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Adenáuer Novaes,
born in the town
of Acajutiba, in
the northeastern
Brazilian state
of Bahia in
1955, had his
first contact
with Spiritism
as a teenager,
when he attended
the meetings of
a youth group.
He would later
begin his
studies and
dedicate much of
his life to
Spiritism.
Adenáuer Novaes
has university
degrees in Civil
Engineering,
Psychology and
Philosophy. In
1994, he opened
with a group of
friends, a
Spiritist Centre
in the state
capital,
Salvador. He is
one of the
directors of
Foundation Lar
Harmonia, which
provides a
number of
services to the
community (www.larharmonia.org.br).
He
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is the author of
many books on
Psychology and Spiritism,
several of them
available online
for free
downloading.(1)
How can modern
Psychology,
allied to
Spiritism,
answer to the
classic
question: “Who
am I?”
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We must take
into account the
paradigm of
immortality, but
also the
psychological
perspective. The
human being is
an immortal
spirit, who
communicates
through the
psychic tools
contained within
the Perispirit,
which,
periodically,
makes use of a
physical body.
The human being
is also a
collective
personality. Its
individuality is
progressively
refined,
throughout the
experiences
acquired in
several
existences,
during its
process of
evolution. The
human being is
defined by their
name, address,
parents, but by
something that
goes beyond what
he or she knows
about himself or
herself.
The Spiritist
Doctrine says
Spirit,
Perispirit and
Physical Body
coexist in the
same person in
perfect harmony.
As the Spirit is
the one to guide
the other two,
what should one
do when going
through pain?
It is important
to make a clear
distinction
between Spirit
and Perispirit.
The latter has
been defined as
not more than
the energy body
that moulds the
physical body. I
believe it is
more than that.
The Perispirit
is the
all-important
body that
records all the
psychological
incidents we
experience. The
mind is in the
Perispirit.
Memory, all our
emotional
records, the
experiences from
previous
incarnations
etc. are stored
in the
Perispirit, not
in the Spirit,
as many believe.
What we have in
the Spirit are
the paradigms of
the laws of God.
Mediumship and
all the
psychological
events are
directly linked
to the
Perispirits. So,
going back to
your question,
pain is an
emotional
experience
caused by a
physical or
psychological
reason. It
affects the
conscience of
the being and it
can have a
number of
different
consequences.
You can have
pain without
suffering, as
suffering is the
interpretation
one gives to
pain. It must be
said that
suffering by
itself doesn’t
lead to
spiritual
evolution.
Progress will
only come if
suffering comes
with the
gathering of new
knowledge.
How should the
Being and the
Universe
interact?
The Spirit is
the lord of the
Universe, which
exists for its
evolution. The
Spirit is not
mere part of the
Universe; it is
its co-creator.
All that exists
and is part of
the Universe is
there for the
Spirit’s
benefit. All we
see as the laws
of God are
circumstances
adapted to the
level of
evolution of the
Spirit, not
absolute rules.
The Spirit
shapes the
Universe
according to its
knowledge.
According to the
principles
discovered
recently in
Quantum Physics,
the Spirit
alters the
Universe it
observes and is
then influenced
by the Universe.
That interaction
must take into
account the
principle of
mutual
influence. The
reality of the
Universe is the
result of the
action by the
Spirit, who,
with its mind,
shapes it
according to its
needs.
Modern science
talks about dark
energy. Kardec
talked about the
universal cosmic
fluid. Are they
talking about
the same thing?
The dark matter
spread across
the Universe is
the
manifestation of
the universal
cosmic fluid. It
is far yet from
the actual fluid
mentioned by
Kardec. There
are other forms
of the universal
cosmic fluid
still unknown.
Physics is
getting closer
to them through
new mathematical
equations. The
tools developed
by scientists –
high precision
tools, it must
be said – aren’t
still able to
detect spiritual
matter. There is
an intermediate
element still to
be discovered by
science.
You talk in your
book,
Psicologia do
Espírito
(Psychology of
the Spirit)
about affective
codes. Can you
explain what
those codes are?
I use that term
in a chapter
about the
functions of the
Perispirit –
decoding and
filtering. I
explain how the
sensations
captured by the
body through its
five senses are
transformed into
something that
is integrated to
the Perispirit.
I am talking
about the
nervous
stimulus, which
becomes an
electric pulse
and is captured
by the brain
system and is
codified there
to be stored by
the Perispirit.
People talk
informally about
energy, but that
is a wide
concept, it can
be used to
describe many
phenomena
concerning the
movement of
matter. It is
necessary to
codify the
electrochemical
stimulus that
reaches the
brain due to the
difference in
vibration
between the
brain and the
Perispirit. The
electrochemical
stimulus becomes
affective
information,
non-material,
subjective
information that
can be
understood by
the Perispirit.
It is a process
similar to that
of generating
electricity,
with the initial
stage of
circular
movement of
rotors and,
later, the
movement of
electrons
through
conducting
wires.
For the psyche,
what is the
effect of the
memory and the
intelligence in
the good and
evil duality?
The psyche, or
mind, is an open
system that gets
inputs from the
body, the Spirit
and the
Universe. It is
a component of
the Perispirit ,
which works for
the Spirit. It
is an important
tool that allows
the Perispirit
to pick up the
signals of
reality. The
psychological
and mediunic
processes
necessary for
the Spirit to
learn are
processed in the
psyche. Memory
allows the
Spirit to store
and use the
emotional
information in
another
function,
intelligence.
Memory and
intelligence are
again processes
that belong to
the Perispirit,
working to
support the
Spirit. Good and
evil are
imaginary beings
that concern the
lower echelons
of spiritual
evolution. They
are linked to
cultural
experiences and
one’s capacity
to interpret
reality. Good
and evil are
different
perceptions of
experiences we
go through. They
can be changed.
Whatever was
good can be
transformed into
evil and
vice-versa. The
Spirit needs to
reach a level
where he or she
will be able to
link those two
opposite points,
as we need to
face exactly
what annoys and
scares us in
order to
progress.
What is the best
definition for
the concept of
archetypes?
The word is
rather limited
to explain such
a complex issue.
The Perispirit
has its
“organs”,
structures
designed to play
important roles
and to allow the
Spirit to absorb
the paradigms of
the laws of God.
The archetypes
are “organs”
that allow us to
pick up and
adapt the
signals of the
experiences we
have in life.
They adjust
whatever is
picked up by the
Perispirit and
also mould the
behaviour of
people – the
standard
behaviour most
people have in
certain
circumstances.
All one does
concerning
behaviour goes
through one or
more archetypes.
When the Spirit
manifests the
intention of
doing something
(a wish, an
action, a
thought,
intuition etc.),
that impulse
goes through the
archetypes,
which will
provide a
material format
to that
intention. Let’s
take the example
of motherhood.
Each mother will
do things in a
different way,
but the common
point will be
the
determination to
protect and
nourish. We are
talking about
the maternal
archetype,
responsible for
sheltering,
protecting and
nourishing
others. The
archetypes
reveal the
collective
behaviour and
tendencies of
humankind.
What is the best
definition for
the concept of
myths?
The concept of
myth is the
interpretation
of a
psychological
process not yet
rationalised,
representation
not yet
understood by
the self and
important to
understanding
the dynamics of
psychology.
Myths are not
childish
fantasies and
should not be
interpreted
literally. They
always carry a
hidden element
that can be very
valuable to
understand human
nature and to
understand how
human mind
works. We can
identify
different
archetypes among
the myths.
How are the
idols we build
formed and what
is their
positive or
negative
impact?
The idols that
are built
everyday are
representations
of the archetype
of the hero,
which is
necessary for
the development
of the self. We
project
ourselves in
people and
characters who
stand out for
certain skills
while we don’t
integrate those
skills to our
being. We
idolise until we
develop those
skills
ourselves. Idols
are necessary,
as they help to
motivate and
encourage human
beings towards
the development
of their own
personality. But
the danger with
everything that
is idolised is
to co-opt the
ego.
What is the best
way to assess
and overcome the
emotional
complexes once
we find them in
ourselves?
Once we realise
and accept we
have a certain
complex, we need
to try to make
it disappear. We
must accept that
we have traits
in our
personality that
lead to that
particular
emotional
complex. If
someone is found
to have a
superiority
complex, he or
she must first
of all accept
that the ego
perceives to be
superior to what
it is in
reality. That is
to say that
there is an
unconscious
feeling of
inferiority,
based on a
previous
experience that
brought that
feeling into
being. A person
with that
problem will
make attempts to
be seen in a
position of
superiority
(arrogant,
authoritarian,
demanding with
other people
etc.) To make
that complex
disappear, it is
important to
acknowledge that
unconscious
element and to
bring it forward
to the conscious
level. One must
accept that
internal feeling
(in this
example, the
feeling of
inferiority) and
reassessing,
going through
the experience
that generated
it, but without
putting oneself
in a lower
position. To
address any
complex, one
needs to go back
to the event
that generated
it.
Taking into
account the
teachings of
Spiritism, how
do you assess
the theories of
Freud and Jung?
There are
several
differences in
the theories of
Sigmund Freud
and Carl Gustav
Jung. The main
one concerns the
concepts of
libido and
motivation.
Freud says
libido is the
sexual energy,
the energy that
motivates people
in their lives.
For Jung, libido
is one type of
energy, which
has specific
purposes, but it
is not the
motivating force
in life and in
human
existences. Jung
says that human
beings are
motivated in
life by their
need of personal
accomplishment,
of
self-understanding,
their need of
meeting their
personal
designation.
Jung named this
process
Individuation,
the process of
internal
realisation, the
process of
becoming an
individual
without losing
the collective
features and
characteristics.
What are the
main attributes
of the Spirit?
The Spirit is a
divine
singularity; it
is the highest
reason for the
existence of the
Universe, which
is far from
being its
dwelling place.
The Universe is
one of the
infinite fields
where the
spirit’s essence
can be
displayed. I
believe the main
attributes of
the Spirit are:
a) to
acknowledge the
existence of God
in all its
manifestations
and religious
denominations;
b) to work
towards being
able of
interpret and
use what we know
as Universe,
including the
capacity of
agglutinating
matter; c) to
become capable
of loving and
therefore
capable of
building that
feeling in
oneself.
Is it possible
to know exactly
when the Spirit
was first graced
with
mediumship?
Mediumship
offers a very
wide range of
possibilities.
It began in the
early days of
the evolution of
the soul, in the
transition
between the
animal and the
human stage.
Those early
signs of
mediumship can
be found in the
limited
intelligence
displayed by
animals. The
Spirit, with the
unique
capacities of
the Perispirit,
uses mediumship
in order to
establish a link
with the
different types
of matter in the
Universe, with
those who are in
a different
state of
conscience.
Where do
feelings come
from and how can
one manage them?
How is the
knowledge
brought to us by
Psychology being
used in modern
day societies
alongside the
teachings of
Spiritism?
We must make a
distinction
between feelings
and emotions.
Emotions come
from the
relations
between body and
mind. They are
generated by the
organic
stimulation
caused by our
contact with the
environment we
live in.
Emotions
generate new
interactions
with our
environment,
which then
create feelings.
It’s a process
of alchemy,
which transforms
to affect in the
Perispirit into
a higher level.
One can say the
feeling is an
emotion that has
been processed
in the
Perispirit, a
process aimed at
providing the
Spirit with more
relevant and
complex
experiences. One
can, of course,
manage their
feelings. The
more mature
one’s ego,
the more
manageable are
one’s feelings.
Psychology
hasn’t as yet
made use of the
principles of
Spiritism. We
don’t have a
significant
number of
researchers to
carry out
studies in teams
that concerns
both areas.
Psychology is
making a
conscious
effort, in fact,
to avoid being
co-opted by
Spiritism. And
we don’t have
enough
Spiritists
willing to study
Psychology and
make that
connection
between the two
sciences.
Is reincarnation
still taboo
amongst
psychologists?
Thanks to the
development of
regression and
past life
therapies,
mainly in the
United States,
many
psychologists
have come to
accept
reincarnation,
especially those
in Transpersonal
Psychology. I,
myself, use it
as the base of a
number of
techniques and
considerations
on psychological
problems. In the
near future, all
science will
have to accept
the fact that
human beings are
the result of
all their
previous
experiences.
Depression,
anxiety, fears –
three feelings
that cause so
much suffering
to so millions
of people. What
is the best
treatment, in
your view?
The best
treatment is for
the human being
to become aware
that we are all
immortal
spirits. Whoever
accepts that
will naturally
develop
self-determination
and autonomy to
deal with their
own destiny,
without
self-punishment
and without
intervening in
other people’s
destinies. That
means, in other
words, that the
main problem the
Spirit still
faces is
ignorance.
Believing that a
mistake will
inevitably lead
to punishment is
what causes the
vast majority of
ailments.
Good and bad
mood… Low and
high
self-esteem… We
hear and read
about that all
the time. How
can we do to
break that
pattern?
Life requires
persistence and
courage to face
challenges, in a
process of
continuous
maturation and
development. But
that requires
abandoning
selfishness and
pride. We will
only go over our
mood swings once
we face our own
conscience and
realise that we
are the
ultimate, the
best work of God
and that there
are no limits
for the
evolution of the
Spirit. The
basic principle,
therefore, is
that of
awareness of our
own immortality.
What is true
liberty and how
to make it
legitimate?
True liberty
happens when we
accept
responsibility
for our own
actions.
Legitimacy comes
from knowing
that all is
allowed, but not
everything is
convenient or
appropriate. We
must understand
the dialectics
of good and
evil, without
running away
from what
appears to be
negative. The
evil must be
incorporated
into the good in
order to
generate a new
way of living
the different
experiences we
are exposed to.
Being highly
sensitive is
tantamount to
being in a
higher spiritual
level?
Not at all.
Having
sensibility
doesn’t mean
being sage and
knowledgeable. I
believe the
person who is
able to produce
a wide range of
solutions to the
most complex
problems of
one’s life is
someone who is
truly on a stage
of higher
spiritual
development.
Evolution, I
often say, is
facing
increasing
complexity. It
is to be able to
live in a
complex society,
adapting to it
without being
co-opted by it.
It is to know
how to love,
without getting
lost in feelings
of sentimental
escapism.
Evolution is to
learn about the
nature and the
Universe and
their intricate
mechanisms. It
is to be simple,
without being
inferior; it is
to be
knowledgeable
and sage without
avoiding the
rest of the
world.
Thank you very
much. Would you
mind sharing
your final
thoughts with
us?
Love is the
engine that
drives the
Universe, and
that is the main
reason why we
should use it.
The power of
love moves the
planets and
gives live to
matter, allowing
the Spirit to
reach its final
destination,
decided by the
Creator of Life.
(1)
Adenáuer Novaes
is the author of
the following
books:
Psychology and
Spirituality,
Psychology and
Mediumship, The
Gospel’s
Psychology, Jung
and Mediumship,
The Alchemy of
Love:
Depression, Cure
and
Spirituality,
Psychology and
Quantum
Universe,
Happiness
without Guilt.