JULY NEWSLETTER 2022 40 TH ANNIVERSARY of the SS of FL (1982-2022) NEW CLASSIC SPIRITIST BOOK AVAILABLE< /b> Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges The above Spiritist classic are a series of writings by AMALIA DOMINGO SOLER from Spain and collectively known in the book Hechos Que Prueban and now available in English. It already has a 5-star rating on Amazon in a review by Michael E. Tymn, notable author of several books and authority on paranormal information and its history (mediumship, evidence of the afterlife, spirit teachings and scientific research on the paranormal phenomena). As stated on the cover, it is a series of spirit communications (majority of the chapters are separate stories) that present real life dramas, usually tragic, where we read the consequences (by the persons involved) of their actions committed in past lives. Hardship and tragedy seen through the prism of reincarnation provides some answers to what was unknown or seemingly unjust; like why do bad things happen to seemingly good people? Each spirit chooses what it needs to go through in each lifetime, compelled by its own conscience, the law of progress, and driven to strive to be a better person in each lifetime (with inspiration and guidance from their spirit protectors) to evolve, and reduce present and future sufferings. AMALIA DOMINGO SOLER (1835-1909) was a famous Spiritist editor, author, poet and social reformer and wrote down these spirit messages received via mediumship, relayed mostly by her spirit guide, Father Germain. This spirit also separately told his life story from a previous incarnation as a humble Catholic priest. His stories of intrigue, adventure and lessons of morality provide much inspiration and hope. Translated by my father Edgar Crespo in first English edition, it is entitled Memoirs of Father Germain. See below: In addition, Amalia’s good friend Miguel Vives (they attended each other’s Spiritist centers), a humble person and founder of Spiritist centers, a medium 2 Spiritist Society of Florida, July Newsletter 2022 renowned for his healings and known as the “Apostle of Goodness,” wrote the Spiritist classic, A Practical Book for the Spiritist. Only 61 pages, it is full of concise moral wisdom (and no matter one’s religion) regarding how we should act before the Creator, ourselves, our family, humanity and how to deal with the trials and challenges of life. It was also translated in first English edition by my father Edgar Crespo. (All 3 available -Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, etc.) TWO IMPORTANT SPIRTISTS FROM SPAIN After Kardec brought Spiritism to France, it spread throughout Europe. In Spain, José María Fernández Colavida (1819-1888) known as the “Spanish Kardec” first translated into Spanish Kardec’s books. He opened up first Spiritist bookstore and founded several Spiritist Groups. When he ordered 300 books from Kardec, they were intercepted, considered heresy and burnt in an auto-da-fé (public burning) ordered by the Catholic bishop on October 9, 1861. Now more people wanted to read these “forbidden” books. In addition, Colavida was named Honorary President of First International Spiritist Congress held in Barcelona, Spain in 1888. And, although it was not appropriate for women to attend burials in Spain, Amalia Domingo Soler went anyway to recite her poem about him at his gravesite. Another famous Spiritist was Viscount Antonio Torres-Solanot (1840–1902) who was a writer, journalist, founder and organizer of many Spiritist groups. He was very supportive of Amalia and her literary work spreading of the principles of Spiritism. In addition, he was Co-President of the International Spiritist Congress of 1888. RESPECTFUL WORDS By Julie L. Harper Consider that you are not aware of what another knows before speaking from the premise that your understanding is different and is right. Such is a position of arrogance. There are many perspectives on a subject, particularly complex ones. Though one's views can hold a richness of truth, so too can another's beyond their unspoken words. If a conversation is to be respectful and amicable, ask meaningful questions and listen to avoid assuming words that could be perceived as offensive by a careless lack of consideration. It is always better to say nothing when words could sound disrespectful. Communicate with respect by word and by action. MELANCHOLY Inspirationally received by Gina Dougherty Our own bodies are a jail and our spirits want to be free. We must suffer for the sins of our past. That is the reason we are here in this material world. But to lessen the suffering we must shake the material bonds that hold us down for they may make us happy in the short but soon that happiness will leave us feeling empty once again. Instead seek happiness by deeds and goodwill towards your neighbors and this will bring everlasting happiness to your soul, to who you truly are, a happiness that will stay with you and follow you. For remember your soul is spiritual and needs to be filled with spiritual goodwill to find the internal happiness we all seek. 3 Spiritist Society of Florida, July Newsletter 2022 SOUL EVOLUTION Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges The aim of reincarnation is the continuing evolution and advancement of our spirit in knowledge and love in order to purify itself by an innumerable succession of material lives. The spiritual laws of cause and effect, law of attraction (like attracts like), law of reincarnation and law of progress work together for our moral betterment. Love is the highest law; treat, care and love others as you would yourselves. Reincarnation, in keeping with the Supreme Justice of the Creator, explains the apparent inequities of life. We suffer wherein we have committed wrongdoing; our free will (our own choices and actions) in this life determines our future life, and our present life is the consequence of the choices we made in our past lives (good or bad). For we cannot learn, experience and evolve enough by living solely one material life. And, we cannot fully progress to higher levels solely learning in the spiritual world. In the latter situation, it would be like a doctor who went to medical school, but never practiced medicine on an actual patient. A spirit cannot progress without putting into practice what it has learned from previous material lives, as well as what it has learned in the spirit life (we generally stay for long periods there) in between material lives. Reincarnation explains why there are geniuses and prodigies. It explains why the peoples of the earth are at such different levels of intelligence and morality; examples being those such as Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, Einstein, etc. compared to people with evil tendencies like Hitler-types, as well all others in between. We are all at different levels of morality, intelligence and spiritual maturity, but ALL are equal before the Creator. We all started in ignorance, all go through the same processes, and to sooner or later by our freewill, effort and merit to arrive at same goal. REINCARNATION provides HOPE - the doors of redemption are never closed. We receive as many chances as it takes to right a wrong, make amends, make different life choices, have different experiences, make a fresh start along our life’s pathway. We alone determine how much we suffer or how much joy we experience, and how many lifetimes we must undergo to fulfill our spiritual destiny. We choose prior to rebirth the kinds of trials, tests and missions, and also the good and wonderful advantages we may need to help us (particular people and life circumstances). We should always be grateful for what good we have; someone is always worse off than us. Also, forgetfulness of our past lives is a blessing because we have done many terrible things down through the ages that would shame, disturb and distract us while living our present life. What good would it do in this life to know our dearest friend now, at one time, was a great enemy of ours in ages long gone? The challenges we endure can be from immediate, direct and obvious actions, with all mitigating circumstances and degrees of guiltiness taken into consideration, we have committed in this lifetime, or, from the effects of our choices and acts made in past lifetimes; either way, the scales of the Divine Justice (universal laws) are perfect. This is what perplexes many because we see seemingly innocent people suffering for no apparent reason (ex. those with terrible diseases, others born with deformities, those with mental/emotional disorders, those born poor, starving, innocents subject to abuse or violence, and worse, etc.). For in some cases, the spirit: “…suffers through the evil which he has done, in order that, his attention being concentrated on the consequences of the evil, he may the better understand 4 Spiritist Society of Florida, July Newsletter 2022 its disastrous nature, and be led to cure himself of the imperfection to which his evil-doing was due.” 1 Yet, not all sufferings are due to direct personal injury of others, but a spirit’s request for conditions for the correction of particular faults and personality traits, such as: “…by doing, in a subsequent incarnation, what he ought to have done, but did not do, in a former one…”or “…by discharging duties which he neglected…” or “by fulfilling missions which he failed to fulfil in that former life, or by practicing the virtues which are the opposites of the vices in which he then indulged; that is to say, by being humble if he has been haughty; gentle, if he has been harsh; kindly, if he has been unkind; hardworking, if he has been idle; helpful, if he has been useless…” etc., etc. …“It is thus that a spirit progresses by turning to profitable account the experiences and lessons of his past existences.” 2 In addition, the travails of those spirits that ask for challenging and difficult missions, small or great, give up themselves as examples of goodness, moral strength, resignation and faith for others. They will be greatly compensated if they carry out their missions successfully, which further helps in the purification of their spirit as well as for others. It is when you return to the spirit world that you discover “the why” of your particular material life circumstances. Sometimes, you have an intuition while you are in the material world. At times, the spirits may reveal it, if it serves a serious purpose, like to motivate your resolve in dealing with your mission. When you are in the spirit world, you will remember all who you have been and done, since you never lose all the knowledge you have acquired. Some of which is purposely blocked from you now while in the material world so you may focus and learn more about other areas of knowledge, attain other qualities of sentiment and gain from new experiences without past life biases. Material life is about learning. The spirits themselves have consistently communicated to us, relaying their stories as to what caused them to suffer in their material lives, and have stated they chose the kinds of trials they needed. They also express their gratefulness that they were able to make amends for the wrongfulness they committed in previous lives. In conclusion, we know that if we develop, grow and evolve more in goodness, love and wisdom, and practice charity to others, we will make our material lives much easier, better and happier overall; and, gain good qualities and knowledge. Material life may be somewhat compared to a school wherein we learn lessons, and try to pass the trials and tests of life at each level. We never retrograde, but we can mark time in the same “grade” and may repeat the same lessons over and over, until we finally learn lessons needed to move on. Some spirits put in more effort and work faster than others, but everyone will reach the final goal, no more suffering, pureness of spirit and nearness to the Creator. We have freewill and are very imperfect; all we can do is put forth our best efforts, and know the good spirits are always with us to help us progress. We are never alone in our sufferings! And, a true and sincere love never dies. The Creator’s Divine Light of Love and Goodness always shines upon us to sustain us, we need to try as much as we can to be receptive to it! ****************************************** Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com Spiritist Society of Florida (est. 1982) 5042 22 Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com