The Book of Mediums by Allan Kardec

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.

Book of Mediums youtube series <<<<<click here

"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....

You can read a bit more about the philosophy here

                                                                              Luz y Progresso,

                                                                             Sancista 7 Crossroads

                                                                                     
                                                                

Cantos para misa espirituale, learning songs for spirit guides, the dead and misa part 3

La Gitana: The gypsy
Hermana Rita gitana mia hermana Rita dame bondad llevame a tu santurio
a buscar la caridad
Deidad de amplias luces son tus cartas prodigiosas ahi tu lees los misterios para dar luz y progreso cinco flores yo te dedico cinco flores de humildad buscando que tu me brindes esperanza y caridad GITANA gitana pura gitana gitana inmensa librame de inquietudes librame de los lamentos Gitana de mis amores bendiceme ay gitana gitanita bendiceme bis pero gitana de mis amores bendiceme ole con ole gitana ole con ole olee ole con ole chiquilla ole con ole y ole ole con ole gitana ole con ole y ole OLE Gitana de mis amores bendiceme ay gitana gitanita bendiceme Hermana rita gitana mia bendiceme

Sister Rita, my gypsy
Sister Rita, give me goodness
Take me to your sanctuary
To seek charity
Deity of ample lights
They are your prodigious letters
There you read the mysteries
To give light and progress

Five flowers, I dedicate you
Five flowers of humility
Looking for you to give me
Hope and charity

Pure gypsy gypsy
Immense gypsy gypsy
Free of worries
Liberate of lamentations

Gypsy of my loves, bless me
Ay gypsy little gypsy bless me

But gypsy of my loves, bless me

Ole with ole and
Ole with ole olee

Ole with ole child
Ole with ole and ole
Ole with olea and
Ole with ole and ole OLE

Gypsy of my loves, bless me
Ay gypsy little gypsy bless me
Sister Rita my gypsy bless me

Sancista 7 Crossroads

White Bath: Connection to Ancestors and Guides

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.

                                                                         Sancista 7 crossroads

How to read the water glasses and white pillar novena candles on the boveda Part 5

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.

@--^--  S7X

How to approach and open the tableau espirituale Part 3

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.

I hope that this helps many people,
S7X

The boveda, mesa blanca & The tableau espirituale: Part 1 Purpose

The white table practice or mesa blanca is so called for the white table cloth upon the altar used in misa or seance but also at home upon the ancestor altar or boveda in espiritismo or spiritualism. In Sanse, the tableau espirituale or spiritualist table differs from the Cuban boveda in that we also include other dead and spirit guides beyond just our current bloodline ancestors or family dead.

Before I began this path, I wanted nothing really to do with the dead, since they pestered me so as a youth, as well as being somewhat disconnected from my family and family history. I learned its better to be protected as a medium, because the dead will take notice of you whether or not you look for them. To a lot of people ancestral veneration does not seem very glamorous or high level, but it is very foundational in African traditions, as well as traditionally in most indigenous cultures. This connection has purposely been targeted to weaken the family and social structure of community, yet it provides independence, through cultural spiritual power, guidance and strength.

This altar is a sacred space, religious or not, a place of  contemplation, peace, power and stability. The difference is in institutional vs experiential home churches and lived personal daily living aspects and concerns. The official catholic church did not always approve of previous local practices, and certain groups of unsanctioned dead. The white table therefore became a place also to honor those unsanctioned or sanctioned, and placed hierarchy those personally chosen such as folk heroes and freedom fighters. Cuban 19th century criollos with Santeria after war for independence had a lot of dead plus previous customs that had this need, as well as the rest of the Caribbean, Latin America, Mexico and South America. Or you can say around the world where experienced colonization, and in Europe reinvigorated after the Victorian age because of the amount of dead in World War 1.

Our relationship with spirits can be strengthened or weakened by our actions. Colonization, socialization and dominant or popular culture has attributed to our losses of our cultural connections, and the methods to do so such as teaching stories, original language, songs, ancestral record, sacred dances, knowledge of ancestral spirits and gods. We outright may ignore them and deny them and our common heritage and like energies. They need us as much as we can rely on them. They help us to be grounded, address social concerns, and have a spiritual home and family, without them we are lost without anchor or guidance of compass at sea.

Some of the authors spirit court and tableau espirituale:

I will address the guides and the other dead at another time, as the initial focus is of the ancestors.

Part of them remains, their personality, to help us even if their soul has incarnated. The dead are intermediate spirits, such as saints between us and other or higher spirits. As well our ancestors are gatekeeper or permissive spirits to others. The current family line going back generations unknown to beginning of mankind (antepasados), as well as our bloodlines from past lives (difuntos). We can pass this tradition down to the next generation in hope they will assist, communicate and remember us when we have passed from this realm and we, continue to watch over them.These spirit links or chains (cadenas) make us stronger and resistant to being controlled and tell us the truth. Their altar is a microcosm of your life. It can absorb shock of negative energies  and protect you. It can help you feel peace and relief.

Common colloquialisms is without them we are nothing, we stand on their shoulders, we walk the roads they walked, they are in our blood. The ancestors stand behind us or encircle us, whereas our main spirit guide leads from the front or the right side, and other dead and guides on the left of us. They are our first and last defense. They are more invested in and interested in us than most other spirits, and our potential for offspring and possible reincarnation through,but not always along family lines.

  Problems in our lives or misfortune is potentially seen as a need for balance and to appease these spirits. Not all our ancestors are positive influences or agree with each other or our life choices. We can communicate with them and make peace with them, so we are both best served. Sometimes they are so problematic and not ready to be in our lives, therefore we only include loving ancestors and those willing to be a helpful positive influence in our lives to our spiritual or ancestral table. 

As we work with only good and helping ancestors, with their positive influences and advices, being a good person with shared values, such as family pride and respect will help you align with them and what they would wish for you to become. Show them that you respect them, and ask their permission and blessings. They may have very different ideas about what they think you should be doing, such as occupation or religion. Of course we have free will and choice to live our own lives, however some religions and cultures might have been in direct opposition to your cultural group. In ancient or more recent times they may have warred with each other or slaughtered your people, and may be viewed as betrayal. Perspective on the other side is much less limited to ours, however just because our dead have passed doesn't mean that they are now perfect or know everything. Some may have such strong or bigoted opinions or beliefs as they did in life, whereas others may have seen the errors of their ways.

This is especially a problem with fundamentalist Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, who may believe that regardless of your race you should not follow an African or indigenous tradition or religion. You can have factions of ancestors and dead disagreeing with each other and this can play out on the stage of your life and altar. Some ancestors, feeling dishonoured, uncared for, are in need, or betrayed may then very well place obstacles in your path, problems in your life and misfortune. This concept is called osogbo misfortune in the Yoruban cultures, that the ancestors are displeased. However obstacles and difficulties are learning experiences and  may be a way of revelation and freeing oneself from religious burdens placed upon us, possibly since birth.

 We can help those troubled ancestors in another way without having them make problems until they are ready to be in our life. Spirits suffering can be alleviated and help their progression and elevation. Ask God for their elevation and relief, to gain more light and empowerment through intentions and use of prayer. The feeling on your altar should be one of peace, or something is wrong. Assistance, guidance and direction is strongly suggested. Questions about the welfare, or whether or not to include dead family members who died violently or suicide should be approached after one year of resting, with a qualified spiritualist. The dead are generally given a period of one year of rest regardless of situation before approaching.

The white table is seen as a meeting place or conference hall in our homes and life. You can preface your call to your dead as only helpful elevated ancestors are welcome, willing to make a positive difference in your life, yet support our free will and life choices.

Protections: ask them to close the doors to danger of the street, accident and violence, disease, sorcery, ask them to protect your mind, body and spirit, ask them to keep people with bad intentions away from you.

Blessings: ask them for improved and new opportunities in employment and finances, harmony in relations, ancestral issues to be resolved, traumas and problems affecting you or your family line can be healed to make us stronger, ask them to guide you towards the appropriate spiritual teacher, and for good people to come into your life.

 The altar can also be used as a place of spiritual cleansing, and I will address this at another time.

The white candles give spirits in darkness and who are lost the ability to be guided and to see, as well as energy, warmth and light. When you hear EVPs the dead often say I’m cold, I’m hungry, and this table will meet their needs, as well as orient them if they are lost or trapped somewhere. I will teach you how to read the water glass and candle which will indicate their requests.

A fresh water glass full of spiritual fluids presence and blessings

Next blog post Part 2: How to set up the altar
Part 3 How to address and basic guide to work the altar
Part  4 Cleansings
White bath
 Part 5 how to read the candles and water glasses
Baston de muerto: stick altar to the dead