The medium: concept and
classification
We present in this issue
the topic #103 from the
Systematized Study of
the Spiritist Doctrine,
that is being presented
weekly, according to the
programme elaborated by
the Brazilian Spiritist
Federation (FEB),
structured in 6 modules
and 147 topics.
If the reader uses this
program for a study
group, we suggest that
questions proposed be
discussed freely before
the reading of the text
that follows. If you
would like to study
alone, we ask you to try
to answer the questions
at first and only then
read the text that
follows. The answer key
can be found at the end
of the lesson.
Questions
1. How does Kardec
define the medium?
2. In the mediumistic
practice, what is really
important to the medium?
3. Can the mediumship be
considered an instrument
of spiritual
improvement?
4. Has the mental tuning
got any importance in
the exercise of
mediumship?
5. Where, according to
the Spiritism, are the
biggest obstacles of the
mediumship?
Text
The mediumistic faculty
is not an exclusive
privilege
1. In the lesson of
number 19 of the II
Program of this
systematic study, which
the Basic Principles of
Spiritist Doctrine were
examined, we have seen
the concept of
mediumship and the
classification of major
types and varieties of
mediums. (Regarding this
subject, refer to the
text published by this
magazine, issue number
19).
2. In reviewing this
subject, we recall the
definition of medium
that Kardec entered in
the item of number 159
in The Book of Mediums:
"Everyone who feels, in
any degree, the
influence of the
Spirits, is by this
fact, a medium. This
ability is inherent to
man; it is not therefore
an exclusive privilege.
Because of this, very
few are the people who
do not possess some of
its rudiments. It can be
said that we all are
more or less mediums.
However, usually, only
those whose mediumistic
faculty appears well
characterized and is
reflected by patents
effects of certain
intensity, what which
then depends on a more
or less sensitive
organisation,
are characterized
this way. It should be
noted, moreover, that
this facility is not
revealed in the same way
in everyone. Generally,
mediums have a special
aptitude for phenomena
of this or that order,
with the result that so
many varieties are
formed as the species of
manifestations.
3. The definition given
by the Encoder of the
Spiritism is undoubtedly
the most complete and
comprehensive, but we
must understand that the
mediumistic faculty
alone does not release
the man of the influence
of malevolent Spirits.
The faculty itself is
actually neutral. The
usage that man makes of
it is what matters. When
employing it, we can
harmonize with the good
Spirits or associate
with the bad. The tuning
is therefore essential
in the practice of
mediumship.
The mind remains the
basis of all mediumistic
phenomena
4. Giving us the
opportunity to reject
the bad and accept the
good influences that
come from the good
Spirits, the mediumship
becomes an instrument of
spiritual improvement.
As we know, good Spirits
seek to inspire us for
the good, while lower
Spirits seek to lead us
to the evil.
5. In our evolutionary
journey, we are all
instruments of the
forces with which we
tune to. We are all
mediums in the mental
field that is
appropriate to us. If
our thought flows toward
higher life, we
associate with edifying
energies. If we enslave
to the shadows of
primitivist or tortured
life, we tune to
disruptive and
depressing forces.
6. Each creature emits
specific rays and lives
in the spiritual wave
with which one
identifies with. The
mind, teach the
spiritual instructors,
remains the basis of all
mediumistic phenomena.
Each soul is involved in
the circle of living
forces that sweat from
one’s "mental breath".
We act and react one
upon another, through
the mental energy in
which we constantly
renew.
The cruellest enemy of
the mediums is the pride
7. Emmanuel asserts that
mediums on the whole,
"are Spirits who recover
debts from the past",
which explains why it is
difficult to the human
creature to fulfil
completely, without
facing obstacles, the
duties that the
mediumistic faculty
designates in one’s
existence.
8. In the Chapter of
number XXXI of The Book
of Mediums, Kardec
inserted many
dissertations in which
important figures in the
work of the Codification
of Spiritism address the
issue that we focus now.
9. Let’s see passages
from some of these
messages:
"All men are mediums;
all have a Spirit who
leads them to the good,
when they know how to
listen to it."
(Channing.)
"The gift of mediumship
is as old as the world.
The prophets were
mediums. "(Pierre
Jouty.)
"The faculties that
mediums enjoy cultivate
praises from men.
Congratulations,
praises, these are for
them, the obstacles.
(...) I will never get
tired of recommending to
you that you must trust
yourself to your
guardian angel, so one
can help you to be
always on guard against
your cruellest enemy,
which is the pride.
"(Joan of Arc.)
"When you wish to
receive communications
from the good Spirits,
imports that you prepare
yourself for this favour
by recognition, by pure
intentions and for the
desire to do the good,
having in view the
general progress."
(Pascal.)
"I will talk to you
today about the lack of
interest, which must be
one of the essential
qualities of the
mediums, as much as the
modesty and devotion.
(...) It is not rational
to assume that good
Spirits could help those
who aim to satisfy their
pride and ambition.
"(Delfino de Girardin.)
"All mediums are
undoubtedly called to
serve the cause of the
Spiritism, to the extent
of their faculties, but
few are those who do not
let themselves to be
arrested by the traps of
self-love. (...) Always
remember these words: He
who exalts himself will
be humiliated and he who
humiliates himself will
be exalted. "(The Spirit
of Truth.)
Answer
Key
1. How does Kardec
define the medium?
A.: Medium is everyone
who feels, in any
degree, the influence of
the Spirits. This
ability is inherent to
man, is not therefore an
exclusive privilege.
Rare are the people who
do not possess some
rudiments.
2. In the mediumistic
practice, what is really
important to the medium?
A.: The mediumistic
faculty is in itself
neutral. The usage that
man makes of it is what
matters, because when
employing it, we can
harmonize with the good
Spirits or associate
with the bad.
3. Can the mediumship be
considered an instrument
of spiritual
improvement?
A.: Yes. Giving us the
opportunity to reject
the bad and accept the
good influences that
come from the good
Spirits, the mediumship
becomes an instrument of
spiritual improvement.
4. Has the mental tuning
got any importance in
the exercise of
mediumship?
A.: Yes. The tuning is
essential in the
mediumship practice. In
our evolutionary
journey, we are all
instruments of the
forces with which we
tune to. If our thought
flows toward higher
life, we associate with
edifying energies. If we
enslave to the shadows
of primitivist or
tortured life, we tune
to disruptive and
depressing forces.