration from the Spiritist teachings regarding our existence as evolutionary beings. We seek to spread light, share love, exchange ideas, and spread the blessings of Spiritism* to individuals around the world.LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-4784635033847694492018-03-07T21:12:00.002-08:002018-03-07T21:12:30.435-08:00What We Need In School Instead of Mandated Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8p6SaeQgVk/WqC9yTSU18I/AAAAAAAAAgw/ezkvvjh15bsD0GkhWo2hd_93yA66Y52-gCLcBGAs/s1600/SchlKds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="741" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8p6SaeQgVk/WqC9yTSU18I/AAAAAAAAAgw/ezkvvjh15bsD0GkhWo2hd_93yA66Y52-gCLcBGAs/s320/SchlKds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For as much as
I believe in God and the power of prayer, I’m often surprised by the calling
for mandated school prayer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to the idea of
people praying together in school, <i>per se</i>;
truth be told, I’d be in favor of it *<i>if*</i> we all had the same spiritual beliefs. But we don’t. We are a very diverse society, not to mention the fact that we live in a
country founded on a number of core principles, one of them being religious
freedom. Our children come from different families and cultures, with different
religious and non-religious backgrounds. Even that statement could open a whole
separate discussion on what it means to religious, or event spiritual, etc. Therefore,
while nothing should ever stop a child who wants to pray on his or her own from
doing so, I find myself at odds with the idea of making group prayer an
organized activity in a public school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aside from the
above, when I see people shaming the absence of mandated prayer time in school,
I wonder to myself, how many of those protesters are stressing the importance
of prayer at home, with their own children. The home is such important place
for children to learn about spiritual and moral principles, as well as for
parents who believe in the importance and utility of prayer to teach that to their
children. Perhaps the energy spent trying to socialize a need for mandated prayer would be better invested if we were to encourage one another to make
prayer a priority in the home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Furthermore,
and perhaps even more importantly, an <b><i>absence of prayer</i></b> in school does <i><b>not</b></i>
have to mean an <b><i>absence of God. </i></b>Without forcing anyone to pray or to pray in a
certain way or with certain terminology, we can still bring God into our schools; we can do this through the very values we help our children carry as they walk
into school each day and interact with their fellow classmates. We must take
the time, at home, to teach our children (both by words and by example) about kindness,
humility, respect, forgiveness, and patience. We have to educate them about the
importance of empathy and helping others. We should encourage them to stand up
for others unable to defend themselves. We need to help them develop courage as
they face different challenges. We ought to instill in them a love of nature.
And the list goes on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">In light of
recent events in our country, I have seen this wording displayed on t-shirts,
posters, and memes, as well as being illustrated in comics and used for points in
debate. </span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Dear God, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why do you allow so much
violence in our schools?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Signed,"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- A Concerned Student.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Dear Concerned Student, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not allowed in schools."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">- God</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, in reality, God is always
allowed in schools. Ironically, our religious freedom granted by the US constitution
actually protects the rights of all individuals, including students, to pray on their own
in and accordance with their particular beliefs should they desire to do so. I’m thankful for this because, as a Spiritist,
to me prayer is very important. I believe it is important for children to be
taught both why to pray and what it means to pray and that we as parents and
other caretakers in their homes and spiritual communities should help them
develop the practice. Like the moral
values mentioned above, children can take this with them wherever they go,
including school. They can know that when they want to ask God for help from or
give thanks, they only need to direct their thoughts to God or to their spiritual mentors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, if
God is allowed but <i>not</i> <i>brought</i> <i>into </i>school as we’d like, that is
evidenced by different circumstances than what the above-mentioned wording alludes
to. Instead,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if we taught children to be
compassionate,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if we nurtured our children’s
emotional intelligence and taught them kindness and respect, and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if we put more emphasis on resolving
and preventing bullying,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>then</i>, with this to begin with, God would be more present
than ever in our schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Furthermore, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if we could ensure that all
children had the chance to learn on full stomachs and well-nourished bodies,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if we could make certain to
include the arts as a part of every child’s education,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if our schools could be
adequately staffed, with enough teachers for healthy class-sizes and with enough
counselors to give children and parents the attention they need, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and more,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we’d go even
further to bring God’s love to children and those whom we entrust with their
care during some of the most formative years of their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">◊ ◊ ◊</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rather than
prayer or even the mention of God by name in public schools, we sincerely need the essence of God – love and
compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heather </span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-12605806065761979552018-01-15T11:35:00.002-08:002018-01-15T12:22:54.429-08:00COCO, the Movie! – Great Message – At the Perfect Time – Beautiful Film<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>STOP! If you haven’t seen this
movie, I HIGHLY recommend you watch it and then, of course, come back for this
post to see if you agree with my thoughts! Even so, I will try not to reveal
too much detail for those who'd rather keep reading anyway. ;)</i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4jAH-zZi-M/Wlz-vBLzLNI/AAAAAAAAAgI/5TxTwd4UJNg2yozml2X5Y1SIIhqxHdgugCLcBGAs/s1600/Coco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="450" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4jAH-zZi-M/Wlz-vBLzLNI/AAAAAAAAAgI/5TxTwd4UJNg2yozml2X5Y1SIIhqxHdgugCLcBGAs/s320/Coco.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So. Who's seen the movie “Coco” ?
I absolutely loved it! For starters, the animation is spectacular. The
scenery is authentic, and with some of the characters I even sometimes forgot I
was watching animation! Those visuals, combined with great writing and the
music that also plays a central role in the movie, make for an authentic,
captivating presentation for this touching story. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />For me personally, I've also had a special place in my heart for the
Spanish language and subsequently the Latin culture ever since I started
foreign language classes in High School. I also learned then about the Mexican
beliefs and traditions surrounding the "Day of the Dead". As soon as
I caught a preview for this Disney/Pixar movie, I couldn't wait to see it, but
I loved it even more than I'd expected.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">◊ ◊ ◊ </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aside from the above, this film had something else that spoke to the
passion of my spirit. That is the big-screen representation of life-after-death
and the ever-important messages revealed through the adventures and discoveries
of little Miguel, the main character. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the developing story takes viewers from the material to the
spiritual realms, at times <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">depicting</span> both side-by-side, we learn through the
eyes of Miguel's family (on both planes) what the "Day of the Dead"
is really about. Unlike what those unaware may believe, this tradition is not
another name for a "day like Halloween". It is about the belief in a
sacred opportunity for loved ones in two different realms of life to be
together and celebrate their bonds that last long beyond the grave. Miguelito
learns, however, that each year when that special and highly anticipated day
rolls around, only those with an incarnate loved one who remembers them and
puts their picture out on the "ofrenda" (an altar to honor and
welcome the deceased loved ones, as well as to offer food and gifts) are
allowed to make a visit to the "world of the living". The sorrowful
cases of certain discarnates that Miguel finds in the spirit world bring
attention to the plight believed to be endured by those who are instead
forgotten. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While the Spiritist understanding of spirit life differs in some
details from that of the beliefs behind the "Day of the Dead" in
Mexico, one very important, underlying idea is the same - that of the continued
relationships nourished by mutual <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">remembrance</span>! Those we love in the spirit
realm do rejoice in seeing our accomplishments (especially spiritual ones) and
our times of happiness, they support us in our sorrows and trials, and they may
become one of the friendly spirits who offer us guidance as we manage our way
through the material life. At the same time, those who find themselves in a
position of suffering of some kind feel <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">strengthened</span> by our prayers and love.
In any case, when we do want to connect with the spirits in thought, what
matters most is not the time or place but instead the concentration of our
attention and the sincerity of our sentiments. According to Spiritist
teachings, the visits between incarnate and discarnate loved ones is not reserved
for a single day of the year; barring any individual limitations at the time,
our loved ones in spirit can be with and around us at any given moment. Likewise,
as we sleep and our bodies rest, our spirits have opportunities to spend time
with them in the spirit realm. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Indeed, the endearing connections we establish with one another remain,
even when we are temporarily separated by the incarnate state of one and the
discarnate state of another. I really couldn't help but think that while perhaps even those who brought this movie to life
may have simply thought it was great story to take to film, perhaps something
even greater was behind it, influencing its eventual materialization. As more
people begin to see the afterlife as something beyond simply an abstract
existence, I believe the timing was right for the appearance of a movie of this
kind. </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">◊ ◊ ◊</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As we also see in this movie, there was another great lesson learned by
little Miguelito. He came to realize that family is of utmost importance, more
than any fame or fortune. His "abuela" (grandmother) and other family
members tried to tell him so, but with his child's spirit of adventure and his
secret but uncontainable love for music, he needed to follow his dreams and
have the experiences he did to learn this important lesson. In the end, his
adventures took him full circle, back to his "familia" to whom his
albeit stubborn rebellion ultimately brought healing for some long-held
misunderstandings about their past.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPBLXuLDe84/Wl0CFHiTLkI/AAAAAAAAAgU/QUztiY1ba4kB316cMO0Q2O-c32BpwIHzACLcBGAs/s1600/Coco%2Bfamilia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="640" height="242" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPBLXuLDe84/Wl0CFHiTLkI/AAAAAAAAAgU/QUztiY1ba4kB316cMO0Q2O-c32BpwIHzACLcBGAs/s320/Coco%2Bfamilia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Through this heartwarming story, "Coco" offers the world a
wonderful reminder about the treasure of family and a valuable message about
the importance of remembering our loved ones in the spirit realm. Those who
await us "on the other side" indeed think of us and take pleasure in
receiving our warm thoughts and prayers, knowing that we remember them with the
same affection or that we are praying
for them if they are suffering. We are so fortunate to have the body of
knowledge and study that is Spiritism to bring us evidence (if not proof) of
these very principles as a source of comfort and inspiration.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So take this message as inspiration. Let those beloved souls in the
spirit realm know they are on your mind and in your heart.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for reading.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessings to all, today and always</span></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heather </span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-42328768115773671792017-10-27T04:48:00.001-07:002017-10-27T04:48:26.466-07:00Remembering Romeo & Juliet and Reflecting on A Tragic Misconception Concerning Suicide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3JVW0W3Bx8/WevWZdoQlII/AAAAAAAAAfc/3t0BitRNgy0zIMvX-JC9QhMFHB9i_2vdQCLcBGAs/s1600/canstockphoto5339881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3JVW0W3Bx8/WevWZdoQlII/AAAAAAAAAfc/3t0BitRNgy0zIMvX-JC9QhMFHB9i_2vdQCLcBGAs/s320/canstockphoto5339881.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I came across Q&A 956 in “The Spirits’ Book”, and I couldn’t help but <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">consider</span> how it puts a bit of a thorn in the heartrending romanticism of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".<br /><br />The question reads:<br />Q: "Do those who cannot bear the loss of loved ones and kill themselves in the hope of rejoining them accomplish their objective?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The spirits answer:<br />A: “The result for them is much different than what they hoped for. Instead of being reunited with the objects of their affection, they keep themselves away from them even longer because God cannot reward an act of cowardice, an insult which demonstrates distrust in divine providence. They will pay for that moment of insanity with afflictions even greater than those they wished to shorten, and they will not have the compensation they hoped for.” <br /><br />Did Romeo and Juliet believe they would be reunited, or could they simply not bear to be without one another for the rest of their days here on Earth?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>Either way, anyone who has ever been in love and dreaded the thought of continuing life without the object of his or her undying affection can certainly sympathize with the emotional catalysts for such actions. This is what makes us such fans of this theatrical masterpiece that portrays an emotional turmoil so many can related to. Unfortunately, however, in real life, choices like this do not lead one to happiness in the beyond, as one may hope. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">◊ ◊ ◊</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From a broader perspective, Romeo and Juliet’s story reflects how a materialistic view on life may ultimately lend itself to a very tragic misconception. From this view, one my see taking his or her life as a way to escape deep pain and suffering. Honest to God, my heart goes out to anyone who is feeling so much hurt or despair that suicide appears to be the best alternative, but this is only made worse by the fact that cutting one’s life short does not take away our problems. In fact <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">doing so </span>limits our ability to resolve them. This also highlights the importance of the message in Spiritism. Spiritism shows us that life beyond the grave continues and that, upon leaving behind the material body, we remain the same individual we were while incarnated<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <b>-</b></span><b> </b>with the same joys, the same sorrows, the same accomplishments thus far achieved, and the some problems left to overcome. Thus demonstrating the futility of ending our own lives and likewise the importance of working through our struggles while we remain incarnate, Spiritism also, however, provides a source of hope and consolation to help us in life’s trying times. <br /><br />When we allow life to takes its natural course and bravely bear our trials, a natural death can relieve us from certain afflictions - such as the physical pain of an ill body, the longing to be with the loved ones who await our return to the spirit world, or the normal day-to-day challenges of living in the material world. However, many problems that we deal with while alive (incarnated) on Earth - such as broken relationships, addictions, a troubled conscience, moral weaknesses, etc. – do not go away merely because we’ve once again left behind yet another material body and thus closed another chapter on the life story of our immortal soul. Problems <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">like </span>the latter will always require resolution, something that will take effort on our own part to attain, as we continue living and growing in two realms of life. <br /><br />Suicide only complicates things further and for two reasons. First of all, once we are no longer in the material world, it becomes even harder to actively work on resolving these issues. Sometimes, there are things we can do from the spirit world, but it’s also very possible that we have to wait for a new incarnation to resume where we “left off”. Secondly, the act of prematurely ending one’s life carries with it its own painful consequences – from the darkness and suffering one may experience in the spirit world to the imprint that such an act may have on the circumstances of a future incarnation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">◊ ◊ ◊</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><br />Collectively, the many teachings of Spiritism help us to understand why suicide is never a good answer. Meanwhile, our loving and knowledgeable mentors and teachers, communicating to us from the discarnate state and through the aid of mediumship, bring us compassion and hope. For all who are interested, below I recommend some resources for learning more about the Spiritist viewpoint and teachings related to the above discussion. If you would like information on where to obtain the books mentioned or which book to begin with, feel free to contact me. <br /><br />For anyone who may, in particular, have been finding him or herself contemplating suicide: I ask you to please consider exploring the Spiritist teachings and, above all, please reach out to a trusted individual for help.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>Note that below I have also included <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.</span> Furthermore, if you find comfort in what Spiritism offers and you would like to learn more about it, starting with one of the books below, contact me; I will be happy to get you a copy. <br /><br /> </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recommended Resources</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">US National Suicide <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Prevention Lifeline</span>: </span></span></span></b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 1-800-273-8255</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>SPIRITIST BOOKS:</b> <a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/books/Spiritist%20Books_browse.htm" target="_blank">(view several descriptions <b>here</b>)</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Spiritist Books</b>, topic of Suicide:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those Left Behind -
Understanding Suicide from a Spiritist View <i>(Jussara Korngold)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Spiritist Books</b> for study of Spiritist teachings:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allan Kardec’s “The
Gospel According to Spiritism” <br /> <span style="color: #45818e;">
<i>(see especially the chapter “Blessed are the Afflicted”)</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allan Kardec’s “Heaven
and Hell” </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Spiritist Books</b>, specifically, enlightening and inspiring novels:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nosso Lar <i>(spirit André Luiz, medium Chico Xavier)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And Life Goes On<i> (spirit
André Luiz, medium Chico Xavier)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resignation <i>(spirit Emmanuel,
medium Chico Xavier)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Memoirs of a Suicide<i>
(spirit Camilo Candido Botelho, medium Yvonne A. Pereira)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paul and Stephen <i>(Spirit
Emmanuel, medium Chico Xavier)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Spirits Books</b>, messages of inspiration</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Life <i> </i><i>(spirit
<span style="font-style: normal;">Joanna
de Ângelis, medium Divaldo Franco)</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Child of God <i>(spirit
<span style="font-style: normal;">Joanna
de Ângelis, medium Divaldo Franco)</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Living and Loving <i>(spirit
<span style="font-style: normal;">Joanna
de Ângelis, medium Divaldo Franco)</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our Daily Bread <i> (spirit Emmanuel, medium Chico Xavier)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Pathway, the
Truth and the Life <i>(spirit Emmanuel, medium
Chico Xavier)</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>VIDEOS</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NQEr1f7NJE&list=PL0qifUCv4UF87FximjwSeRn8TSfRW2EJT" target="_blank">Understanding Suffering</a> - This talk of mine<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> discusses </span>the Spiritist perspective on suffering </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Thank you for reading!<br /> <br />Blessings to all, today and always<br />Heather</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-11990692293723931852017-10-19T08:02:00.001-07:002017-10-19T08:18:38.848-07:00Spirits: Why Not?! Seeing is Not Believing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmS3MaD90jM/Weij-Qx8WjI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/xM1ad_dd9iY9oAbRGVXwFVKvlhHoXTkfQCLcBGAs/s1600/Are%2Bthere%2BSpirits%2B_Mediums%2BBook.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="682" height="356" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmS3MaD90jM/Weij-Qx8WjI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/xM1ad_dd9iY9oAbRGVXwFVKvlhHoXTkfQCLcBGAs/s400/Are%2Bthere%2BSpirits%2B_Mediums%2BBook.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">It puzzles me that so many people consider spirits to be nothing but a myth, something you’d have to be fooled to believe in. I’m guessing this has a lot to do with pop culture’s portrayal of “ghosts”. How often do we find movies & videos, books and articles, TV shows, and other media focusing on the miserable plight of suffering spirits and their haunting presence among the lives of the living? They encourage people to see these beings from beyond the grave as either too scary to contemplate or nothing but entertainment for whatever it’s worth to the audience. <br /><br />We can’t blame all the resistance on popular media though. There are other reasons <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for the </span>indifference <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or claims that <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t</span></span>hat spirits simply do not exist. In response to some of those reasons listed here, I might make some suggestions such as these:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> With respect to all but the last of the positions above, I would propose flipping things around for a moment of contemplation. What if you start with the details behind the notions and claims that people, in at least some in locations all over the world and throughout all times have seen spirits, heard spirits, or otherwise experienced or documented phenomena that offer strong evidence for the continued existence of individuals once living here in the flesh? Can there not be something to all that? <br /><br />Yes, it would take some time and willingness to gather and study those details. Yes, you’d have to weed through information garbage to filter out the gems. Yes, you may have to question beliefs that, for you, have been a source of your skepticism concerning spirits. However, if you found the evidence in favor of the existence of spirits to be convincing or even thought-provoking, might it then give you cause to reconsider your perspective? <br /><br />Of course, sometimes people don’t hold a deliberate disbelief in spirits, or in spirits being among us. They simply haven’t given it much thought or haven’t had much exposure to information from sources other than contrary teachings or the pop culture I mentioned above. I was one of them, myself! That is, until Spiritism came into my life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">One of the arguments that surprises me most goes along the lines of, “[Spirits don’t exist because] I can’t see them.”</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNyGkLVF-G4/WeimPF0kc2I/AAAAAAAAAes/0o-TaBpDduoZ-loYS0mXkYB4D1-sRwOLQCLcBGAs/s1600/puzzled%2Bemoji%2Bspirits%2Bdo%2Bnot%2Bexist.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="60" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNyGkLVF-G4/WeimPF0kc2I/AAAAAAAAAes/0o-TaBpDduoZ-loYS0mXkYB4D1-sRwOLQCLcBGAs/s1600/puzzled%2Bemoji%2Bspirits%2Bdo%2Bnot%2Bexist.PNG" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Really? Of course, we all know the old expression that “Seeing is believing”. Ironically though, that comes nowhere near the way we actually think of the world in this day and age. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Our lives are filled with things we believe to exist or take for granted without seeing them for ourselves. We began learning this at an early age, when our teachers had us look through the microscope. As adults, we could list numerous examples. from the simple to the complex. Furthermore, even when we do “see” something, we know that what we perceive doesn’t necessarily reflect reality! Who doesn’t love a good magic trick? Who hasn’t enjoyed a 3-D movie? Today we’ve gone beyond that to create virtual reality and, even better, the in-development mixed-reality technologies. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-exoDRs8ICgI/Weim8FADQeI/AAAAAAAAAe4/QVfKLTdStcA-JRvkgHqR08Ie3FbQpE5XwCLcBGAs/s1600/Eye%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog%2529%2B_%2Bsee%2Bspirits.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="472" height="93" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-exoDRs8ICgI/Weim8FADQeI/AAAAAAAAAe4/QVfKLTdStcA-JRvkgHqR08Ie3FbQpE5XwCLcBGAs/s200/Eye%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog%2529%2B_%2Bsee%2Bspirits.PNG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I think we can all agree that seeing is not necessarily believing, just as not seeing is not a direct and just cause for not believing. So when it comes to spirits, I say we scrap those thoughts and instead turn to the one that says, “There’s more than that which meets the eye.” </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I’d like to share with you a personal experience that struck me as quite analogous to this concept of seeing or not seeing spirits. Where I work, we recently adopted a new software, which offers many options for customizing the display of project information. Each customized configuration is called a “view”, and it so happens that I create the views for my team. <br /><br />At first I got frantic calls from panicked users claiming that their data (from the old system) was “gone!!!!!” I would then remind them that it was there but simply hidden through filters. To see it, they needed only to switch to a different “view”.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />It occurred to me that the information filters in that software are a bit like the limitations on our senses as incarnate spirits. The inability to perceive spirits is nothing more than a temporary filter. Those who are ostensive mediums have a “view” that allows them to see, hear, or otherwise register the presence of spirits. The fact that others cannot perceive the same does not mean the spirits are not there. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">That analogy coincides nicely with Spiritist author Richard Simonetti’s explanations in his book “Mediumship, All You Need to Know””. I would like to provide you this excerpt from that text:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>“What is mediumship?</b><br />In its simplest definition, mediumship is being sensitive to the influences of the spirit realm. It’s the sixth sense,” which places us into contact with the world of spirits, in much the same way as our senses of touch, taste, smell, seeing, and hearing place us in contact with the world of humans<br /><br /><b>Does this mean that we are all humans?</b><br />All humans have the sensitivities that make the perception of spiritual influences possible. Not all humans, however, are sufficiently sensitive to produce mediumistic phenomena<br /><br /><b>What determines this difference?</b><br />Let’s imagine someone wearing a suit of armor that impairs their ability to hear and see what is happening around them. This is what happens with us when we reincarnate. We put on a dense flesh garment that inhibits our spiritual perceptions. A medium is someone who has an opening in this armor.”<br /><br /><b>Is it a physical type of opening? Is it in the body?</b><br />Mediumship is a spiritual faculty inherent to all spirits. When we reincarnate it becomes dependent on the conditions of the body. In this regard, we can say that it’s organic because it’s subordinate to a physical structure which doesn’t inhibit all contact with the spirit world.” </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">For Spiritists, rather than questioning the existence of spirits (as we have already been convinced by the evidence and logic), we are hopefully now using this knowledge about spirits, including our own existence as spirits, to take advantage of this incarnation. If, as students of Spiritism, we are convinced by the logical theory but have <i>not yet</i> delved into the practical evidence and explanations, it is important that we study that piece of Spiritism - from Kardec and others as well. After all, this basic notion is fundamental to the entirety of Spiritist principles, perspectives, and approach to life! <br /><br />To begin with, I’d highly recommend:<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="color: #660000;"> Allan Kardec’s “The Mediums’ Book”: Part One:<br /> Ch I - Are There Spirits?<br /> Ch II - The Extraordinary and the Supernatural<br /> Ch III - Methodology<br /> Ch IV - Theories<br /><br /> Allan Kardec’s “What is Spiritism”<br /> Chapter: The Critic / Section: “False Explanations of the Phenomena”</span><br /><br />Just a word of caution. In our enthusiasm for Spiritism, we may be eager for others to study and gain from the same “enlightenment”. Let’s remember, however, that not everyone will see Spiritist thought, principles, and information in the same way or find in it the same degree of benefit. Nor does everyone have to! If we share the awareness of Spiritism, it is only to let each individual decide if the body of Spiritist knowledge and information is a good fit for him or her at this time. <br /><br />Meanwhile, let’s continuously remind ourselves that any information, if not consciously employed for our own betterment, is simply that, information. What we do with it is up to us!<br /><br />Thank you for reading!<br /> <br />Blessings to all, today and always<br />Heather</span></span>LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-55895035268918550842017-09-21T21:28:00.000-07:002017-09-22T05:40:21.203-07:00“Easy For Me To Say.”; Walking the Delicate Line Between Empathic Pain and Empowering Perspective<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Is <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">it </span>really a line? Only figuratively. <br />Even so, I say
<b>not </b>fine, but delicate.<br />
We can find ourselves on both sides at the same time. <br />At stake are raw emotions, precious
human connections, and moral evolution</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Never before
have so many catastrophic events, happening in such a short span of time,
affected the lives of people I love alongside those of countless strangers. Over these past
weeks, we have had Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, the earthquake in Mexico,
and now Hurricane Maria. In places where I know no one, there are other
situations like the tremendous flooding in Bangledesh. It has been unreal to
see these events unfold one after the other.</span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />
Of course, in any given year certain events rock the world with rapid and
wide-spread devastation, while every single day millions of individuals endure
personal tragedies of their own. The size of an event or the number impacted does not necessarily mean more, or less, suffering to each individual soul impacted. These
major events, however, catch widespread attention due to their magnitude and exposure.
As news spreads, those of us on the outside become collectively glued to the TV
or internet, watching the shocking events and/or their aftermath unfold. Our
hearts ache, even to witness it all from afar and to see and hear the
desperation.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZjmU4w6LpI/WcSE7Kbk1ZI/AAAAAAAAAd0/CLRtFvYuReYi80IFRi89GaFeOdRicQcBACLcBGAs/s1600/Empthy%2BPain%2BPerspective%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="598" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZjmU4w6LpI/WcSE7Kbk1ZI/AAAAAAAAAd0/CLRtFvYuReYi80IFRi89GaFeOdRicQcBACLcBGAs/s400/Empthy%2BPain%2BPerspective%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog%2529.PNG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As Spiritists, we have the wherewithal, at least in terms of conceptual
knowledge, to grasp the purpose of these events. And yet, each time I
personally thought about sharing those ideas over the last several days to help
both myself and others think through them without despair, I would hear a voice
in my head answering, “So easy for me to say.” </span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The voice of that delicate line.<br /><br />I would picture myself or a loved one enduring one of those experiences and
suffering tremendous pain in the process, and I could understand how someone
would think, “Sure, it makes sense until it happens to you”. Most of all, part
of me feared unwillingly seeming to minimize the hurt of so many. <br /><br />Then along came
a handful of acquaintances - Spiritist or not
- who put their thoughts out there reminding everyone of the higher
perspective, attempting to help foster calm. I then realized that even though I
shared in that same understanding, the public expression of such ideas helped
not only <i>others</i>; it helped me too.
And it’s important.</span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />These natural calamities cannot be blamed on terrorists, political groups, or
people of any particular kind or background; instead of dividing us they bring
us together. They serve a higher purpose, as mother nature engages her defenses
of self-renewal and natural law employs mechanisms for <i>our (spiritual) </i>renewal. Large numbers of compassionate people are
moved to help strangers. Expressions of concern, care, and support are all
around. We become kinder and more giving. We stop to reflect on what is truly
important in life. And the immensely painful experiences of those most directly
affected will, with time, prove to be transformational in the evolution of their immortal spirits. <b>Only
the understanding of immortality and spiritual evolution can help us to
understand how, through the worst of times, nature and natural law bring forth
not only the best of us but also the best for us. </b> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, let me rephrase that last sentence. For <i>some</i>, but not all, they will indeed bring out the best. For <i>all</i>, however, they will offer numerous <i>opportunities</i>
to let our best shine. <b>As Spiritists,
now is the time to walk the talk of compassion, of charity, of solidarity and
love, as well as of hope and faith.</b> And sharing the enlightenment of Spiritist
teachings is not <i>the most</i> <i>pressing</i> need among the general population. At a time like this especially, it is - above all else – about action.</span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">◊ ◊ ◊</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you can be one of the awesome and inspiring souls who take the time and
opportunity to help in-person and contribute somehow that way, God bless you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you
personally know people either directly or indirectly affected, be there to <i>listen</i>. Do not impose spiritual
principles on the distressed. Instead, lovingly allow them to express their
emotions, tell their stories, and grieve in their own ways. Support with your
presence and vibrations.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you can
give financially or donate needed materials, give. Give what you can, maybe
even sacrifice. You already gave with “the last one”? Give again. Entire towns
and communities, in same cases even countries full of people are now in dire
need.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you can
pray (who can’t pray?), do it. If you are on social media claiming “prayers”,
do it. Take the time to get quiet and lift your thoughts to implore assistance
from the spirit realm. Ask for comfort, care and outreach for those directly
impacted - both incarnate and discarnate if such be the case. If you are able to give in other ways in
addition to prayer, then ask also for guidance and inspiration to you in your
desire and willingness to be of service.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eChLhLHm-l4/WcSFYYzK83I/AAAAAAAAAd4/GqC0EiMSM0YbT1F0BEvwqCVQ0H_XSaRIgCLcBGAs/s1600/Unity%2Bon%2BEarth%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="572" height="209" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eChLhLHm-l4/WcSFYYzK83I/AAAAAAAAAd4/GqC0EiMSM0YbT1F0BEvwqCVQ0H_XSaRIgCLcBGAs/s320/Unity%2Bon%2BEarth%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog%2529.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It <b>is healthy</b> to shed tears and feel pain
for our brothers and sisters. <br />
It <b>is also healthy</b> to reflect on the
bigger picture from a spiritual perspective.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is our <b><i>duty</i></b>
to help.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let’s be
there for each other. Even as our hearts hurt, let’s use our knowledge, prayers,
and compassion to find perspective and strength so that we can give our
solidarity and love to others in their time of great need.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is how
we walk the “delicate line” between empathic pain and empowering perspective.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for reading.<br /> <br />Blessings to all, today and always<br />Heather</span></span></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-585488857650414262017-08-26T13:44:00.000-07:002017-08-26T19:12:36.893-07:00Looking for a movie this weekend? How about "Astral City"? (Trailer included) <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIGCEAsldB0/WaHPQz6ldgI/AAAAAAAAAa0/-uK5Qq8ecTcZUerJnO8StcaZKdrea8iVQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2BMovie%2B%2528Nosso%2BLar%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="254" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIGCEAsldB0/WaHPQz6ldgI/AAAAAAAAAa0/-uK5Qq8ecTcZUerJnO8StcaZKdrea8iVQCLcBGAs/s200/Astral%2BCity%2BMovie%2B%2528Nosso%2BLar%2529.jpg" width="137" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Astral City: A Spiritual Journey"<br />Strand Releasing</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If yo<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">u'r<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e inte<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rested in life after death and you haven't<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> yet <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">seen <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">this <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">film, I highly recommend it! T<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">movie is based on <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">our </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spiritist <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">novel, "Nosso Lar"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>First,<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> some background from </span>the "offici<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">al" movie description, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">b</span></span>y production company Strand Releasing: </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Based on the best selling book "Nosso Lar" by medium Chico Xavier, the film tells the story of Andre Luiz, a successful doctor who experiences an enlightening spiritual awakening after his death. When he wakes up in the spiritual world, he embarks on a new journey of self-discovery and transformation, from his first days in a dimension of pain and suffering, until when he is rescued and taken to the spiritual Astral City. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">[...] </span>the film brings to the screen what life is like at the Astral City that hovers in the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGJCD90gShc/WaHPpYz-S-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/pONYTc9-yZIuI3kO-miG2oDu-KrUIaDgQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2B_%2BNosso%2BLar%2B_Movie%2BReel%2B%2528small%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"></span></a><b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGJCD90gShc/WaHPpYz-S-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/pONYTc9-yZIuI3kO-miG2oDu-KrUIaDgQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2B_%2BNosso%2BLar%2B_Movie%2BReel%2B%2528small%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="38" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGJCD90gShc/WaHPpYz-S-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/pONYTc9-yZIuI3kO-miG2oDu-KrUIaDgQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2B_%2BNosso%2BLar%2B_Movie%2BReel%2B%2528small%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, here's my review and why you need to see it! <br /> </span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Tr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ailer to folllow<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span>Astral City” gives viewers a real glimpse into the treasures of knowledge found in the science and philosophy of Spiritism. In this well-done production that stays quite faithful to the true story novel it is based on, viewers accompany the main character, Andre Luiz, as he encounters the reality of our existence as immortal souls and awakens to new perspectives about life, love, responsibility, and connection.<br /><br />Through this movie many viewers, like <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the main charac<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ter</span></span> himself, discover the awesome reality that "death" only pertains to the impermanent physical body and that life not only goes on, but in a very real way. By following Andre's experiences, we see that the bonds of love and affection established here on Earth are never destroyed and that, one day, we are all re-united with our loved ones, in the spiritual realm - a place to reflect on our past experiences, engage in opportunities for study and fraternal service, and prepare for the continuation of our spiritual journey.<br /><br />Like threads that weave through those discoveries, some deeper underlying realities that Andre also comes to realize as he is helped to understand the connection between past, present and future, are that life has great meaning, that everything we experience serves a purpose, and that we all are truly the authors of our own destiny.<br /><br />The film is well-produced and very entertaining, with great music and visual effects that keep you absorbed from one scene to the next, and these elements all come together to really bring home the heartwarming and thought-provoking messages of this incredible story, as first narrated by Andre Luiz, himself.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Movie Trailer</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As mentioned, this movie is based on the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> book "Nosso Lar" <br />by spirit author Andr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">é</span> Luiz and medium Chico</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> Xavier. </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Andr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">é</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Luiz is considered, among Spiritists, as a beloved reporter of the spirit realm, who has shared, through t<a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2016/01/like-fly-on-wall-of-heaven.html" target="_blank">his novel and </a><a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2016/01/like-fly-on-wall-of-heaven.html" target="_blank">others</a>, an amazing collection of details about life in the spiritual dimension and the ongoing interactions between the spiritual and material worlds. His accounts bring to life and help us to really understand, with meaningful examples and explanations, the fundamental principles of the science and philosophy of Spiritism.<br />Read <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/Biographies/Andre%20Luiz.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">m</span>ore <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a</span>bout </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/Biographies/Andre%20Luiz.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Andr<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">é</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Luiz</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mW2WkdWTXlg/WaHX6fo341I/AAAAAAAAAbI/ALqW05TIQUkcZPWl3MQhig4_wMwqBAHewCLcBGAs/s1600/Chico%2BXavier%2B%2528movie%2Bastral%2Bcity%2Bnosso%2Blar%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mW2WkdWTXlg/WaHX6fo341I/AAAAAAAAAbI/ALqW05TIQUkcZPWl3MQhig4_wMwqBAHewCLcBGAs/s1600/Chico%2BXavier%2B%2528movie%2Bastral%2Bcity%2Bnosso%2Blar%2529.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Chico Xavier</b> is the much-loved medium, through whom Andre Luiz was able to share his story with us. Watch this s<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txa_gBNkvdU" target="_blank">hort video about Chico and his life</a> of service, faith, and love. Read more about Chico in this <a href="http://www.sgny.org/catalog/other-authors/chico-xavier-medium-of-the-century/" target="_blank">book "Chico </a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sgny.org/catalog/other-authors/chico-xavier-medium-of-the-century/" target="_blank">Xavier, Medium of the Centu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sgny.org/catalog/other-authors/chico-xavier-medium-of-the-century/" target="_blank">ry"</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGJCD90gShc/WaHPpYz-S-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/pONYTc9-yZIuI3kO-miG2oDu-KrUIaDgQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2B_%2BNosso%2BLar%2B_Movie%2BReel%2B%2528small%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"></span></a></span></span></span></span></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGJCD90gShc/WaHPpYz-S-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/pONYTc9-yZIuI3kO-miG2oDu-KrUIaDgQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2B_%2BNosso%2BLar%2B_Movie%2BReel%2B%2528small%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="38" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGJCD90gShc/WaHPpYz-S-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/pONYTc9-yZIuI3kO-miG2oDu-KrUIaDgQCLcBGAs/s1600/Astral%2BCity%2B_%2BNosso%2BLar%2B_Movie%2BReel%2B%2528small%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />If I've peeked your interest on the movie, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you can <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">now catch it </span>through a number of options, including: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tXBGRNSLVA" target="_blank">You</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tXBGRNSLVA" target="_blank">Tube</a>, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Astral-City-Spiritual-Journey-Subtitled/dp/B007UK0ETU?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Astral-City-Spiritual-Journey-Subtitled/dp/B007UK0ETU?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank"> Movie</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Astral_City_A_Spiritual_Journey?id=2tXBGRNSLVA&hl=en" target="_blank">Goo</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Astral_City_A_Spiritual_Journey?id=2tXBGRNSLVA&hl=en" target="_blank">gle Play</a>, and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/astral-city-spiritual-journey/id484512389?ign-mpt=uo=4" target="_blank">iTunes</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enjoy! Let me know what you think!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">!</span><br /><br />
Blessings to all, today and always</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />H</span>eather</span><br />
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-82362338144729907522017-08-11T06:47:00.001-07:002017-08-26T11:58:58.144-07:00Is the thought of reincarnation truly consoling?<br />
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In Spiritism you’ll usually hear how the knowledge of reincarnation is
so mind-settling, inspiring, and consoling. </span><br />
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Well, here’s the thing. We live in a crazy world. Who wouldn’t agree
that that it’s far from perfect? OK, I know; it’s more like </span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">those
living in it</i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> are
far from perfect. But you know what I mean. As a consequence of its
inhabitants, the world itself is likewise still significantly backward.
So there’s a lot about life on our planet, or even just material life at
this stage of the game, that is not fun, not pleasant. In fact, the
truth is that life can be really hard sometimes, truly painful, and
often both. </span></td>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As far as I’m concerned, it’s a totally legit evaluation of that to think, “Hey, I really just don’t want to come back and have to live here or do this all over again!” I’ve actually heard people express that before, and I can’t blame them. After all, on the surface, who on Earth (pun intended) would want to sign up for a return if you’ve had a really difficult life and endured significant suffering? Even if you’ve had a great life, albeit with difficult moments (no one's life is all great all the time), you still may feel that once is enough for you.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yep. I totally get that. However, I invite you to look at it another way, because I also know there’s more to it. For example, what if you grew up in a dysfunctional family and even though you always dreamed of someday having the perfect family of your own, domestic trouble somehow always followed you, and later in life you felt that you would give anything to come back and experience that blessing of a united, loving home and family? What if you longed to pursue a particular career but some kind of unavoidable limitation kept you from doing so and you still wish you could live out that dream? What if there are so many places in the world you want desperately to see or experiences you want to try out, but you don’t have the time or resources to do that? What if you wanted to be a parent but life never gave you that chance?</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In spite of all that is imperfect, there’s also a lot that’s really beautiful and wonderful about our world! As such, life here offers so many opportunities that what any one person can experience “from cradle to grave”, no matter what position her or she is in, is just a tiny fraction of all those possibilities. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Unfortunately, if one truly believes that “you only live once”, it becomes possible to feel pressured to do or accomplish as much as possible or to feel remorse, maybe even resentment, for that which one simply cannot do or have. So if you instead consider that, given reincarnation, we journey through multiple material lifetimes, you can relax somewhat and let this knowledge take a load off. There will always be other opportunities for everything that this lifetime doesn’t allow for. Take a moment to let that thought sink in a bit, and take a deep breath.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m guessing that for some that’s still not convincing. Well then, what if you leave this world with your soul in unrest, your emotions unsettled, your mind tormented – whether occasionally or continuously – by disturbing thoughts or memories? What if you end this life here or resume life in the spirit world with regrets over your choices, decisions, or behaviors and their consequences? And what if the only way to resolve such circumstances and truly find peace was to come back and give life on Earth (or a different material world) another try? From both teachings and testimonials obtained through communication with spirits, we know that this is the situation in which countless souls find themselves. At any given time, there are multitudes waiting anxiously for their chance to reincarnate.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those of us who study Spiritism and consider ourselves Spiritists do not believe in reincarnation <b><i>because</i></b> it is consoling or inspirational or even <b><i>because</i></b> it’s logical and offers a sound explanation for many of life’s otherwise inexplicable phenomena, at least not for those factors alone. In reality, reincarnation <b><i>is</i></b> all the above <b><i>and</i></b> it is supported, illustrated, by what we believe to be reasonable evidence for its existence, alongside that for the existence of life-after-death and the communicability of spirits - spirits from whom we have actually learned a great deal about spirit life and reincarnation. I mention this because the next thing I want to say stems from the starting point of this belief.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If natural law were such that we could actually go on to experience true and full happiness upon leaving this world no matter what “lot” we each received in this lifetime and regardless of what we did throughout our stay here on Earth, then, I have to say, I’d probably be quite tempted myself to say that I too would rather just go straight to the state of enjoying eternal happiness and peace. Why not? However, according to the Spiritist teachings, disclosures, and illustrations taken from serious study of both the spirits and their communications, this just isn’t the case and that’s not how it works. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our spirits go on living beyond physical death, but they upon leaving the physical body they return to the discarnate state as the very same beings. Therefore, there will be relationships to heal, virtues yet to attain or strengthen, knowledge to acquire, and dreams to accomplish. The vehicle for all of that is reincarnation. This is the reality, as Spiritists believe, of our evolving spirits.</span><br />
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<br />My own opinion, given the above, is that yes, reincarnation <b>is </b>truly
consoling, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to study it in the
context of Spiritism. It comforting to me to know that we have
endless opportunities to achieve, experience, amend, grow, and
evolve.<br />
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So that’s how I feel. What’s your take on all of this What’s your
verdict? I’d love to hear from you!<br />
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Thank you for reading<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">!</span><br />
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Blessings to all, today and always</span></div>
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Heather</span><br />
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-87917781824115051242016-11-25T19:52:00.002-08:002016-11-25T19:54:58.449-08:00Reflections on the Day After: Why Thanksgiving is Decidedly My Favorite Holiday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Who doesn’t love a day off of work, time spent with loved ones, and a
delicious meal?</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All things to be
grateful for and a wonderful way to celebrate, for sure!</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But they’re not unique. As enjoyable and truly
special as they may be, we do similar things on other holidays and occasions as
well. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The dishes may change, and the
people we’re with may vary a bit, but these general aspects of the Thanksgiving
holiday are common among our various celebrations throughout the year.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At one point in the day yesterday, it just hit me. Thanksgiving has got
to be my favorite of them all. For me, two unique things about this day really
make my heart smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For one thing, Thanksgiving is a day that we can all share. It’s not a
religious holiday that by definition involves only a portion of the population.
Furthermore, even more shared than Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or other non-religious
occasions like Valentine’s Day and the like, Thanksgiving is a simple but distinctive
celebration, with nothing* but love and gratitude as its focus. We can all join
in, and how awesome is that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(*Note: I’m going to ignore here the fact that as something relatively new, stores are now opening on
Thanksgiving and people are actually out in them. Personally, </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I still choose not to join in. Many people, I know,
likewise feel the same, but whether you like it or love it, let’s not bring that in here as a point of contention.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, the other thing I love about Thanks-giving… is the giving of
thanks! I’ve always loved that, but this year I appreciated it even more than
ever before. My husband I have a tradition of spending a number of hours
on Thanksgiving day, reaching out to friends and loved ones to give them our good wishes. It’s great to hear from so many and to catch up with some whom we haven’t
connected with in in a long time. This year, however, instead of just calling
or writing to say “Happy Thanksgiving” and to enjoy the many conversations, we
actually stopped to really tell people how much they meant to us, to share with them our
gratitude for we what appreciated in them, and to thank them for ways
they had been there for us throughout the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The impact on me was significant.
My heart truly felt happy to connect with so many in a vibration of
warmth and love. It feels so awesome to
let people know they are appreciated, and connecting in that way with people
from all different parts of our lives is really special. Adding to that my
general thoughts and reflections, throughout the day, about various reasons for
which I feel so blessed, I literally started feeling grateful for
gratitude itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I connected with even more individuals through the medium of social
media, I also found the wave of positive thoughts, thanksgiving wishes, and expressions
of thankfulness to be so truly refreshing. We have spent so many weeks in this country enduring a heightened division among us that it felt
so good to see and feel something welcomingly different. For at least a day, we shared a
vibration of joy and thanksgiving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gratitude is something we talk about so much in Spiritism. We know conceptually that it is a source of both nourishment and healing for our souls.
Still, when we stop to cultivate it and enjoy it as we may do on days like
Thanksgiving, we realize how powerful it really is. It then becomes strikingly
evident how important it is for us to <b>exercise</b>
and <b>express</b> gratitude not just on a dedicated holiday but as much as possible <b>all throughout the year</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Having said all the above, I must add one more thing. I want to
acknowledge that for a good number of people the holidays are trying times,
including Thanksgiving. Even when
feeling grateful for acknowledged blessings, many find themselves - around the
holidays in particular - reminded of losses, difficulties, or loved ones missed so dearly. Others
may be prompted to reflect on their lives and for one reason or another find
themselves burdened by regrets. And of
course many struggle, whether it be to make ends meet or to simply make it
through the day. If you count yourself among
them, I am thinking of you as well, and I have you in my prayers. My heart goes
out to those who are hurting, and I ask that in our vibrations of gratitude and
love, we remember and extend our giving hearts and hands to those who need the kindness
and compassion and of others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I likewise pray that for the well-being of our nation, we can keep alive
any healthy and vibrations that may have been kindled over this Thanksgiving
weekend. For our world as a whole, I pray for peace. Finally, I extend my
sincere appreciation to all those who are doing what they can to cultivate
respect and care for all individuals, as well as for the environment we share
and will one day leave for generations to come. To all doing their best to be make a impact in this world, I thank you.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving to all and God bless.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-88806628481326366812016-11-13T19:54:00.001-08:002016-11-14T09:35:09.052-08:00Taking A Step Back to Gather Perspective and Push Forward.<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ahhhhh, Spiritism… the science, philosophy, and moral compass that I love so much and from which I have drawn strength and understanding on countless occasions. Where would I be today if were not for this blessing in my life?! I don’t know, but one thing I am absolutely sure of is my immense gratitude for the opportunity to acquire this knowledge. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are times in life when something unexpected seems to hit us from “out of nowhere” - at least from nowhere within the range of our expectations. Whether disruptive acts of Mother Nature, unforeseen circumstances of life that leave us with a feeling of loss, or other events spawned by what strikes us as shocking choices, attitudes or behaviors of our fellow human beings, such events leave us bewildered, asking questions, perhaps making demands. In some cases, we may even find ourselves in a state of anger or fear. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For some given period of time, a blow like this may threaten to knock us off balance, and it is not until time, faith, reasoning, an open mind, the compassion of others, personal resilience, or any combination of the above helps us to find our “center” that we press forward, with relative equilibrium. In these moments, we should turn to the resources that help us to do just that, and for me Spiritism is one of them. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To me, it seems that only from the perspective of the immortal soul do certain things stand even a chance of making any sense, as painful as they may still be to endure. That said, it’s not simply that we are immortal. It is that life itself is multi-dimensional and that this particular material lifetime is but one of many - just a spec on the radar of our spiritual existence. Reincarnation is the key to understanding so much about life; but again, reincarnation, alone, is still not enough. The key is that we are evolving, each and every one of us. We are simultaneously on both our individual pathways and a greater, shared journey. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is, in part, why we have so much in common and, at the same time, so many differences. It also helps to explain why our collective progress is only a reflection of where we are as an entire group of diverse individuals, including both ends of any spectrum, no matter what aspect or characteristic we chose to measure. This was one of the thoughts behind the following statement I posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ExploreSpiritism/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> last week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I understand, however, that understanding a statement like the one above is probably not something that will happen without some background and foundation in the general principles of Spiritism. A true understanding, to the point of drawing strength and courage from such a concept, will likely only come through some amount of time spent actually studying and reflecting on the teachings found throughout Spiritist literature.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is why I was so thankful, yesterday, to see this presentation which I’m sharing with you here since the recording is already available. If you are rather new to Spiritism, this video will give you a chance to see and hear some information and clarifications that may serve as at least one source of calmness in a moment of chaos, light in a space of darkness, or hope in a time of doubt or worry. If it at all resonates with you, then I would encourage you to explore further into <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/SpiritistResources.htm" target="_blank">Spiritism</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those who are already Spiritist, there are some great reminders here that help us to gather our thoughts and regain footing when we stumble over unseen obstacles inherent to a world in our planet’s current stage of spiritual transformation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This timely presentation captures the essence of Spiritism so as to demonstrate just how Spiritism affords us invaluable insights on life and the process of transformation, and it calls upon us to put that knowledge into action. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let us not become paralyzed, but <b><i>mobilized</i></b>. This is not “religious talk”. Nor is it ignorance. Likewise, it is neither blind faith nor a <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">deaf </span>ear. It is the application of an informed and rational faith to make sense of the world and to find the hope and courage to be that which we desire to see in the world around us. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t take my word for it. Check out the video.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always</span><br />
<br />LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-12694397996000429262016-09-08T19:25:00.001-07:002016-09-08T19:25:30.998-07:00More Isn’t Always Better: Spiritists Value Suffering But Do Not Seek It<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More isn’t always better. Ironically, whether it’s a natural human tendency or more of a widespread cultural norm, we so often think that just because something is good in some way, it then behooves us to seek more of it. That is simply not true, but perhaps this is why there is sometimes a misconception, among those who make hasty assumptions without understanding well the teachings of Spiritism, that because Spiritists emphasizes the role of suffering in facilitating our spiritual progress we then seek out ways to suffer as if intentionally.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just to set the record straight, Spiritists seek happiness, not suffering. This is what we are striving for. The more we study Spiritism, the better we understand how suffering helps our spirits, in the long run, to overcome barriers to the attainment of that happiness we so desire. Suffering educates, awakens, motivates, and inspires, yet the suffering we value is the suffering that finds its cause somewhere in our past, whether in this lifetime or before it. For those circumstances, we are then enlightened by Spiritism regarding the purpose of suffering, as well as what is required on our part to take advantage of its benefits. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In no way do we seek further suffering as if in attempt to “capitalize” on it and reap its “greatest possible benefits”. This, in fact, would be contrary to divine law! Our ultimate goal is actually to minimize our suffering and maximize our joy, until the latter grows and swells like an ocean wave approaching the shore line, ready to wash away any remaining imprints from our painful past. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reflecting on this understanding, I am reminded of the famous Serenity Prayer, by Reinhold Niebuhr</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The courage to change the things I can, </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And the wisdom to know the difference.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would you like to know more about the Spiritist understanding of suffering? Here are a few resources for you to explore more:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watch my talk entitled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NQEr1f7NJE&index=1&list=PL0qifUCv4UF87FximjwSeRn8TSfRW2EJT" target="_blank">Understanding Suffering</a>:</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NQEr1f7NJE&index=1&list=PL0qifUCv4UF87FximjwSeRn8TSfRW2EJT" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PpqCAKhWhM/V9IYiBC53dI/AAAAAAAAAXU/fVOpe85HMpskqpihQA0odZ52WA2dMjc2QCLcB/s320/Spiritist%2BTalk%2B_HB_%2BUnderstanding%2Bsuffering.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read about <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_MeaningofSuffering.htm" target="_blank">The Meaning of Suffering</a> on this ExploreSpiritism.com <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_MeaningofSuffering.htm" target="_blank">webpage</a>:</span><br />
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<a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_MeaningofSuffering.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jd5LsiGf924/V9IY9gmffaI/AAAAAAAAAXc/SxOhzM89T8Iu4JZOaXKjiwujmrviTKjCQCLcB/s320/ExploreSpiritism.com_page%2Bimage_The%2BMeaning%2Bof%2Bour%2BSuffering.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out these articles regarding suffering on the NW Spiritism blog:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://nwspiritism.com/2016/01/24/the-meaning-of-suffering-how-we-should-use-it-to-improve-ourselves/" target="_blank">The Meaning of Suffering – How we should Use it to Improve Ourselves </a><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://nwspiritism.com/2016/06/16/purified-by-suffering-rising-out-of-purgatory/" target="_blank">Purified by Suffering – Rising out of Purgatory</a></span></li>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-51642681061656120812016-06-06T19:32:00.000-07:002016-06-07T06:24:41.040-07:00“Punished By God?” - Why Spiritism Today Deserves a Different Choice of Wording<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t know about you, but I’ve personally
reached a point in my Spiritist studies where I just think that references to
being “punished by God”, and the like, do not represent the best choice of
wording to use in our present-day dissemination of the Spiritist message. I
kind of cringe a bit when I occasionally see or hear such wording being used
still today. Please know that I mention this only because of my love of Spiritism and my
appreciation for the invaluable perspectives it affords. For over 150 years
now, the spiritual realm has been working hard to help us understand the
Spiritist teachings and employ them for our own betterment, and the spirits’
message deserves terminology that will convey it as effectively as possible.
While Spiritism leads us to understand the compassionate nature of God and the
beneficial aspects of our experiences as evolving, spiritual beings, the
connotation that is <i>typically</i>
associated with the word <i>punishment</i> can take away from a more
enlightened understanding of our spiritual evolution.</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spiritism helps us to comprehend our gradual
development of intelligence and moral capacity, and it shows us how all our
experiences contribute to this education and growth. As such, we know that
along our journey, we make choices and, consequently, the results of those
choices become part of our learning process. We learn how reincarnation
facilitates our progress by allowing us opportunity after opportunity to learn
at our own, self-directed pace. And from countless communications from spirits
at all different degrees of advancement, we have testimonies that help us to
learn from both the mistakes of some and the motivational examples and wisdom
of others. </span></div>
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Through literature that has helped us to envision the interactive nature of the
spiritual and material realms, we’ve learned, among many important teachings,
about so many ways in which discarnate beings help and support us in the
struggles of material life. Most importantly, suffering takes on new meaning
under the light of Spiritist principles.
Though we may still struggle to embrace our challenges, disappointments, and
pains, from Spiritism we understand their role in helping direct us toward the
true happiness we are all destined to achieve.
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having stated the above, when
one thinks about being “punished by God” or “paying for something one has done”,
what comes to mind (or what could, in isolation, come to mind) may be something
totally different from an understanding of learning, accountability, the
compassionate justice of our creator, and the natural laws that govern life. That wording may tend to make us envision an
act of revenge or retaliation of some sort, as if an “angry” God were still
settling scores. If Jesus came to teach us about God’s love and eradicate this
kind characterization of God, then the spirits have explained Jesus’ message
with information that deepens our understanding of God’s perfect nature. <br />
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Granted, within the greater context of Spiritist teachings, the word <i>punishment</i> can be understood in a way
that is in better agreement with the Spiritist principles; in fact, this
exercise is of particular importance when reading the foundational texts of
Spiritism, and those who understand Spiritism can make the proper association
when doing so. But isn’t it preferable for our present-day dialogue to go “straight
to the point” with language that resonates best with that which has enlightened
and inspired us? And shouldn’t we also
consider how we may best serve those who come new to
Spiritism and, at minimum, do not yet have the context with which to make the
proper interpretation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I’ve hinted to just above, I am very aware
that the works of the codification, for example, include many instances of the
words punishment and its variations. The
latter are found in statements made both by Allan Kardec, himself, and the
communicating spirits. Perhaps invariably, then, some may question whether I am
contradicting Kardec or pointing out what I’d consider a flaw in those texts. I
assure you that this is not at all the case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To begin, we need to allow for the timing and
historical context of those works. From its inception, Spiritism offered a
shining light to liberate its students from the hopeless belief in eternal
damnation, while also empowering individuals with awareness of their spiritual
existence and progress. Considering that grand contribution, any potential
issue with the mere use of the word <i>punishment,</i>
in reference to the unpleasant consequences of certain choices was much less
significant than the benefits afforded by those relatively progressive
teachings that were introduced. The way I see it, the terminology at that time
perhaps represented a bridge between old and new concepts. By the way, for
those who’ve read my previous <a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2015/11/dear-spirits-book-you-had-me-at-what-is.html" target="_blank">post</a> entitled <a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2015/11/dear-spirits-book-you-had-me-at-what-is.html" target="_blank">“Dear ‘The Spirits’ Book’, You had me at ‘What is God?’”</a>, this is not unlike the analogy I
used there of crossing monkey bars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s also important to keep in mind that the
word <i>punishment</i> doesn’t <b><i>have</i></b>
to conjure up thoughts of vindication. For example, a parent may punish a child
and do so out of love - to establish authority, teach a lesson, or deter a
harmful behavior. In this case, it is the parent who is generating the
circumstances that the child will experience as an unwanted consequence of his
or her actions. The punishment, therefore, is unpleasant but temporary, and as
the child matures, he or she will one day understand both its beneficial
purpose and the love with which it was instilled. This meaning is rather
acceptable, and perhaps this interpretation is the bridge that would help take
us to a more involved understanding. It
also helps us to read through the earlier Spiritist texts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, while the child in the above example is
not electing nor generating his or her own punishment, in the reality of our
spiritual life, we do in fact influence how we experience the outcomes of our
choices and the kinds of experiences by which we will learn. This happens, for instance,
through the workings of our conscience (see <i>The
Spirits’ Book</i>, Q&A 621) and even through certain situations that, while
in the discarnate state, we may request for an upcoming incarnation. Furthermore, unlike the parent who typically
creates a punishment designed primarily for calling the child’s attention, in a
general way, the kinds of consequences we experience, via divine law and our
own conscience, are very specific to what we need to learn and/or correct as a
result of our less than ideal choices and behaviors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For further exploration, let’s consider the
fact that we do not always correlate unpleasant consequences to punishment.
This depends upon the source of the circumstances. To illustrate, suppose you
run too quickly down a flight of stairs and you end up falling and getting
hurt. You may recognize your error in
taking the stairs too fast, but would you put the rest of the blame on
punishment? No, because you understand
the natural law of gravity. And who can blame “science”? Well, although the example is extremely
simplistic, the point can be made that the circumstances we may deem as “God’s
punishment” are really, in a similar way, only the materialization of laws just
as natural as the law of gravity. They are, however, still not yet understood
in that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">◊
◊ ◊<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we come across <i>punishment</i> in Spiritism, let us be conscious of the intended
meaning of the word. Fortunately, once one has taken the time to read through
Kardec’s texts, this meaning does become clear within the rich philosophical framework
of Spiritist principles. We cannot take <i>punishment</i>
in this context to indicate an “eye-for-an-eye” type of retribution. It simply
refers to the fact that we must be shown where we have gone wrong and then
correct our mistakes, restore what we have damaged, or re-harmonize what we
have left in imbalance. We may be in moral debt for having caused a loss, but
we’re not “made to pay”; as painful as the process may be, we’re instead given
the opportunity to re-establish our good standing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My point in all of this is to say that while
the word <i>punishment</i>, per se, is <b>not</b> necessarily inaccurate, I believe
that the negative <b><i>connotation</i></b> it carries, for many, does not do the greatest
justice to the truly inspirational education that Spiritism has brought to us. Under
such circumstances, it may unintentionally lend itself to the viewpoint of the
child who fails to see the greater purpose and screams “unfair!” at a
(perceived-to-be) external imposition of consequences, even more so if we read
into it an attribution to God of imperfect human tendencies and behaviors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While we can understand the wording in texts
from Kardec and other earlier writers, I humbly suggest that in our modern-day
communications, we take care to select words and expressions that really
introduce others to kind of inspiring clarification that Spiritism is capable
of. So let’s make it clear that we are not truly punished, but rather we are
educated. We do not pay; we restore. We are not condemned; we are redeemed. We
are not sinners; we are students. We are not belittled; we are beloved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I believe that in taking this approach, we
will not only help those who are new to Spiritism; we will also grow in our own
exploration and practical application of the Spiritist philosophy. </span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-62361028851246357282016-03-20T14:05:00.000-07:002016-03-20T14:05:18.785-07:00A Research Paper on The Scientific Investigations of Allan Kardec<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What made <a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/gw_%20Allan%20Kardec.htm" target="_blank">Allan Kardec</a> and his work stand out amidst all the Spiritualist
activity that was so prominent during his time? Much of this had to do with the
scientific approach that Kardec applied to his studies of spirit manifestations and
communications. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kardec’s scholarly and professional background made him well
prepared to take on this task of such significance, and this is illustrated by
the approach he took to this work, as well as the elucidating logic woven
through his explanations of the spirits’ teachings derived as a product of his investigations.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those who appreciate these characteristics of Kardec’s work, as well as
those who would like to learn more about Kardec’s process of investigating the
existence, communicability, influence, and teachings of spirits will want to
check out this recently published research paper that I, for one, was thrilled
to come across.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Author Alexander Moreira-Almeida referred to Kardec as “a pioneer in
proposing scientific investigation of psychical phenomena”, and he wrote about
it this paper, entitled “Allan Kardec and the Development of a Research Program
in Psychic Experiences”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<o:p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228394013_Allan_Kardec_and_the_development_of_a_research_program_in_psychic_experiences" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekhaiEpmlPw/Vu2rPKhLJYI/AAAAAAAAAWA/bognq2uds785UMJPJO9Mm1cPBzJQMGU8A/s400/Paper%2B_%2BAllan%2BKardec%2BResearch%2BProgram.png" width="301" /></a><span id="goog_1614339061"></span><span id="goog_1614339062"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />I encourage you to take a look into this and share it, as Moreira-Almeida has attempted to increase awareness about the existence and significance of
Kardec’s research. I leave with you here the abstract and more information
about the author. You can then follow the link to the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228394013_Allan_Kardec_and_the_development_of_a_research_program_in_psychic_experiences" target="_blank">full-length paper</a> that
has graciously been made available to the general public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Paper Abstract </b>(spacing included
by me for visual purposes)<b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allan Kardec was one of the first scholars to propose a scientific
investigation of psychic phenomena but details of his life and his
research work are not well known and have been misrepresented. This
paper is a descriptive essay briefly presenting Kardec's biography, the
first steps in his seminal research, and several
epistemological/methodological guidelines he proposed to develop a
comprehensive scientific research program to deal with psychic
phenomena.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Kardec raised and tested several hypotheses to explain mediumistic
phenomena: fraud, hallucination, a new physical force, somnambulism
(including unconscious cerebration and clairvoyance), thought reflection
(including telepathy and super-psi), discarnate spirits and several
other theories. He accepted that fraud, hallucination, unconscious
cerebration and thought reflection could explain many phenomena regarded
as mediumistic. However, when mediumistic phenomena were studied as a
whole, the best explanation would be the spiritist hypothesis, a
spiritual origin for the phenomena. He named this hypothesis
"Spiritism".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Some guidelines he proposed to advance scientific research in psychical
phenomena were: to use methods appropriate to the subject of
investigation, to avoid both sterile skepticism and credulity, to be
open to the novel, and to heed the need for a comprehensive and
diversified empirical basis. He stressed the importance of theory for a
scientific research program, and that facts are not enough to create
certainty. Parapsychology/psychical research has much to gain in better
knowing Kardec's and other pioneer's works, not just for a better
understanding of the field's history, but also for potential
scientific/philosophical tools that may be useful to move the field
forward. Deeper studies on aspects of Kardec's work and life are
warranted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228394013_Allan_Kardec_and_the_development_of_a_research_program_in_psychic_experiences</span><br />
</blockquote>
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<o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About the Author:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aQJ5qixnp80/Vu2tGyY9jxI/AAAAAAAAAWM/bAnOX_p1BsUTFO1XUyJ2jtiSpjqcNbzNg/s1600/Moreira-Almeida.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aQJ5qixnp80/Vu2tGyY9jxI/AAAAAAAAAWM/bAnOX_p1BsUTFO1XUyJ2jtiSpjqcNbzNg/s320/Moreira-Almeida.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Federal University of Juiz de Fora
(UFJF) School of Medicine, Founder and Director of the Research Center
in Spirituality and Health - NUPES-UFJF, Brazil. Chair of the Section on
Spirituality of the World Psychiatric Association. Trained in
psychiatry, CBT and has a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of
São Paulo (USP), Brazil. Formerly a postdoctoral fellow in religion and
health at Duke University (USA). Coordinator of TV NUPES
(youtube.com/nupesufjf)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexander_Moreira-Almeida<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> </div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Full-length Paper and List of References:</b><br />View <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228394013_Allan_Kardec_and_the_development_of_a_research_program_in_psychic_experiences" target="_blank">here</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228394013_Allan_Kardec_and_the_development_of_a_research_program_in_psychic_experiences" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekhaiEpmlPw/Vu2rPKhLJYI/AAAAAAAAAWA/bognq2uds785UMJPJO9Mm1cPBzJQMGU8A/s200/Paper%2B_%2BAllan%2BKardec%2BResearch%2BProgram.png" width="150" /></a><span id="goog_1614339024"></span><span id="goog_1614339025"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-10514110368405475732016-03-11T19:12:00.000-08:002016-03-11T19:12:22.108-08:00What Is Spiritism? (Great Video!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d; text-align: left;">Curious about Spiritism? Sit back, relax, and have a watch this</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ExploreSpiritism/videos/vb.180390875326565/1109200352445608/?type=2&theater" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">fantastic video</a><span style="text-align: left;">!</span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ExploreSpiritism/videos/vb.180390875326565/1109200352445608/?type=2&theater" target="_blank"><img alt=" What Is Spiritism?" border="0" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf1Xccg0Jog/VuOGQGAWLlI/AAAAAAAAAVs/lDaZpz7g8Z095cI81KHwNtqEkUxZ-4bZQ/s400/What%2Bis%2BSpiritism.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(shared with the gracious permission of Conscious Living Spiritist Group)</span></div>
</div>
LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-28110378155072070582016-02-03T20:07:00.001-08:002016-02-03T20:07:49.589-08:00Does Analytical Thinking Decrease Religious Belief? <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Or do we simply need beliefs that stand up to logic?</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Huffington Post published an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/intuitive-thinking-religious-belief-analytical-research_n_1457396.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009" target="_blank">article</a> about research suggesting that "prompting people to
engage in analytical thinking can cause their religious beliefs to waver"
to some degree. Here’s my two cents on
that suggestion, from the perspective of Spiritsm:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having dared to dive deeply into their religious beliefs,
people sometimes discover questions left unresolved or some specific teachings
that do not make rational sense. Still, many do not lose their intuitive sense
of a higher power. At that point they may become seekers. Alternatively, they even
may choose to stay with their religion, turning to it as a way to connect with
God and taking from it that which they find in agreement with their sentiment
and reason.</span><br />
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<br />
Regardless, there is a reason why people believe so strongly about certain
things they “feel” to be true, even when the <i>complete</i> set of teachings (meaning, taken in their entirety), in
any particular religion or philosophy, does not resonate with their analytical
thinking. Question # 959 of the <a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/books/gw_The%20Spirits%20Book.htm"><i>The Spirits’ Book</i></a>, for example, asks,
“Where do we get our instinctive sense that there is a future life?”, and the
spirits answered that it is from the knowledge we had before our (present)
incarnation. Some of the initial Q&A's of this book also refer to this same
intuitive belief that we have about the existence of God.<br />
<br />
That said, many who hear this intuitive voice but take a hard look at their
traditional religions or philosophies become restless with doubts and
questions, and they start searching for something that can answer their
questions <i>without</i> compromising reason
or faith. What they are seeking is, in fact, the “rational faith” (as opposed
to “blind faith”) that Kardec wrote about upon analyzing the Spiritist
teachings and realizing their capacity to revolutionize our way of thinking.<br /><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz_d_z96Vlc/VrLJijMwdHI/AAAAAAAAAVY/s13lFWukiH8/s1600/Rational%2Bvs%2BBlind%2BFath%2B%2528Gospel%2BAccording%2Bto%2BSpiritism%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz_d_z96Vlc/VrLJijMwdHI/AAAAAAAAAVY/s13lFWukiH8/s400/Rational%2Bvs%2BBlind%2BFath%2B%2528Gospel%2BAccording%2Bto%2BSpiritism%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
A time has come in which our evolutionary human spirits seek to understand life
and its meaning on a deeper level. But it must also be a practical level. This is why so many find Spiritism to be a
breath of fresh air.<br />
<br />
We’re not looking for the mysterious or esoteric. We want to comprehend and be
fully engaged. We want information that gives us insight into <i>why</i> we are here in this world, why we
suffer through hardships that seem to have no fair cause, and how we can find
happiness. We want to know that there is good reason for cultivating love and
compassion. We want to understand our creator. We want to know what will happen
to us when we “die” and if our loved ones that already passed on continue to
live. We want explanations for supernatural phenomena that others try to
dismiss. And the list goes on. <br />
<br />
Friends, it is for this reason that Allan Kardec wrote that "unshakeable
faith is only that which <i><b>meets reason</b></i> face to face in every epoch"<sup>1</sup>
and that “it is precisely the rationalism of our century that leads us to
accept Spiritism”!<sup>2</sup><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<sup>1</sup> "The Gospel According to Spiritism" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See items 7 in
Chapter XIX of The <i>Gospel According to
Spiritism</i> by Allan Kardec [original title in French: <i>L’Évangile Selon Le Spiritisme</i>, published in 1864], translation ©
2008 by the International Spiritist Council, published in 2008 by the
International Spiritist Council.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><sup>2 </sup><i>What Is Spiritism? </i>by Allan Kardec [original title in French:
<i>Qu’est-ce Que Le Spiritisme?</i>,
published in 1859], translation © 2010 by the International Spiritist Council,
published in 2011 by the International Spiritist Council.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-17801518404854945982016-01-29T05:10:00.000-08:002016-01-29T05:21:08.438-08:00The Attempted Hijacking of Humankind’s Progress and the Challenges We Face in this Moral Assault from Another Realm<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Progress is inevitable. From everything Spiritism has to teach us, we
know that as humankind advances in acquisition of knowledge and virtue, the
world we call home will also change. From books like Kardec’s </span><span style="color: #20124d;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Gospel According to Spiritism</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Genesis</i></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and <i>Genesis</i>, we’ve learned that somewhere on the horizon is a phase of
planetary evolution called “</span><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_The%20Universe%20Evolves.htm" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">regeneration</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">”.
Aware that we’ll only achieve this d<span style="background-color: white;">egree of advancement after leaving behind that
which now qualifies Earth as a “</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_The%20Universe%20Evolves.htm" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">world of trials
and expiations</span></span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">”, we’re likewise ensured that divine
providence affords the mechanisms and resources to guide us on this journey of
spiritual growth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Whether consciously or not, we benefit from the tireless efforts of
countless angelic beings. In seeing us through the eyes of understanding
and compassion, they do everything they can to help us. As Spiritists, we find </span><a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2015/11/sometimes-you-just-need-someone-with.html"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">tremendous comfort</span></span></a><span style="color: #20124d;"> and
inspiration in our awareness of these invisible companions. They are, in reality, none other
than human spirits like ourselves (albeit in a discarnate state); however, by fruit of
their own labor they have experienced a kind of joy that can only be found</span></span><span style="color: #20124d;">
through the pursuit of moral dignity. Wishing to help others achieve the
same, they act with the desire and commitment to serve, thus enabling their own
progress and the progress of those who benefit from their care. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With that kind of support at hand, we might look around, then, and
question why our world is still so backward. Why is there still so much
unhappiness and unrest? Why are there so
many souls wandering astray, one incarnation after the next, repeatedly
violating the will of the conscience and causing pain to themselves and
others? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This, too, is made clear in the explanations afforded by Spiritism.
Lest we not become complacent in the inspiring knowledge of our destined future
state, Spiritism also teaches us that the timing at which progressive change
will take place depends on the use we make – both individually and collectively
- of the free will granted to us. Thus, the voices are there to call us to
good, to offer wise counsel, to lend encouragement. The invisible, back-stage
actors move silently behind the scenes trying to set the stage for positive
outcomes in the circumstances of our daily lives. In the end however, the
thoughts we nurture and the actions we take are both of our own choosing. It
is, therefore, crucial for us to understand that alongside the army of unseen
benefactors willing to go to battle for our awakening, there’s also a legion of
opponents bent on goals that are of an entirely opposite motive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">This may come as no surprise, for indeed, Spiritism teaches us about
the potential influences from unhappy spirits, whose suggestions and vibrations
we attract if we are not careful with the kind of thoughts we entertain on a regular
basis. Whether they’re strangers merely
drawn to us by way of vibrational affinity or adversaries from unresolved
conflicts of our past lives in the material world, these spirits can exert an
influence that can likewise become progressively dangerous and harmful,
eventually reaching various stages of what, in Spiritism, we call </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_Obsession.htm">obsession</a></span></span><span style="color: #20124d;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">◊ ◊ ◊<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What may not be so readily apparent, even once one begins to study
Spiritism and becomes aware of this aspect spiritual influence, is just how
widespread, perverse, and organized these unhappy spirits can be in their
efforts to keep others from experiencing, even from pursuing, any kind of peace
or happiness. For example, we’re familiar, here in the material world, with the
existence of organized crime. As such, we can understand why, given that
discarnate spirits are merely the same souls who at times live out incarnate
lives in the material world, we find similar behaviors (both good and bad) in
both realms. As such, the organized mobilization of corruption and cruelty
indeed takes place not just here, but also in the spirit world. Furthermore, the
targets of its actors are not limited to fellow discarnate spirits, for the
material world also suffers a tremendous impact from their morally deranged
intentions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">The above, in part, is the focus of explanations shared by an
instructor at an educational establishment in the spiritual realm. The
instructor offered these explanations to spirit author, André Luiz, who then narrated the
encompassing conversation in the second chapter of his novel, </span><span style="color: blue;"><i><a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2016/01/like-fly-on-wall-of-heaven.html" target="_blank">Liberation</a></i></span><span style="color: #20124d;">, </span><span style="color: #20124d;">psychographed by the medium Francisco Cândido Xavier. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2016/01/like-fly-on-wall-of-heaven.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2QtSQNaUw8/VpHF9lx2vKI/AAAAAAAAASk/ua5PP_9j4dE/s200/Liberation.PNG" width="134" /></a><span id="goog_479749213"></span><span id="goog_479749214"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://explorespiritism.blogspot.com/2016/01/like-fly-on-wall-of-heaven.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><i>Liberation, </i>from the “Life in the Spirit World” series, <br />by Andre Luiz (spirit) and Chico Xavier (medium)</span></a></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">As I read through that chapter, I could not help but be reminded of a
text in the book </span><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/books/gw_Obsession%20(Manuel%20Philomeno%20De%20Miranda).htm"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">Obsession</span></span></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #20124d;"><sup>1</sup></span><span style="color: #20124d;">, written
by spirit author Manoel Philomeno De Miranda and psychographed by Divado
Franco, in which the author writes about the existence of </span><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/gw_%20gangs.htm"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">“gangs” in the lower regions of the spirit world</span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #20124d;">.</span><span style="color: #20124d;">
De Miranda informs that the spirits who gain positions of "power" in
these organizations, "obsess other discarnate entities like themselves,
who in turn become obsessors of incarnate individuals, setting up a very
complex circle of communal living, exploiting one another physically and
psychically.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are these morally debased spirits some sort of diabolic beings apart
from the community of souls that you and I are a part of? No, they are merely human spirits whose
lamentable choices over the course of multiple lifetimes have lead them so far
into the abyss of hopelessness and despair, accompanied by ruminating thoughts
of resentment and the like, that they literally cannot fathom any other
reality. And though progress is not some privilege that they’ve relinquished
for all of eternity, they will not even begin the long road of redemption until
they tire enough of their own circumstances to become open to the rescue
support that is always there in the waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Comments from the mentioned instructor to André Luiz help to explain
these spirits’ current state. He informs André:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Incapable of going
straight from the grave to heaven, the children of despair organize themselves
into vast colonies of hate and moral misery, fighting amongst themselves for
control of the earth. Like us, they possess a large, invaluable intellectual
patrimony, and, as fallen angels of Science, they seek, above all, the
debasement of the divine processes that guide planetary evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Entrenched in the dark
passions that flog their consciences, spirits whose minds are crystallized in
rebelliousness try in vain to undermine the Divine Harmony, creating cysts of
inferior life on the earth. They know countless ways to disturb, hurt, obscure,
and destroy. They enslave the beneficent services of reincarnation in great
expiatory sectors and make use of agents of discord against every embodiment of
sublime purposes for which God designed our actions.[…]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Few [among
incarnates] understand that death is just a modification of one’s body and
fewer still are those – even the most learned religious individuals – who are
wise enough to live in the physical vessel according to the superior principles
they have espoused.[…]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Imperfect spirits
that we still are, we follow those with whom we are attuned and we reap the
rewards of ascent and victory, or the damages of descent and failure,
controlled as we are by intelligences that are stronger than ours and who stay
at our side in the progressive or depressive zone in which we have put
ourselves.[…]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Fallen souls […], no
matter who they are, do not comprise a spiritual race sentenced to languish in
a demonic state of madness forever as part of the discarnate collectivity, in a
completely senseless condition. No, they comingle with the terrestrial
multitudes and have a strong influence on many homes and administrations. The
fundamental interest of the most intelligent ones is to keep the world
distracted and in the dark by encouraging ignorance and selfishness, postponing
indefinitely the arrival of the Kingdom of God.</span><span style="color: #20124d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I read this text and reflected on both the extent of such activity
and the challenges it presents for Earth’s progress given the influence on this
material world, I was not only reminded of the text from Manoel Philomeno De
Miranda. Something else that came to
mind is a completely different and otherwise unrelated (and non-Spiritist) book
that I’ve recently been exposed to, entitled <i>Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the
Global Economy<sup>2</sup>. </i>This
book presents a disturbingly eye-opening view on current practices in smuggling
and illicit trade (of all kinds imaginable), outlining just how widespread this
growing, global phenomena of alarming consequences really is. It was actually a set of interesting parallels
between certain details of this book and the above concepts from Spiritist
literature that inspired the title for this blog post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A particular irony came to my mind as I read <i>Illicit</i>. As we all know, there are individuals and corporations,
worldwide, that, whether for the sake of legal obedience or by their own moral
standards, are making efforts to ensure compliance with laws and codes of
conduct. The latter are intended to maintain order, establish justice, and
protect people and the living world around us. Meanwhile, however, in parallel,
we find a myriad of persons and entities across the globe who collaborate with
one another in complete disregard for any laws or even for the moral
consequences of their illicit commercial activity. As he suggests with such a
title, the author of <i>Illicit</i> proposes
that the smugglers, traffickers, and copycats are hijacking our global economy
(not to mention the dignity and safety of human lives, in many cases). Reading
André Luis’ text, I was reminded of that irony as I thought about the efforts
that many individuals are making to live morally dignified lives, backed by the
extensive support humankind receives from the spiritual realm, and, meanwhile,
the juxtaposition of all this noble activity with the unfortunate determination
of those unhappy “spiritual gangsters” to impede our achievement of happiness
and peace. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another shared concept that struck me was that of a deep intertwining
of two co-existing worlds. The author of <i>Illicit</i>,
for example, made very clear the presence of a deep penetration of the illicit
trade activity within the movement, mechanisms, and commercial infrastructure
of legal global commerce and everyday life. Likewise, along the innumerable
points touched by the networks of illicit trade, we are all (governments, citizens,
financial institutions) impacted in some way and are likewise involved,
willingly or unwillingly, to some degree. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In many ways, this is not unlike the
operations carried out by criminals of the spirit world, who use sophisticated
networks to disseminate the object of their own trafficking activity: moral
degradation. They too, infiltrate our world (in both spiritual and material
dimensions) with their horrifying effects, using some of the same fundamental
mechanisms that facilitate the noble work of loving souls. Through the law of
affinity, mediumistic influence, the manipulation of spiritual energies, and
other spiritual “tools”,
these delinquent souls “smuggle” their disruptive ideas, energies, and
influence into our minds, our homes, and our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is argued in <i>Illicit </i>that we will not make any progress in
combatting illicit trade practices if we see them only as “underground”, “black
market”, and “offshore” operations. A different mentality and understanding is
required because we cannot afford to imagine all this as being somehow <i>apart from </i>everything else. Similarly,
in order to combat the dreadful influence of morally and mentally ill,
discarnate spirits, we cannot view the lower vibratory zones where they’re
found as being a hell that exists somewhere else and that has no involvement
with the material realm we inhabit. It is critical for us to understand the
mutual influence of the spiritual and material realms and to recognize the ways
in which we determine the <i>types</i> of
influences that we attract (good or bad) as well as the relationships we
establish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the level of undertaking described in the above-mentioned Spiritist
texts, such orchestrated efforts to impede progress collectively become an
assault on our planet as a whole. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Px3mWCFFU4/VpHFGUaxbdI/AAAAAAAAASc/hRshObq4yAE/s1600/Earth%2Bin%2Bchains.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Px3mWCFFU4/VpHFGUaxbdI/AAAAAAAAASc/hRshObq4yAE/s200/Earth%2Bin%2Bchains.PNG" width="196" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The methods of attack are the same ones we
refer to when we talk about obsession in discussions focused on individuals or
groups of individuals. Still, the extent of organization <i>behind</i> the impact that ultimately and directly reaches us as
incarnate beings only reinforces the need for awareness and protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Spiritist knowledge is so relevant and so desperately needed. The
reasons <i>do</i> include but go far beyond
the understanding that death does not exist, the awareness that we can
communicate with the spirit realm, or the knowledge that reincarnation is a
reality. Even more important are the implications of such realities and what
they mean for us in terms of our own responsibilities</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Knowing that there is life beyond the grave is comforting when we think
about our loved ones and other benevolent spirits who support us in our worthy
intentions. However, it’s also alarming when we consider that there are
ill-willed spirits who can pursue a connection with us in order to cause us
harm. As a result, with the further understanding that our own thoughts,
attitudes, and behaviors open the doorway to the influences we receive, we realize
just how important it is to nourish our mental, emotional, and spiritual
health. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Along similar lines, reincarnation is a fascinating phenomenon to study
and reflect on. However, studying about the justice of reincarnation and the
ways that natural laws facilitate our long term attainment of true happiness
actually gives us a new appreciation for the difficulties we endure.
Furthermore, by understanding the multi-incarnation dramas that can play out
until an established conflict is overcome, we perceive our relationships in a
new way; we begin to see others with more compassion, and we recognize the true
value of understanding and forgiveness, both for healing wounds from prior
incarnations as well as in preventing the disastrous carryover of today’s conflicts,
meaning into the spiritual realm (after death) or beyond (into a future
incarnation). We also believe in the need to pray for our transgressors as well
as those whom we ourselves have transgressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally, Spiritism never fails to remind us about our duties toward one
another as children of God. As such, De
Miranda writes (though Franco’s mediumship): <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Every obsessor […] is a brother of ours in
the spiritual rearguard, where most of us have also been in the past. They need
compassion and mercy, prayer and positive thoughts from all who are devoted to
rescue work. We must offer them the opportunity for renewal and point out to
them the luminous road they must travel, guided by the light of their spiritual
discernment, in order to free themselves from the suffering through which they
atone for their past errors.</span><span style="color: #20124d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #20124d;">Spiritism teaches us not to see or treat even malicious spirits as the
enemy, with teachings that provide all the explanation behind such guidance. And,
for example, you will find at Spiritist Centers </span><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/disobsession.htm"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">special mediumistic sessions</span></span></a><span style="color: #20124d;"> held
specifically for the purposes of treating cases of obsession. Dedicated and
trained incarnate Spiritist workers collaborate with discarnate partners in the
spiritual realm and use the resource of mediumship to console and counsel suffering
spirits who are often times involved in obsessive ties with one or more
incarnate individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">◊ ◊ ◊<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Knowledge is, indeed, power, and it is an invaluable start when it
comes to addressing issues concerning spiritual obsession and the existence of
“organized crime” in the spiritual dimension. Even still, without action, knowledge
alone is powerless to be of any good. Therefore, let it be clear that although
progress <i>is</i> inevitable, the pathway
we take to achieve it is ours to carve out. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Divine law will ensure that, with
time, we will eventually climb to reach the peak of spiritual progress.
However, our own choices over the span of countless incarnations will determine
how windy our course at times may become and how deep the valleys we travel
through may get before we finally rise and make our way to the top. If we
disregard the compass of our conscience and we descend into those valleys, we
will encounter the kind of company that inhabits the corresponding zones of the
lower spiritual realms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To combat these negative influences, we must continue to study and
disseminate Spiritism, where we find eye-opening knowledge about these
realities of spiritual life. Even more important is that we put Spiritism’s
teachings into practice. This is necessary in order liberate ourselves from the
binding threads of bitterness and unrest sown through the conflicts of our past.
Furthermore, it is the way in which we will effectively protect ourselves
today, while ensuring our gradual progress toward the true happiness of
tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><sup>1 </sup></span><span lang="PT-BR">De Miranda, Manoel Philomeno [spirit
Author], Franco, Divaldo P. [Medium]. 1980<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>Obsession</u>.
(translation of "Grilhoes Partidos). Trans. Donato Ely J. and Miranda,
Herminio C. Salvador, Ba, Brazil. Centro Espirita "Caminho da
Redenção". 15-16.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><sup>2</sup> Mosés, Naím. 2005. <i>Illicit:
How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy</i>. New
York: Anchor Books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-86720071408241879582016-01-26T05:22:00.000-08:002016-01-26T07:48:42.733-08:00Like "A Fly On the Wall" of Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Viewing Our World Through Andr</b><b>é Luiz and Chico Xavier’s Spiritist Novels: </b></span><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the
“Life in the Spirit World” series</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We often say that books, novels in particular, have an incredible way
of transporting us to other times and places. Together with our imagination, novels
allow us to be elsewhere, observing and taking in sights and sounds that we may
not otherwise ever have a chance to experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What if we were talking about a true story
novel and the “place” we were transported to was the spirit world, where we
could watch the lives of others play out from the perspective of an invisible
observer able to see a scene taking place in both the spiritual and material
dimensions? In witnessing the
many ways that the two realms interact with one another, we’d learn more about
these exchanges that continuously happen all around us even though we are largely
unaware of them as we go about our daily lives. Through revealing details about the spiritual
past of the novel’s incarnate characters’, we could gain unique
insight into the motives behind the actions they took as the story unfolded,
and we could learn more about the ways that discarnate sprits (from enemies to guardians)
both perceive and influence those actions. We could also observe more about
what goes in the spirit world itself and discover what life is like in the
discarnate state.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century schoolbook" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">◊
◊ ◊<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of this is exactly what we find in the
“Life in the Spirit World” series of novels written by spirit author André Luiz, through the psychography of the medium Francisco
Cândido Xavier. I, for one, am a huge fan of these books. André Luiz’s novels remind me of that
expression about being “a fly on the wall”, in other words sitting quietly somewhere
and observing everything going on without being noticed - just taking it all
in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is, of course, very important to study the fundamentals of Spiritist
teachings, through books like those of Allan Kardec, Léon Denis, and others.
These books nourish our personal reservoirs of knowledge and inspiration,
sharing truly enlightening concepts and incredibly moving words that inspire
courage and hope. However, like the student who first reads about theory in a
text book and then goes into the lab or the field to observe the object of
study in action, we have so much to learn from André’s novels which serve as a perfect complement to those foundational,
Spiritist books. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Page by page, the editions from André’s “Life in the Spirit
World” series take us on unique learning expeditions in which the Spiritist concepts
come to life. In fact, it is often the journeys of André Luiz, himself,
that become narrated by way of his novels. As readers we get to
accompany him and learn right along with him. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Below you will find a description of each of the books available in English (at the time of this post) and other related resources that I encourage you to check out.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The "Life In The Spirit World” series of
novels.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-
by Andre Luiz (spirit author) and Chico Xavier (medium)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-siRK23u_bfc/VpKt58JNmvI/AAAAAAAAAU0/xLnOF7qdyO0/s1600/Life%2BIn%2Bthe%2BSpirit%2BWorld%2B_%2BAndre%2BLuiz%2B_%2BXavier.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-siRK23u_bfc/VpKt58JNmvI/AAAAAAAAAU0/xLnOF7qdyO0/s400/Life%2BIn%2Bthe%2BSpirit%2BWorld%2B_%2BAndre%2BLuiz%2B_%2BXavier.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The following are descriptions of those from this series that have been translated to English. Descriptions are as found on the back cover of each.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nosso Lar</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />“Nosso Lar is the name of the spiritist
colony that the spirit Andre Luiz introduces in the first book of his
acclaimed series.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a compelling narrative, the author tells
us of his impressions and discoveries about life in the spirit world, acting
as a sort of journalist who records his own experiences as they occur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Andre Luiz unveils to us an exciting
world, filled with life and activity, and which is organized in an exemplary
way. It is a place where discarnate spirits go through a recovery stage and a
spiritual educational process supervised by high order spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nosso Lar enables us to get a glimpse of
the spirit world that awaits us after we leave our physical bodies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2010 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, authorized edition printed in 2010 by Edicei of America. [original title in Portuguese, Nosso Lar, 1944] </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Messengers</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “This
book reveals that physical death unveils a spirit life that ever-evolving. In
fifty-one chapters, it describes the experiences of a number of spirits who
reincarnated with preplanned endeavors needed for their personal spiritual
growth.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Additionally, it deals with subjects
such as: home Gospel worship, the benefits of practicing the good,
carelessness regarding one’s spiritual obligations, and the fear of death.
The spirit author focuses on the service opportunities for mediums, warning
them about the need to practice on a personal level what they learn in order
to avoid returning to the spirit world without having fulfilled the duties
they assumed before reincarnating.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2008 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2008 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, Os Mensageiros, 1944]</span></span></div>
</div>
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Missionaries of the Light</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“In this volume, Andre Luiz unveils the
secrets of reincarnation, revealing the task of missionary spirits in charge
of the rebirth process.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The spirit author affirms that physical
death is not the end. He also stresses
the importance of self-effort in the struggle for self-empowerment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In twenty chapters, he talks about his
continued learning experience in the spirit world, the perispirit as a living
body that molds the material cells, reincarnation guided by high order
spirits, and the different aspects of mediumistic manifestations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Missionaries of the Light teachers that
Divine Providence always grants people new arenas of work through the
incessant renewal of life by means of reincarnation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">translation</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> © 2009 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2009 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, Missionarios da Luz, 1945]</span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Workers of the Life Eternal</span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “Five
people, who devoted their entire lives to the practice of good, are at the
end of their physical existences. Due to their merit, they have the help of a
spirit rescue team. The spirit Andre Luiz tells about his experience as a
member of such a team. This is an enthralling narrative that reveals details
of the tasks performed by spirits at the moment of the death of the physical
body.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this book, Andre Luiz confirms the
principles revealed by the Spiritist Doctrine regarding the existence of the
spirit world, where discarnate spirits dwell, living a new life while
preparing to return once again to the earthly journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘…Death does not extinguish friendly
cooperation, mutual support, comforting intercession or the evolutionary
endeavor. The vibratory dimensions of
the universe are infinite as are the worlds that populate the immensity of
space.’'</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2008 y the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2008 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, Trabalhadores da Vida Eterna, 1946]</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the Greater World</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “In this volume, Andre Luiz focuses on
aspects of life in the spirit world and the communication between discarnates
and incarnates, especially during the sleep of the physical body.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The spirit author explains the causes of
mental disturbances and presents their respective spiritual treatments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the form of a novel, he also analyzes
topics such as abortion, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and Downs Syndrome and
highlights the immediate rescue given by invisible workers to those who need
help in order to avoid - as far as possible – madness, suicide and extreme
moral disasters."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2010 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2010 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, No Mundo Maior, 1947]</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Liberation</span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> “In this compelling narrative, Andre Luiz
emphasizes the work of high order spirits in the effort to convert the spirit
Gregario to the Good, an effort that culminates with the unforgettable
reencounter with his mother – herself a highly evolved spirit –wherein he
surrenders to the irresistible call of Love.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The book also contains information on how unhappy spirits act as they try to
involve incarnates in their wiles.</span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The spirit author tells of the
intercession of high order spirits on behalf of human beings, demonstrating
the divine compassion that grants to all the blessed opportunity to free
themselves by means of study, labor and persevering service in the practice
of the Good.'"</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2013 y the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, authorized edition printed in 2013 by Edicei of America. [original title in Portuguese, Libertação, 1949]</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Between Heaven and Earth</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “This is a novel that offers information
about the relationship that exists in the activities of the spirit on the two
planes of life.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Renewing his interest in our inner improvement, Andre Luiz tells the moving story
of Amaro, Zulmira, Odila, and other characters, recounting the events of
their previous lives from the time of Brazil’s War with Paraguay (1864-1870)
through the days of old Rio de Janeiro (early 1900s).</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In its preface, Emmanuel assures us that “the basic pictures of the narrative
are intimately familiar to us”, such as family dysfunctions, the torment of
jealousy, and the daily struggle for moral progress.</span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each page of Between Heaven and Earth discloses new knowledge and emotions.'</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation </span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">© 2011 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2011 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, Entre O Ceu E A Terra, 1954] </span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the Realms of Mediumship</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“In this book, André Luiz analyzes the
various aspects of mediumship, emphasizing the efforts of mediums faithful to
the spiritual mandate received prior to their reincarnation. He also warns of the risks involved in the
poor interchange between the two worlds.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The book talks about trance,
somnambulism, possession, clairvoyance, the out-of-body experience,
fascination, psychometry and the mediumship of physical effect, among others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is a technical study of great
relevance, which discloses the ways in which Spirits act during the intricate
process of communication with the incarnates.
It relays concepts of spirituality, received from enlightened mentors,
contained in explanations of philosophical, scientific and evangelical
nature, indispensable to those who dedicate themselves to the study of
mediumship."</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2011 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2011 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, Nos Dominios da Mediunidade, 1955]</span><span style="color: #20124d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Action and Reaction </span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"In this volume you will find a
description of the lower regions of the spirit realm and the suffering to
which the guilty conscience is subject after the death of the physical body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Andre Luiz presents studies of real-life
cases and offers guidance regarding paying one’s spiritual debts, the law of
cause and effect, preparations for reincarnation, collective expiations, and
the value of prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The spirit author shows that the
possibilities of our current existence are connected to our actions in past
existences, just as our actions of today will condition our possibilities in
the future."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2010 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2010 by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, Ação e Reação, 1956]</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sex and Destiny</span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “What effects will the sexual experiences
and conduct of incarnates have on the immortal spirits in their future life,
their destiny?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Rich in detail, the books by Andre Luiz depict the spirit world: how spirits
live, their habits and the relations of cause and effect that influence the
evolutionary trajectory both of incarnates and discarnates, delineating their
life, their destiny.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this book, readers will find the answers to their questions about human
sexual relationships and their implications for the future life of the
immortal spirit, enabling it to ‘learn by using the library of experience.’</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sex and destiny, love and conscience,
freedom and commitment, guilt and redemption, home and reincarnation are the
topics of this book born in the forge of everyday reality.'</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #548dd4;">- </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #548dd4;">in publication of translation © 2013 by the Brazilian
Spiritist Federation, authorized edition printed in 2013 by Edicei of America. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #548dd4;">[original title in Portuguese, </span><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Sexo e Destino, 1963</span></i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #548dd4;">]</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Life Goes On</span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">“This book presents a description of the
human being after disincarnation and demonstrates that, in the </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Beyond, the
mental state of spirits directly impacts their existence there.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In 26 chapters, it tells the story of
real characters who receive the help of spirit friends upon disincarnating.
These friends encourage them to renew themselves spiritually through study
and work in order to prepare to review and untangle the meaning of the lives
they have just finished, thereby enabling them to pursue a more constructive
course of behavior for their future.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- in publication of translation © 2009 by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, as published in 2011 (2nd ed.) by the International Spiritist Council. [original title in Portuguese, E A Vida Continua, 1968]</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Related</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More about the author, <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/Biographies/Andre%20Luiz.htm" target="_blank">André Luiz</a>, in this page we have dedicated to him and to this series of books on the Explore Spiritism website<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/Biographies/Andre%20Luiz.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9_kLgrhO6lg/VpJmpGsA-AI/AAAAAAAAATs/Gcehr6ER4IQ/s200/Andre%2BLuiz%2Bmore%2Binfo%2B%2528Explore%2BSpiritism%2529.PNG" width="200" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More about the medium, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txa_gBNkvdU" target="_blank">Francisco Cândido Xavier</a>, also known as Chico Xavier:</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Excellent, short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txa_gBNkvdU" target="_blank">YouTube video</a><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txa_gBNkvdU" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vmyI-5UrG0/VpJqJPdaGkI/AAAAAAAAAT8/i_VWDapslrw/s200/Chico%2BXavier%2BVideo.PNG" width="200" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Full length <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNu0BX72dKM" target="_blank">movie, <i>Chico Xavier</i></a>, on YouTube</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNu0BX72dKM" target="_blank"><img alt="Immagine" src="http://paranormalreview.com/custom/Chico%20Movie%201.png" height="200" width="134" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/AstralCityMovie.htm" target="_blank">movie <i>Astral City</i></a> on the book <i>Nosso Lar</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/AstralCityMovie.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qba5fjz_m3U/VpJqQi1sSII/AAAAAAAAAUI/EEhW9wTZQoE/s200/Astral%2BCity%2BMovie.jpg" width="137" /></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuMvnFMFNU" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuMvnFMFNU" target="_blank">My talk</a> based on the book <i>And Life Goes On</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuMvnFMFNU" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGUWh6Lg1HY/VpJp88xoBQI/AAAAAAAAAT0/CPeLidceC40/s200/Heather%2BTalk_%2BAnd%2BLife%2BGoes%2BOn.png" width="200" /></a><span id="goog_193303753"></span><span id="goog_193303754"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c6ac1; line-height: 20.5333px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; line-height: 18.48px;">Blessings to all, today and always</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #0c6ac1; line-height: 20.5333px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; line-height: 18.48px;">Heather </span></span><br />
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-90317311843094683832016-01-14T18:06:00.000-08:002016-01-14T18:50:26.548-08:00How the "Hell" Could Eternal Punishment Actually Exist?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovTvOjF7HpU/VpHefsVpySI/AAAAAAAAATA/Tp0oMjcAaiA/s1600/How%2BThe%2BHell.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovTvOjF7HpU/VpHefsVpySI/AAAAAAAAATA/Tp0oMjcAaiA/s200/How%2BThe%2BHell.png" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea of a physical place we can be sent to for an eternity of
suffering or any other state of everlasting anguish, especially as a punishment
of some kind, is one of the issues that bothered me most in my past struggles
with religion. For the life of me, I
could not see how this was even believable.
I could not understand how a loving and just God would allow for (or
create) such a reality, even if we were taught how to avoid it; plus, if I might
add, the teachings on the latter were not without sources of further head
scratching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">In my book</span> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i><a href="http://changingliveswithspiritism.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Changing Lives with Spiritism</span></a></i></span><span style="color: #20124d;">,</span></span><span style="color: #20124d;">
I wrote a little about some of the questions that ran through my mind as I
grappled with this philosophical quandary.
I asked my readers to consider the following: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What about those who don’t adhere
to the prescribed requirements for eternal happiness before this life is over?
Again, we are back to the God who has somehow a limited degree of forgiveness.
Furthermore, let’s understand that people are born in different places around
the globe where they might never receive these teachings that advise the right
way to ensure one’s “ticket to salvation”. Why would they deserve anything less
than, at minimum, the same chances given to anyone else? As if these questions
were not enough, we should also stop and ask ourselves this: if we are so
fortunate as to deserve everlasting peace and joy, how can we truly be happy in
the afterlife knowing that others, from strangers to perhaps some particular
loved ones, may not be so fortunate and could instead suffer eternally?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From my conversations with plenty of other individuals, I know I was
not alone. For plenty of people, this dogma has been a deal-breaker; this is
even mentioned in <i><a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/books/gw_The%20Spirits%20Book.htm">The
Spirits’ Book</a></i>, where question and answer #941 reads<sup>1</sup>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q. <i>“The worry over death is highly vexing to
many people. Why such worry if they have the whole future in front of them?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A. “It is wrong to have such apprehension, but
what do you expect? Since early on, people have been persuaded that there is a
hell and a heaven, and that they will most likely go to hell because they have
been taught that whatever belongs to the realm of nature is a mortal sin for
the soul. Thus, when they grow up, and if they have any reason at all, they can
no longer accept such a belief and become atheists or materialists. It is thus
that they are led to believe that nothing exists beyond the present life. As
for those who persist in their childhood belief, they fear the eternal fire
that must burn them without destroying them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">If you have ever wrestled these or similar doubts, you will understand
why I was so happy to find a new understanding, one that spoke to both my mind
and my heart. Ironically, in the first United States Spiritist Council symposium
that I was invited to speak at, I was given the topic of “Penal Code of the
Life</span> <span style="color: #20124d;">to Come”, where I was able to explore the question of eternal punishment
and share the refreshing perspective with which Spiritism has brought soothing
resolution to myself and so many others.
I was thrilled at the chance to share Spiritism’s powerful message.
However, I can’t stop there! I want to continue spreading this awareness
because I know there are still so many others who are seeking these answers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spiritism teaches us about divine justice, the educational journey of
spiritual evolution, and the mechanism of reincarnation that makes them both
possible. It teaches that God is love,
true love, without conditions, limits, or time-stamps. No matter how far we stray
from the “stairway to heaven”, true happiness is the ultimate destiny for each
of us, and there is no such thing as eternal damnation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">I would like to invite you to explore more about what Spiritism has to
say, so I am sharing these three resources with you:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lsz6Jt4FSxM/VpHjk6rKhgI/AAAAAAAAATU/hW-qlbYS_hg/s1600/No%2BHell%2B_%2Blearning%2Bresources.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lsz6Jt4FSxM/VpHjk6rKhgI/AAAAAAAAATU/hW-qlbYS_hg/s1600/No%2BHell%2B_%2Blearning%2Bresources.PNG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> <span style="color: #20124d;"> 1. </span></span><span style="color: #20124d;">The</span> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNVSrjr0gzw"><span style="color: blue;">video of my presentation</span></a>
<span style="color: #20124d;">given at the above-mentioned symposium. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> 2. </span><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->An</span> <a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/Heaven%20and%20Hell%20_%20Perspective%20of%20Spiritism.htm"><span style="color: blue;">enlightening
excerpt from Allan Kardec’s book <i>What is
Spiritism</i></span></a>,<span style="color: #20124d;"> with his comments on the Spiritist view regarding the idea
of Hell, or eternal punishment.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> 3. A</span> <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/Life%20In%20Space%20_%20Contrasting%20Lesser%20&%20More%20Advanced%20Spirits%20(Leon%20Denis).htm"><span style="color: blue;">beautiful
excerpt from the book <i>Here and Hereafter</i></span></a>
<span style="color: #20124d;">* by Spiritist author Léon Denis, in which he describes life in the spirit
realm, contrasting the experiences of lesser and more advanced spirits
(according to Spiritist teachings). (*Note: This book is now also translated and
published with the title “After Death”)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check them out to discover a refreshing perspective on the question of
whether eternal punishment really exists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br />
<sup>1</sup>See question and answer #941, from Part Four Chapter 1 in <i>The Spirits’ Book</i> by Allan Kardec
[original title in French: <i>Le Livre des
Espirits</i>, published in 1857 with 2nd edition<i> </i>in 1860], translation © 2006 by the International Spiritist
Council, authorized edition printed in 2010 by Edicei of America.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-18514444176487920912016-01-10T18:15:00.000-08:002016-01-10T18:15:52.520-08:00Being There For Someone Who Is Grieving<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Holding Space"</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently came across a Facebook post linking
to an article in which the author offered opinions on what <b><i>should</i></b> and <b><i>should
not</i></b> be said to someone who is grieving. I was
interested in the subject because I think knowing how to respond can
challenging. Have you ever found, when you were before someone experiencing
grief, that your heart may have yearned deeply to express concern and offer
comfort, but your lips struggled to form the words needed to verbalize your
thoughts? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I first scrolled through the myriad of comments
that had poured in on that post, I realized two things right away. First, <i>most</i>
of us probably have a hard time finding those “right” words. Second, as
confirmed by the overall collection of comments going in every which direction,
it became clear that there really just are <i>no</i>
<i>right</i> words. Of course, it’s almost
impossible to take away someone’s pain the way we wish we could, and even <i>if</i> we can relate and/or sympathize, we
can never truly know exactly what someone else is feeling and experiencing.
Aside from that is the fact that the ways in which people respond (a) to their
own grief, (b) to the reactions of others to their grief, and (c) to the grief
of others around them, are all very personal and vary tremendously from one
individual to another. This is understandable,
given our diverse perspectives, beliefs, backgrounds, and personalities, but I
guess our differences are part of what makes reaching out so hard at times, and
yet the strong, human drive to comfort and console still beg us to find
something to say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we <i>should</i>
make the effort to find something to say, or to do. As human beings, we <i>should</i> reach out to one another to show
care and compassion in each other’s times of need. Those familiar with Spiritism
know that this concept is emphasized within its teachings. Likewise, Spiritist
literature reminds us that while charity and compassion can and do include
material assistance, they are, by definition, much more inclusive than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UT4Kohvdx8s/VpFgEZCA5hI/AAAAAAAAASA/pBiIRq_deDA/s1600/Explore%2BSpiritism_%2BCharity%2Bthought%2Bwords%2Bdeeds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UT4Kohvdx8s/VpFgEZCA5hI/AAAAAAAAASA/pBiIRq_deDA/s320/Explore%2BSpiritism_%2BCharity%2Bthought%2Bwords%2Bdeeds.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Ironically, on the very same evening that I
came across the above mentioned fb post, I had previously opened at “random” to
a particular page in Léon Denis’ book </span><i style="color: #20124d;">After Death</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"> (*Note: this
title was previously translated and published as </i><a href="http://explorespiritism.com/books/gw_Here%20and%20Hereafter.htm"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">Here
and Hereafter</span></span></i></a><i style="color: #20124d;">), </i><span style="color: #20124d;">where Denis was making
precisely that point about the true and complete meaning of charity, and he wrote,
“There are thousands of ways to be useful, to give our brothers some
assistance. Money neither dries all the tears nor cures all the wounds. There
are troubles for which a sincere friendship, a lively sympathy and
demonstrations of affection will do much more good to the soul than any riches.”
</span><sup style="color: #20124d;">1</sup> <span style="color: #20124d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">◊
◊ ◊<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess in seeing how people can feel so
differently from one another upon hearing the same type of remark made in an
attempt to show them solidarity, and knowing how challenging it can sometimes
be to find the words I’m searching for to show someone that I care, I found it
helpful to read from one commenter who said that the words she most appreciated,
in her moment of grief, came from someone who simply told her: “I don’t know
what to say, but I want you to know I’m here for you”. These words may not reveal all we wish to
convey, but they also do not pretend that we know what the other person is
going through. Nor do they unintentionally
impose with a belief that is not mutually shared. Meanwhile, if expressed with
sincerity, they <i>do</i> show honesty,
concern, and dependability. Not for all circumstances, but something to keep in
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can we do, though, when we want our actions to reveal what our lips
cannot convey? If the time we will spend with someone in pain goes beyond that
of a passing moment, how can we use that opportunity to be supportive? Again, this can look markedly different,
depending on both who is supporting and who is being supported. However, buried
within all those mentioned comments I had been scrolling through was yet
another link that a particular commenter shared. The link was to a blog post that
I found quite insightful, and appreciating the helpful answers that it offers
to those questions, I thought it was worth sharing.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://heatherplett.com/2015/03/hold-space/"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8NdFtHCcTg/VpFhAMb7BxI/AAAAAAAAASI/QYZsG19Jfu4/s320/Holding%2BSpace%2Bblog%2Bpost%2Bby%2BHeather%2BPlett.PNG" width="284" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://heatherplett.com/2015/03/hold-space/"><span style="color: blue;">blog post</span></a></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> blog post is entitled "What</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> it means to ‘hold space’
for people, plus eight tips on how to do it well.” </span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">This, coincidentally, is also how I first learned of t</span>his
relatively new term of “holding space”, which apparently is actually growing in
popularity. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After reading about it, I
would say that “holding space” refers to a gentle and helpful approach to
“being there” for someone in his or her time of grief.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In her blog post, author Heather Plett walks
readers through the concept of “holding space” with very real examples taken
from her own personal experience, as she describes how someone special was
there to do that for her and her siblings while they dealt with their mother’s
last days and moments of life in the physical world. Her narration and
explanations are both moving and revealing. I
found the text to be one that I will hold onto and go back to. I wanted to
share it because it is precisely when we are in our most vulnerable moments
that we need one another’s compassion, whereby it is equally important that we
know <i>how</i> to show one another that
kind of loving support. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to that post, and due the
overwhelming interest that people took in what she first had to say on the
topic, Plett also went on to write complementary, follow-up posts, including
these titles: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How to hold space for yourself first<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes holding space feels like doing nothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes you have to write on the walls: Some thoughts on
holding space for other people’s personal growth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On holding space when there is an imbalance of power and
privilege<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leave space for others to fill your needs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">You can find the links to all of them in</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><a href="http://heatherplett.com/2015/03/hold-space/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">original post</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are interested in learning more about
“holding space” and getting suggestions for ways to be there for someone in
need of your support, I highly recommend those articles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><sup>1</sup>
from
“After Death” (Chapter 47), by Léon Denis [original title in French: Aprés La
Mort, published in 1889], translation published in 2015 by Centro Espirita Leon
Denis (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), in partnership with the United States Spiritist
Council. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-20934157891438812432015-12-07T19:35:00.002-08:002015-12-07T19:35:57.877-08:00A Big THANKS To The Blog's First Subscribers!<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Tis the season of gratitude and giving! And in that spirit, I'd like to say thanks to all of you who have already subscribed to the Explore Spiritism blog by sending you a FREE copy of my book <i><a href="http://www.changingliveswithspiritism.com/" target="_blank">Changing Lives with Spiritism</a></i>!<br /><br />No strings attached. Just a token of my appreciation. If you've already subscribed and would like one of my books, I'll just need to know where to send it. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%;">J</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> Please check your inbox for the email I've sent with my offer and request for your mailing address. And a big THANK YOU for following!</span><br />
<br />
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-62068866337158942622015-11-24T05:43:00.005-08:002016-01-15T20:04:01.872-08:00Sometimes You Just Need Someone With A Perispirit<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- The Blessing of Having Spiritual Benefactors - </span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the day my husband and I were married, our wonderful pastor said
something that has always stuck with me in more ways than one. There were many
details that made that ceremony quite special, but one of them was the message she delivered. I appreciated that it was quite simple and meaningful.
At one point, as she was speaking about the value of having that very special someone
to go through this journey of life with, she mentioned that even when our faith
in <i>God </i>is strong and we trust in God to get us through the difficult moments, it
still just really helps to have </span><i style="background-color: transparent; color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">someone
“with skin on”.</i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> You know, this is
someone who you can see right there before your eyes, who can converse with
you, hold you in his or her arms, and travel with you through the ups and downs
of life. I loved that idea, and I still
do.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to today. While I still recall and cherish those
words, they remind me of how grateful I feel to </span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">also</i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> know about and appreciate the invisible,
spiritual benefactors that we have alongside us, something I only became
aware of through my studies of Spiritism. By
these spiritual companions, I refer to loving discarnate beings (spirits, like ourselves, with the spiritual body called the "perispirit"<span style="font-size: x-small;">*</span> but not presently incarnated in a physical body). Accompanying us even when we don’t know they're there, they help us in so many ways -
inspiring us (and others in our lives) with new and uplifting ideas, bringing
us comfort and encouragement when we are down, giving us courage when we are
afraid, and so much more.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[*Note: For those interested, you can read more about the perispirit <a href="http://explorespiritism.com/PHILOSOPHY%20start.htm" target="_blank">here</a>].</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even when we have friends and loved ones whom we can count on, there
are times when there is not someone immediately available in a given moment, or
when, for whatever reason, we do not want to share our thoughts or feelings
with another incarnate person. Even in those moments, we are not without support
from another realm. When we are feeling desperation, anguish, anger, sadness,
fear, you name it, we have invisible friends and loved ones by our side.</span><br />
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◊ ◊ ◊<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This kind of reassuring consolation is poignantly captured in the answer
given to Question 495 of “The Spirits Book”, where we are told:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Isn’t it a very
consoling idea to know that you always have at your side beings who are more
evolved than you, who are always there to counsel, sustain, and aid you in
scaling the rugged mountain of the good, who are more reliable and devoted
friends than the most intimate connections that may be contracted on earth?
These beings are there at God’s orders. It was God who has placed them at your
side; they are there out of love for God and they fulfill a beautiful but
laborious mission alongside you. Wherever you may be, your angel will be there
with you: in prison, in the hospital, in dens of iniquity, in solitude; nothing
separates you from that friend whom you cannot see, but from whom your soul nonetheless
receives the gentlest impulses and hears the wisest counsels.”</span><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1</span></span><br />
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<sup><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spiritism teaches us a great deal about our
invisible benefactors. These include our personal spiritual mentors, loved ones
who have passed on before us but who remain connected to us by way of thoughts
and sentiments, and even “strangers” who wish to help us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll admit that even when I pray to God,
I’m not sure I could do so with the same degree of faith that I do now if I did not have the
understanding and vision of the spiritual world that I have acquired through Spiritism.
This is one reason why I so cherish and so enthusiastically recommend Spiritist
books and novels that help us to see what the interactions between the
spiritual and material realms look like in action. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is simply so reassuring to know that we are
never alone. And I, for one, am truly grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.48px;">Thank you for reading!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.48px;">Blessings to all, today and always</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.48px;">Heather </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">See question and answer #495 in <i>The Spirits’
Book</i> by Allan Kardec [original title in French: <i>Le Livre des Espirits</i>, published in 1857
with 2nd edition<i> </i>in 1860],
translation © 2006 by the International Spiritist Council, authorized edition
printed in 2010 by Edicei of America.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-16242671631921266602015-11-11T04:31:00.000-08:002015-11-11T04:31:12.335-08:00Dear “The Spirits’ Book”, You Had Me At “What Is God?”<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Confession. I did not <i>immediately </i>take
to Spiritism. In fact, I recall at first verbalizing to my (now) husband, who
introduced Spiritism to me some 18 years ago, something to the effect of “Well,
that’s fine with me that you have ‘your thing’, but I don’t think it’s for
me.” Seems funny to me now to even
imagine that! However, I have to remember where I was coming from and the fact
that I’d not yet even picked up a Spiritist book at that point. Truth be told, it
didn’t take long after that for me to become hooked!<br />
<br />
The first Spiritist book I had the chance to read was <i>The Spirits’ Book</i>, and
I’ll admit it that it brought me - all at once - a mixture of excitement,
interest, and a strange feeling of stepping into this “secret other world”. I
really don’t know how to explain well that feeling, but in my naiveté, I had no
idea back then just how many people knew about spirits, spirit communication,
the spirit realm, etc. As a side note here, perhaps that was a good thing.
After all, not too far down the road, that ignorance of mine would be a factor
in driving the sense of urgency behind our creation and development of the
Explore Spiritism website. And the truth is that there are still a whole lot of
people who do not know about the realities that Spiritism helps us to
understand; so it’s important to continue sharing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6Fwe1dpDsQ/VkFijXVQaJI/AAAAAAAAAPw/D70Fxx6W2LQ/s1600/What%2BIs%2BGod%2B_%2BExplore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6Fwe1dpDsQ/VkFijXVQaJI/AAAAAAAAAPw/D70Fxx6W2LQ/s200/What%2BIs%2BGod%2B_%2BExplore%2BSpiritism%2BBlog.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amidst all else I was feeling at
the time, I did truly find <i>The Spirits’ Book</i> to be very intriguing. Question
after question, I started to see the “spiritual fog” I had long felt immersed
in begin to dissipate. In fact, right from the start, Kardec and the spirits
won points with me with the first few questions and answers, starting with question
#1: “What is God?” </span></div>
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Notice that it was <b>not</b> “Who is God?”</span><br />
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<br />
We learn from the first section of <i>The Spirits’ Book</i> that at our current stage of human development
we do not yet have the capacity to fully understand, nor even the vocabulary to
express, a fully extensive definition of God. From our perspective at this
time, however, we can at least understand that God is, first and foremost, the <b><i>supreme
intelligence and first cause of all things</i></b>. In addition, we can talk
about certain <b>attributes</b> that, while
not complete, do at least represent a list of qualities we can justifiably use
to describe God. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/gw_God.htm" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARClxOYA_rY/VkFjwpVF-tI/AAAAAAAAAP0/n_AbgVTL4YI/s200/ExploreSpiritism.com_page%2Bimage_God.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">In “The Spirits’ Book”, the attributes identified and discussed are: eternal, unchangeable, immaterial, unique, all-powerful, and sovereignly just and good.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">You can read more ab</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">out the Spiritist understanding of God </span><a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/gw_God.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here on the Explore Spiritism website</span></a><span style="color: #20124d;">: </span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I loved finding in </span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Spirits' Book</i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> an explanation of this “</span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">some<u>thing</u></i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">” (not “</span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">some<u>one</u></i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">”)
both perfect and greater than all else in existence. I always had trouble
imaging God as if God were some sort of individual or personal figure, like a
“guy in the sky” grossly speaking. Kardec’s question didn’t </span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">start</i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> from that viewpoint, however. Nor
did the spirits even say anything remotely like that in their answer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, I know that even though God is defined by <i>what</i>, not <i>who</i>, you will
still find us Spiritists occasionally using wording that seems to contradict
this - making statements, for example, about what “God wants” or referring to
ourselves (human souls) as “God’s children”. This doesn’t have to be an issue.
As our knowledge and our vocabulary progress, our expressions about God will likely
evolve as well, and in the meantime they help us to think about and reflect
other concepts. I’m reminded here of two analogies that I’ll share to help
explain.<br />
<br />
Consider computer systems. I find that when my coworkers and I talk about the IT
systems we use, it’s not uncommon for us to make references to what a system
“knows” (as if it were operating with a human-like intelligence), or we’ll
comment on how well two different systems “talk to each other” (as if they had
dialogue as a way to exchange information).
Do we really mean our words in the literal sense? No, we employ them in
order to convey concepts in a way that is useful as part of a broader
discussion.</span><br />
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<br />
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcY1jUJBvls/VkKlb85UUII/AAAAAAAAAQQ/7_Z-zlDnUgg/s1600/monkey%2Bbars.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcY1jUJBvls/VkKlb85UUII/AAAAAAAAAQQ/7_Z-zlDnUgg/s1600/monkey%2Bbars.PNG" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another visual that comes to mind for me is that of the monkey bars we uses to
play on as kids. Do you remember swinging like apes from one bar to the next,
crossing from one end to the other? Well, when you cross those monkey bars, you
have choices. If you want, you can use the momentum of the swing to fully let
go of the latest bar touched bar before having your forward-positioned hand
grab on to the next bar (even if skipping one in between). Likewise, you could let go of the last bar immediately
upon grabbing the next one, or you could even pause so as to remain hanging for
some time with one hand on each bar until you are ready to fully let go of the
back bar and move on to the next one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Using terminology at times that in one way or another seems to
personify God is rather like using the third approach for crossing the monkey
bars. I think that sometimes, until we can fully grasp the new perspective and
have everyone on board with the vocabulary and background knowledge to embrace
it, we just find it helpful to verbalize certain thoughts with one hand still
on the old "bar" of expression. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm ok with the fact that we do this, (a) precisely because I, too,
sometimes find it to be helpful and (b) because I know that we </span><b style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>do</i></b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> look ahead to where we are ultimately going. At least we recognize that we have more bars to
cross; meanwhile, even with an old one still in hand, we are simultaneously
touching the newest one, and we can see and shoot for the ones even further
ahead. We can also pause to help those who’ve not yet had the same exposure to
this vision, so that they too can see the true potential that is our common
destiny.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And meanwhile, we can learn more about the supreme intelligence and
primary cause of all things - otherwise
known, by Spiritists, as God. ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessings to all, today and always<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-24504562962997613972015-11-06T05:26:00.003-08:002015-11-06T05:26:39.466-08:00Room For Improvement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This expression has become a sort of running joke in my family. Growing up, I always heard from my father that in his own youth, no matter what kind of grades he brought home from school, if they weren’t straight As, his own father would always tell him, in a loving way I’m sure, “Room for improvement!”. As a youngster, that bothered me a bit. It was different from my own experience. I don’t ever recall being told that about my own grades. What I remember most is being told to just always do my best and then striving to make my parents proud. It disturbed me to know that my father would get that kind of reaction if his results were less than perfect. Let me just add that my father is one of the kindest, smartest, most generous and hard working people that I know. So I imagine my admiration for him gave a little fuel to that mild resentment I was feeling. Over time though, I got over it, and in fact in my family we often use the words “room for improvement” to tease one another when a situation permits. Coincidentally, I think it’s also a fun way for us to evoke the memory of my grandfather.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By now I’ve gone so far as to come full circle in my thinking with regards to those memorable words. In part, the maturity of adulthood allowed me to entertain a new perspective. Spiritism, though, is what really has really given that idea of “room for improvement” such significant meaning. I learned in Spiritism that we existed before this material lifetime, and we will continue to live on when it’s over. Just as importantly, who we are and what we know, today, is not a product of this lifetime alone. Nor are we done learning or becoming! Though it sounds cliché, it’s true; life is a journey. In this pilgrimage of the immortal soul, we are gradually acquiring knowledge and virtue. We are far from perfect; in fact, have tons of room for improvement. <br /><br />Spiritism has given me motive to work actively and consciously on my own progress. It has taught me that I am accountable for my actions, not because I will be damned to hell for the mistakes I make but because life is about choices and their consequences, good or bad.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today I can fully appreciate those words that my grandfather left imprinted on my father’s youth and the legacy it has become among those who love him. I want to always keep in mind that I am on a journey toward becoming a perfect spirit but there’s a whole lot more of that road yet to travel. So let those words be my mantra, my battle cry, my daily reminder that my future is in my own hands.<br /><br />Thank you for reading!<br /> <br />Blessings to all, today and always</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post is dedicated to my grandfather, who I love dearly, miss much, and thank often for this important life lesson that for me was first handed down through my father and later became reinforced, actually taken to a new level, through the knowledge of Spiritism.</span></div>
LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6300556703180235079.post-29974335727912130802015-11-04T07:20:00.000-08:002015-11-04T07:20:16.338-08:00And So It Begins. The Very First Post!<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome to the Explore Spiritism blog! This new space is the latest addition to existing resources offered by the Leon Denis Spiritist Group. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.explorespiritism.com/">Explore Spiritism website</a></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is a gateway into the discovery of what Spiritism is all about, offering a structured format to learn more about the fundamentals of Spiritism. The </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ExploreSpiritism/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Explore Spiritism</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LeonDenisSpiritistGroup" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Leon Denis Spiritist Group</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Facebook pages help us to build awareness about Spiritism and put us in contact with like-minded individuals across the globe. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Still, there are things yet to say, ideas to share, and discussions to have! There's </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">news to be spread and information to ponder. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Explore Spiritism blog will provide a forum to make things a little more personal with commentary, reflection, and exchange. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />LDSG is all about seeking to understand and reflect on our spiritual existence, inspired by the life-changing perspective of Spiritist knowledge. This blog will offer one more way to shine light, spread love, and share the blessings of Spiritism.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please be sure to subscribe so you can be notified when something new is added! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks and see ya on the blog!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heather</span><br />
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LDSG bloggershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213887869556399943noreply@blogger.com0