The Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1862

Allan Kardec

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Answer to a mental question

An excellent medium from Maine-et-Loire, whom we know personally, sent us the following letter:


“One of our friends, one amongst the least believers but with a huge desire to learn, one day asked us if we could evoke an anonymous spirit and if that spirit could answer questions that he would frame in his mind and without the medium knowing about them. We answered that it was possible, as long as the spirit wanted and that is not always the case. Next I got the following answer:”


“I cannot tell you what you want because God does not allow it. However, I can tell you that I suffer. It is a generalized pain in all limbs, what must surprise you since, after death on Earth, the body rots. But we have another spiritual body that does not die. That makes us suffer as much as if we had our corporeal body. I suffer but I hope I will not suffer forever. Since we must satisfy God’s justice we need to resign in this life or in the next. I did not preclude myself enough on Earth and that forces me to repair the wasted time. Do not imitate me since that would cost you centuries of suffering. Eternity is a serious thing and we do not think enough about that. How unfortunate that we forget such an important subject like salvation! Think about that!


Your friend, cure A… T….”


“It was that cure that our friend wanted to evoke and these are the three questions that he wanted to make:”

“What to think about the divinity of Jesus Christ?” “Is the soul immortal?

“What can one do to atone the faults and avoid punishment?”

“We recognized perfectly the former cure by the style. The words corporeal body, in particular, shows that it is the spirit of a good provincial cure whose education was incomplete.”




OBSERVATION: Answers to mental questions are very common and more interesting to the good faith believer at it provides one of the most concluding proofs of the intervention of an occult intelligence. However the majority of the Spiritist phenomena are rarely obtained at will but do occur spontaneously at every step.


In the case described above the spirit offered himself willingly what is very rare for it is known that the Spirits do not like to answer questions about curiosities or to be submitted to tests. They only agree when there is utility and frequently do not evaluate things as we do. Since they do not submit to the caprices of people it is necessary to wait for the phenomena according to their good will or their capacity of producing them. It is necessary to understand and not provoke them. One then does need patience and perseverance and that is why the Spirits recognize the serious observers and those really wanting to learn. They give very little importance to those who are superficial and who think that it is just a matter of asking to be immediately attended.


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