Modern life
requires
increased
attention and
health care.
After all, our
bodies, minds
and emotions are
exposed to
stinging
individual and
collective
experiences,
which are
certainly
necessary to our
inner
development. In
this sense,
significant
advances in
medicine and
preservation of
human health are
very imported.
In other words,
when we refer to
many subjects we
go from mere
speculation to
scientific
absolutes duly
supported by
reliable
studies. Thus,
for example, we
already know
enough about the
diseases
originated from
the over intake
of salt, sugar,
fat, alcohol,
tobacco and
sedentary
lifestyles.
Faced with such
a volume of
knowledge, it is
up to people now
to simply change
their habits
incorporating
new information
and/or
scientific
conclusions.
Otherwise, we
unnecessarily
compromise our
lives through
numerous
diseases, which
have already
been
sufficiently
scanned. It
should also be
remembered that
the concept of
modern health is
multifaceted,
especially when
you incorporate
other related
concepts. Herein
we are
particularly
interested in
addressing the
concept of the
spiritual health
in light of the
teachings and
messages brought
to us by the
Spirits. While
there is some
scientific
difficulty with
regard to
identifying,
defining and
measuring
spiritual
health, what
prevails,
however, is the
general
understanding
that it is
something that
connects
multiple and
different
dimensions, but
with no
consensus as to
how it operates.
1,2,3
Health is based
on the "perfect
harmony of the
soul"
Spiritism, in
turn, presents
us with
important
warnings and
recommendations
on the subject,
although we have
not yet found in
literature a
reference or
quote
specifically
transmitted by
the Spirits. In
general, the
comments and
considerations
of the Spirits
are focused on
health in
general,
however, with
serious and
unquestionable
implications and
consequences for
our spiritual
health. All this
deserves a deep
reflection on
our part.
As well noted by
the Spirit
Joanna de
Angelis: "Human
being is fated
to fullness, and
the process of
his
enlightenment is
necessary, and
it is his duty
to rely on
ethical and
moral principles
that provide
inner harmony
and emotional
well-being".4
In other words,
Spiritism firmly
calls us to meet
the needs of the
Spirit. In the
same manner that
our physical
body needs
proper care, so
does our soul.
Thus, for an
incarnation to
be successful,
it is essential
to achieve a
significant sum
of adjustments
and advances in
behavior through
several
dimensions.
According to the
Spirit Emmanuel,
health, in a
somewhat limited
vision of the
earthly
medicine, can be
associated to
the perfect
balance of the
material organs.
But, considering
a spiritual
vision, health
is based on the
“perfect harmony
of the soul”.
However, in the
light of today’s
progress there
are already more
flexible
theoretical
concepts such as
spiritual
wellness.
The latter, by
the way,
incorporates the
search for the
meaning and
purpose in life,
the growth of
intrinsic
values, beliefs
and transcendent
experiences and
a sense of
belonging to a
spiritual
community.
6
Emotional
problems are the
roots of serious
diseases
Spiritual
health, in turn,
is seen as so
relevant that to
despise it would
have the same
effect as to
deprive us from
achieving
improvements in
our physical,
social and
mental health.
7 In
addition, each
one’s
spirituality can
be high or low;
the same can
happen to the
spiritual
health.
8
Several factors
can influence
our well-being
(health) and we
need to work on
them. The Spirit
Joanna de
Angelis
explains:
"The
somatization of
emotional
problems arising
from insecurity
and fear, grief
and hatred,
bitterness and
jealousy is
responsible for
serious organic
diseases, and
physical
diseases,
causing
emotional
instability and
sad mental
disorders".
9
This is why the
Spirit Emmanuel
recommends us to
cultivate
correct
(straight)
feelings and
thoughts
“without which
the soul becomes
ill due to the
lack of inner
balance,
printing in our
somatic unit
madness and
disorders that
are their
consequence".10
Similarly, the
Spirit Joanna de
Angelis says "to
believe
rightly leads to
want rightly."
For the mentor,
one of the
reasons causing
the present
suffering is
largely
originated from
"[...] wanting
wrongly based on
the illusion of
immediate and
crazy pleasure,
which makes us
choose the
needless rather
than the
essential
[...]".11
The Spirit
Miramez adds
that in the
earthly psycho
sphere
predominate an
excessive amount
of lower
thoughts, in a
frightening way.
That is,
thoughts of a
sickly nature in
abundance and
which are "[...]
capable of
influencing two
thirds of
humanity towards
the things from
the shadows" in
such a subtle
way, that we
often do not
even suspect.
12
Ten rules to
keep our
spiritual health
The great
barrier to reach
enlightenment is
the existence of
our fear,
anxiety, greed,
selfishness and
pride, which
mainly affect
the population
in general, as
well as our
leaders,
government
officials,
scientists and
researchers.
13
The Spirit Andre
Luiz offers us
rich and
detailed
suggestions we
need to put into
practice to keep
and maintain our
spiritual
health:
1.
Keep our heart
at peace
regardless of
how complex and
severe is the
situation that
is affecting us.
Remember that
everything
belongs to God.
2.
Strictly follow
the line of
duty. You cannot
reach physical
balance if,
first, you do
not reach a
spiritual
harmony.
3.
Get into the
habit of
praying, in
order to
maintain our
body and soul
guarded.
4.
Occupy our time
by carrying out
useful tasks,
but remember
that you also
need to rest.
Empty minds are
more open to
suggestions made
by the darkness.
5.
Always study.
Good ideas feed
the soul and
positively
influence your
cells.
6.
Avoid emotional
instability
especially do
not allow anger
and rage to take
over.
7.
Put a stop to
the gossiping
habit.
8.
Practice deep
breathing. Make
of bathing a
daily habit.
Pure air
nourishes you
and to be clean
is a must.
9.
Eat small
amounts of food.
Overeating only
harms us.
10.
Always be
patient and
forgive. After
all, God does
this with us.
14
A compassionate
and tolerant
behavior brings
us closer to God
The Spirits’
suggestions are
extremely wise
and important
for us to
develop the
necessary
resources to
keep our
spiritual health
and have a
successful
career.
Basically, this
review allowed
us to see that
they have a
holistic
approach, since
they cover
things of
transcendental,
intellectual,
behavioral,
emotional, and
even physical
nature.
Briefly, man
needs to always
aim for the
ethical and
moral
perspective in
his decisions
and actions, as
they give him
inner peace and
harmony.
Similarly, the
constant
development of
righteous
(right) thoughts
and keeping an
eye on our
emotions,
prevent us from
suffering the
moral falls. The
compassionate
and tolerant
conduct brings
us closer to
God. After all,
how many people
in this world
strongly fail
because they
neglect the
basic rules?
Millions of
human beings
have become
slaves of
harmful
addictions
(including
food), which are
gradually
ruining their
bodies, damaging
their minds
beyond repair,
compromising
their future in
the present and
future lives. On
the other hand,
it is shocking
the lack of
commitment in
search for good
readings that
enable souls to
higher flights
of intellect and
soul. The number
of recreations
and the
obsession with
the use of
smartphones,
video games and
social networks
exhausts our
precious time.
Therefore, to
establish high
goals and to
motivate
ourselves shows
the maturity of
our soul.
The human
creature cannot
open hand of
living close to
nature even if
occasionally to
meditate and
recover his
energy. The
benefits of
prayer give him
the necessary
support and
inspiration to
continue the
journey.
Finally, the
care of our
spiritual health
is essential to
our balance and
inner progress.
Bibliographical
notes:
1. VADER, J.-P.
Spiritual
health: the next
frontier.
European Journal
of Public Health,
vol. 16, no. 5,
page 457, 2006.
2. Vazin, D.
(2013).
Spirituality and
health:
Implications for
policy and
practice.
Doctoral
dissertation,
University of La
Verne, 2013, p.
IV.
3. WESTGATE, C.E.
Spiritual
wellness and
depression.
Journal of
Counseling and
Development,
vol. 75, no. 1,
1996, page 27.
4. FRANCO, D.P.
(By the Spirit
Joanna de
Angelis).
Renewed
attitudes.
Salvador:
Publisher
Livraria
Espirita
Alvorada, 2009,
page 11.
5. XAVIER, F.C.
(By the Spirit
Emmanuel). O
Consolador (The
Comforter),
7th edition. Rio
de Janeiro: FEB,
1977, page 66.
6. For example,
WESTGATE, C.E.
Spiritual
wellness and
depression.
Journal of
Counseling and
Development,
vol. 75, no. 1,
pages 26 to 35,
1996; PANDEY,
A., GUPTA; R.
K.; ARORA, A. P.
Spiritual
climate of
business
organizations
and its impact
on customers'
experience.
Journal of
Business Ethics,
Vol. 88 no. 2,
pages 313 to
332, 2008;
SWARBRICK, M.
A wellness
approach.
Psychiatric
Rehabilitation
Journal, v.
29, no. 4, pages
311 to 314,
2006.
7. VADER, J.-P.
Spiritual
health: the
next frontier.
European Journal
of Public
Health, vol. 16,
no. 5, p. 457,
2006.
8. Fisher, JW
Understanding
and Assessing
spiritual
health. In:
Marian de Souza,
Leslie J.
Francis, James
O'Higgins-Norman,
Daniel G. Scott
(eds),
International
handbook of
education for
spirituality,
care and
well-being (International
handbooks of
religion and
Education),
Vol. 3. Springer
Science +
Business Media
BV, pages 69 to
88, 2009.
9. FRANCO, DP
(By the Spirit
Joanna de
Angelis).
Fullness.
Niteroi: Arts &
Culture, 1991,
page 50.
10. XAVIER, F.C.
(By the Spirit
Emmanuel).
Thought and
life. 4th
edition.
Rio de Janeiro:
FEB, 1975, page
78.
11. FRANCO, D.
P. (By the
Spirit Joanna de
Angelis).
Fullness.
Niteroi: Arts &
Culture, 1991,
page 80.
12. MAIA, J. N.
(By the Spirit
Miramez).
Health. 16th
Edition.
Belo Horizonte.
Publisher:
Editora Espirita
Fonte Viva,
2010, page 45.
13. NEVES, M.
Our time on the
planet. In:
Durgante, C.E.A.
and AGUIAR,
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Connecting
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Vol 2. Porto
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Francisco
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page 115.
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(By the Spirit
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London: Ideal,
1981, pages 44
to 46.