Early signs of mediumship: mediumship itself
as a proof  

We present in this issue the topic #116 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. Why is mediumship given to certain people?

2. What are the early signs of mediumship?

3. Why does the majority of mediums have trouble related to their mediumship at the beginning?

4. Can mediums, in general, be considered missionaries? 

5. Why is the existence of many mediums full of difficulties and probation?

Text

Mediumship manifests itself in many places at any time  

1. Mediumship is, most of the times, a “talent” which is asked for by the spirit according to his/hers necessity. This helps the spirit, while incarnated, to not forget his/hers condition of being an eternal soul. Mediumship is also an accelerator to achieve spiritual progress.

2. That is why, independently of his/hers own beliefs, many times contrary to the spiritual reality, mediumship manifests itself. Mediumship amplifies the individual’s sensitivity to the spiritual life and for this reason, it manifests itself in children, elderly people, men or women. Mediumship doesn’t depend on their temperament, health, intelligence or their moral side.

3. Ignoring many times their mediumship, the individual starts feeling involved in all sorts of problems, many times with no apparent cause. For example, indisposition, emotions unbalanced, diseases that come and go without a definite diagnosis, certain aggravations in the family, problems at their work place and many others related to their professional, social and family life.

4. It is on these situations, pressured by the circumstances and not finding answers in their own religion, that the person seeks help in the spiritualists religious centres. In the religious centres, the person should always be received with noble feelings of solidarity and comprehension.

Early sings of mediumship varies a lot   

5. Something pretty common is the fact that the beginner at mediumship always wants to know which type of mediumhip he/she has. Sometimes they consult the spirits through other mediums in the meetings to find it out which is not always recommended and it doesn’t answer all the medium’s questions. Allan Kardec explains it on his book “The Medium’s Book” item 205.

6. The symptoms of early mediumship vary to infinite. Martins Peralva tells us: inconsistent emotional reactions, goose bumps and indisposition, sudden illness and strange reactions...Sometimes, however, mediumship can be present without apparent signs, spontaneously. That is why patience, perseverance, good will, humility, knowledge and work are topics of importance in the control and development of mediumship.

7. It’s a fact, however, that it’s more common to see mediumship connected to difficulties, especially at the beginning. This is not difficult to understand considering that in a world of probation inhabited by incarnated and disincarnated spirits to whom we synchronise and that have moral flaws. This moral flaws are expressed in the form of enviousness, jealousy, hate, revenge and other flaws originated from pride and selfishness. The vibe from these flaws that affect the beginner in mediumship, who has a high level of sensitivity, and can sense things without knowing how to not let themselves be affected. This will come with time, noble work, perseverance, knowledge and prayer.

8. There are certain mediums that came to the world with important goals to be achieved, which doesn’t make mediums in general missionaries. These are souls that failed before and made many mistakes against God’s laws and they come, this time, with serious goals to achieve and many responsibilities of their own. These words are from the spirit Emmanuel from the book “Emmanuel”, psychographed by the medium Chico Xavier, pages 66 and 67.

Mediumship is a valuable tool for spiritual progress

9. Regretting old mistakes, these spirits seek to correct everything that they have done wrong before with personal sacrifice. It’s not surprising to see that the life of many mediums usually is difficult and full of probation.

10. In these cases, mediumship is not a gift, it is a temporary concession, which is a very valuable tool to progress although it’s complex. If mediumship is well used, it will provide a quick spiritual ascension to the medium and it will release him/her from past spiritual debts.  

11. Mediumship is, sometimes, a very hard test, but it is always needed for the medium’s spiritual ascension. As exemplified as “talent” by Jesus, if mediumship is used for goodness, it will give the medium bigger and better “talents”. Not forgetting, of course, that to each one of us will be given what is deserved.  

12. We are all mediums, according to Allan Kardec, but it’s not always that we have mediumship ostensive enough to be used as a tool to help others. In this case, all the efforts to develop mediumship are in vain. We shouldn’t, however, let ourselves be carried out by pessimism and work in other areas in our religious centre. People can participate in the medium’s meetings with the mesmeric action or as the individual who clarifies things for the spirits communicating. We should always keep in mind that, even if we don’t have an ostensive mediumship, we are here in the world to help and do our best to serve God.

Answer Key