The Spirits Book was the first published in the works compiled by Allan Kardec, dictated by the spirits of light in attending seances, and by observing and interviewing mediums. Table turning and these reunion sessions were en vogue during the Victorian era. The second in the series is the Mediums Book.
The philosophy of spiritism was thus codified, which set it apart from other spiritualism at the time during the mid 1800's- 1900. Classic or scientific spiritism follows this doctrine, in spanish espiritismo.
Thus defined:
"Spiritism has no priests and does not use or use in its meetings and practices altars, images, candles, processions, sacraments, indulgences, alcoholic or hallucinogenic beverages, incense, smoke, talismans, amulets, horoscopes, cartomancy, pyramids, crystals or any other objects, rituals or forms of worship.
Spiritism does not impose its principles. However other religions assist in Espiritismo aka Spiritism.
VS
Cruzado:
Espiritismo is a separate spiritual and religious practice that has incorporated into most houses of Santería. The type of Espiritismo practiced in Santería Lucumí is called Espiritismo Cruzado (Blended Spiritism) because it has been blended or hybridized with African elements from the Congo people." It is a nod to Kardec but contains syncretic elements in its spiritualism."
The Book of Mediums is essential to understanding Espiritismo Cruzado in our lineage and spiritual house, although it is beneficial to read other Kardec books. And of course our misa, folk seances are conducted with the Kardec Book of selected prayers.
The language is somewhat antiquated and dry. A hard copy of the book can be bought, but a free pdf is provided here. The Mediums Book <<<<<click here
The difficulty also for some I have encountered is learning difficulties and problems with reading a digital pdf on a screen.
Therefore I have dictated a summary and parts of the chapters, and adding some information to the Mediums Book in a series on youtube, for learning in my temple, and to provide it to the public.
"Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail, under the codename Allan Kardec; proposed the study of "the nature, origin, and destiny of spirits, and their relation with the corporeal world". It encompasses "A discussion of the means of communicating with the invisible world, the development of mediumship and the difficulties encountered in the practice of spiritualism" and more....
I already wrote about this when I wrote about cascarilla (ground eggshell or chalk), the color white, and cleansings, but I thought I would just do a short entry. A version of this I also wrote about for guardian angel work. It is based on the Yoruban rogacion de cabeza or kobori eleda(feeding the head, Ori) but through espiritismo criollo.
You will need to pray over the mixture for your guides and ancestors. To the following add "good water" from your water cup on the boveda which is full of bubbles and you have the feeling of peace and purity. Cocoa butter, cascarilla, coconut water (traditionally fresh but I use coconut milk), holy water or rain water, a bit of honey, white flower petals from your boveda. A small splash of white rum or florida water can also be added. Flower petals from your boveda if you have them. This is done on the head after lighting a white candle and a normal shower and not rinsed or towelled too much off. This can be done for an odd number of days sometimes after an odd number of days of doing a bitter herb wash neck down to remove negative energies. You will then dress in white with headwrap overnight and can use white bedding with cascarilla or a white clean towel, sleeping alone and avoiding violent movies, sexual activity, violent video games, spiritual work, arguments or spicy food anything to heat you up for 24 hours. The bath will give you peace or energy and done in the evening you will not go out after dark. The purpose of this is to clear your connection to your guides and through contamination of the spiritual fluids on your boveda to your head or conciousness The white items are added also as clearing. If you cannot afford it or are desperate then just use the glass of water alone. Pour this over your head after showering, then towel off gently not too much, no need to rinse. Do this for a minimum of once a week for at least 3 weeks and replace the water glass right away, but you can do it 3 times a week or days in a row.
These are some things put together but if you can thing of other ways to develop please comment.
Prayer at Boveda
Prayer and songs to your ancestors and guides to their presence.
Prayer is the most important offering because it elevates our spirits so they can better help us spiritually progress.
Giving and using cigars smoke also helps our communication as a messanger spirit.
We use prayers and bibliomancy of psalms and Allan Kardec's book of selected prayers.
Spontaneous words that are felt from the heart are also more effective than bland reading.
By following good suggestions and what the spirit require this reinforces our relationship and communication.
You might want to read my other entry on why your spirits are silent.
Some of them could take a couple years to even show themselves in some way, and the most important is faith, over thinking materially.
Keeping the boveda clean and giving your spirits candles, gives spiritual light and clarity, as the faculties or psychic sense all begin with the word "Clair" or clear. ex Clairaudience is clear hearing.
For that reason certain saint orations like to Saint Clare or Lucy (lucid/light) can be used. St Clare is associated with the Monstrance (of spiritual alchemy and enlightenment) and the ability to lead spirits to us through light.
With Santa Clara just the white of a white egg can be put into a water glass to clear up the frame, and messages can be seen inside. This can be placed in the middle of 3 white novena candles with the point facing up. This mimics the eye of God and the form of the spiritual frame. Tata Oriate advises a similar way of placing a whole white egg in the middle of the candles in his book.
The white egg adds clarity, but a whole brown one can be used to remove negativity in the frame, or the lighting of sulphur novenas and elevation work and prayers for 9 days. Putting the white egg is different as it adds clarity but similar to a cleansing egg limpa con huevo. Messages can be seen in the glass.
Developing is a slow and consistent process, it needs to be a routine well practiced. Just because we know how to do it mentally, does not mean anything until we make it a practice.
Cleansings:
Eyewashes with prepared herbal water and scrying helps clairvoyance.
When people ask how to open the third eye I also recommend detox of clean diet, water and personal care products. Certain herbs can also assist.
White bath rogacion to cleanse your head actually adds spiritual connection, usually done after bitter herb removing bath neck down for an odd number of days each.
Routine spiritual cleanings help a clear connection and with fresh flower petals to add back energy to your spiritual field and sensitivity. There are many ways to spiritually cleanse besides spiritual baths.
Dirty house, self and altar can attract unwanted dark spirits, who can cause spiritual and life blocks to our evolution. These will then have to be dealt with in misa or ceremony with persistent cases in person. Dark spirits can be sent by witchcraft, given access by our own bad actions or faults, or by unconsciously picking them up. The environmental factors can impact the internal.
Work on Divination
Everyones gifts are different or suited to different tools, and some abilities are slower to unfold
For example some at the boveda have inspired writing sessions or automatic writing. Meditation Imagination Dream work
waterglass at bedside, etc Hypnotism Solar work: for cleansing and higher spirits and light, of spiritualism. Linked to ashe, life force.
System of energy work and manipulation whether qigong, reiki or yoga Lunar work and natures rhythms, subconscious and shadow work.
These two areas must be balanced and harmonious together. They are the gateway beyond self control and knowing of personal thought and emotion to higher celestial or planetary energy and polarity.
The cross and monstrance on the boveda indicate this union and light as some also displayed eucharist communion wafer as a church icon.
Going to Misa Espirituale
In the presence of strong spiritual fluids, and can practice mediumship and add light to yourself and your spiritual court.
More experienced mediums can help investigate and confirm your guides, as well as work on ancestral and spiritual issues.
Here you can develop your gifts by practice with others.
Misa can be held to your spirits,or if Catholic can pay them to do mass for the dead.
It is good to attend many misa in your spiritual house, and as well if you cannot afford private misa.
Safely at misa you can work on mounting spirits or physical mediumship.
This development and connection is given firm foundation on baptism and crowning the dead:
Misa Coronation.
This crowning also protects the medium from unwanted spirit mounting.
During misa the godchild will demonstrate development,
and have misa investigation into the spiritual frame.
For those that have no misa near them, a priest with alot of ashe or development can come pray at your white table with a small suggested payment or derecho of $21 to add light.
Moral Progress
Key to Spiritual development is dependant on personal progress.
Our guides and ancestors see our efforts to improve our personality and right action.
We then: Merit power and cooperation by beings who see this. But these powers that are given by certain spirits that have the power to do this,do not give this to anyone, but they prove the integrity and moral and spiritual integrity of the person, and if they see that person can handle a power. Because they will freeze it, they do not give more, or in other cases they withdraw the gift or power that they gave to that person, that for a misuse of that power. Power unfolds and goes to those more responsible with its usage. God gave our gifts and can take them away.
The Principal Guide, the important thing is to be aware of our connection with them. To invoke, but always asking for the blessing of (God), so that every work we do is for good and successful, with the guidance and assistance of our spiritual guide, to ask him to reveal his name, either through a dream, a vision, or that he comes down and directly, or message through another spirit.
We must have humility and give gratitude and acknowledgment of the good spirits and God and not take personal credit for mediumship abilities.
Spiritual Reward or Suffering
Osogbos (diseases, accidents, calamities, untimely death, misfortunes etc.) happen to those who abuse their power and faculties.
Some suffering is expected as a human condition, as a result of reincarnation.
Our ancestors may allow suffering to happen or create these problems because they are displeased. We are their representatives on earth, and are linked to them spiritually. When we are living in accordance with our good ancestors, we are in spiritual flow and receive their blessings. They are permissive gateway spirits. Ask for their forgiveness and for not listening to their good advices with an offering.
Even if someone deserves ill doing and you to serve justice, ask yourself if you would rather receive a higher reward. I found this true, we are tested due to our medium ability as a duty of service and for our moral betterment according to Kardec. As I continually resist bad or commit to the correct path, the more I am shown curses, and therefore the way to remove or protect the self.
Egun helps us to deal with the contradictions, injustices and imperfections that exist within life itself. When we are weak, they help us to tap into our strength and through them we ask that God hears and grants our requests so that we can walk the correct path of our earthly lives towards our destiny. We need our messengers and allies to help us, as the way of progress is to decrease our suffering and ignorance.
Throw mud get muddy I say. There is great protection in living the right life and in spiritual purity and cleansing all the time to keep any negative energy off, is easier to keep negative energy off as the number one way to prevent spiritual problems. The Yorubans believe in thought projection as a magical action, but that it cannot affect a good person. Or at least not as easily.
Reading the water glass and candles, Boveda Part 5
Observe the water glass for bubbles which indicates spirit presence and may indicate the request of the spirits. A glass that is clear and full of fine bubbles is what is used in a spiritual bath which cleanses a person spiritually, to better communicate with your spirits, and is full of blessings or is made and prayed over for a specific purpose. This generally prevents negative energetic attachments which can cause many problems such as bad luck, bad health and problems with employment or a relationship. If the bubbles are present after you cleansed yourself over the glass, it could be negative, and that water is disposed of anyways and never used again. If the glass is used to call a spirit not worked with previously or to remove negative energies, or after you cleanse your home, the presence of a lot of bubbles may indicate negative presences. We go by our feelings and having an established practice, dedicating the glass to our ancestors. Large grape like clusters of bubbles may indicate lower level spirits present. This can be one way if you put glasses in the corner of your house to detect negative entities. A glass of water with bubbles at the top may be requesting prayers, communication, tobacco or incense. In the middle they may be requesting to come through a medium or the misa environment. In the bottom or middle they may be requiring elevation, white flowers usually kept on the altar before spoiling or food. Sometimes other people's spirits or spirits will be attracted here or to you because they know you can communicate with them or for them, or know that they can get help. This is why lighthouses are sometimes haunted, by spirits of those lost at sea, people that lived there or as a beacon of light. People that do not know they are dead may even go to hospitals even if they never died there. Some Lwa do not like water whereas other spirits such as the native americans or indios of the river love to have water nearby. In general we keep water glasses next to our ancestors and spirit guides. Burning incense can also help the dead or certain astral spirits to manifest as well as provide a clearer area. Frankincense and myrrh, copal, and rose are favorites, as well as citrus, sandalwood and vanilla. Some people also like to use palo santo, but we have taboo against burning cedar seen as an emblem of the tree of life.
No bubbles or cloudiness and contaminants in the water may indicate listening to an upset state of mind of the practitioner, spirits cleansing themself, filtering negativity from you, or failure on the part of the practitioner to keep it fresh and communicate, as well as attend to promised duties. However I live in a part of the country where there is a lot of white limescale to the water, which is hard to clean even with citrus agents, but you never want to use filtered water, as the particles help the field of communication. Therefore I usually use one water glass except when doing the water glass arrangements for specific directions to the court. Because I share my white table currently with my spouse there is a lack of room.
It is very common in households to have one altar for the family, especially with several generations in one household, where the house would be passed down in the family and jointly responsible for its condition and use. I do not suggest this if you are unmarried or not “family”, or if one person cannot maintain your separate sections as husband and wife. Reading Candles
Candles also can be observed for forms the wax makes if it is not a sanctuary or novena type. However this guide is more for the glass novena pillar type, that should be straight at the top. Scrying the flame as it melts can be done in a relaxed open state, do not try to concentrate. Glance also at the figures such as saint statues or guide statues mouths The bottom inside when it is done for patterns and whole of a glass novena glanced at. Figures, initials, numbers are often divined. Candles should burn clear, If a little black at the top, and the candle has a straight glass chimney such as a 7 day glass pillar novena, it may have caught something negative. If all black, or mostly down the candle glass, there is a lot of negativity present. Cleansing, and more work needs to be done and divined. The same if the candle actually broke and it was not because the wick was close to glass wall. Your spirits caught something negative and protected you. Make sure you trim your wick before lighting. Another candle is burned to see if the situation is cleared. Many people take private photos of their work to document spirit presences and reflections, some of which can only be seen later. Fire safety is important to place them safely and avoid having them burn unattended. Glass candles can crack or break, as a manufacturer flaw or catching a negative vibration. Wax can spill and continue to provide fuel for flame to burn.
Observe the flame quality, bobbing and waving back and forth can indicate talking so quiet yourself and try to listen. A high flame or crackling indicates strong effort and aggressive spirits or presence, low indicates a hard time achieving the efforts or weak presence. I have read articles on how to read candles some I agree with some of it I don’t. Twin flames or more can indicate a quarrel or more than one person or spirit in the situation. Ghosting or a white film on the candle glass can indicate good spirit presence. Excessive wax buildup can indicate trouble or efforts to resolve a situation did not work. Wax lines or ghosting lines on the glass can indicate issues or items the spirit has worked on for you. These can be compared to where you might have written on the glass with a sharpie. You may want to include the date, your birth date and initials when writing on novenas for prayer or special requests. It is not really candle spells, as these are not kept on the white table.
When approaching the altar we knock on the door 3 times if in an enclosed room, but in my experience they like the family living room and to protect the front door.
To approach and open the altar:
Otherwise we make the sign of the cross with our right hand from our head drawn down our body to where our hand naturally falls then tap the left shoulder drawing our hand across our chest to touch the right shoulder. Other christian sects go right to left. Then knock on the table 3 times with our arms crossed and knock with our middle knuckles. Some just knock 3 times with one hand or on the altar room door. Some touch the altar with their first two fingers to show respect with both hands.
Ring the bell in the sign of the cross as a summoning for offerings or communication, or in notification before bed, when leaving the house, or on return for protection and acknowledgement.
Light the candles which have been previously cleansed and anointed, and then give them a minute of silence before proceeding.
Some people kiss the two index or pointer and middle fingers on the right hand, touch the ground then point up to the sky. This acknowledges love to the ancestors from the ground to the most high god. Another variation is kiss touch heart and up to sky to just acknowledge god. This kiss and then pointing to the sky is sometimes done after crossing oneself in prayer. The middle knuckle and finger is the highest point of the hand and has significance spiritually, as does the right, “ good”, blessing, clean, hand. The spirits for the most part live in and come through a mirror, (sometimes literally as well) world to our own, so that is why we cross our arms in part to join them and join a same hand to same hand. Left to left etc in union when facing them. The higher spirits are also a mirror to us, the creole word miwa is a double meaning for look but also mirror, the looking glass, used in crossing the arms for the congo and Voudou salute.
Use the concept of god first and address god in prayer in indigenous way or the our father and hail mary, some also do a glory be.
You can use any prayer to call your good helpful ancestors, here is an example: Call to ancestor prayer
In the name of the most high god I give this water and this candle to my ancestors (you can recite names, surnames or say known and unknown if you have no clue), the blood of my blood that they may receive light and progress. I offer this candle as a beacon of hope that all my ancestors should draw near. As my dead have been a light for me in my darkness may this be a light for them in theirs.
If you know the names of your spirit guides you can call them too here, or just say “good spirits of my spiritual frame I call you who manage and are responsible for my guidance, spiritual progress and elevation. I call you to be present to partake and communicate at this table". You can use the bell and ring it for each ancestor and spirit guide called to give notice, and break up negative energy.
The cross is placed on the table when not active, but after the time of approach can be placed inside the main glass feet first, as the living or resurrected one.
You can then listen in silence or meditate to music, recite prayers, talk to your spirits and confide in them as if they were your friend standing beside you in life, do divinations or your cleansings as needed. I usually cleanse myself with florida water on approach first into a bowl of bluing water with a mixture of florida water, cascarilla and sometimes holy water. See the next part 4 where I talk more about cleansings.
With the glasses you can tap one and ask for guides and ancestor help on a matter or touch with your index (pointer) and forefingers together (middle) with your request gives them a gentle poke or nudge.
