The medium Mr. D., seeking help from good Spirits, submitted the following appeal to the Spirit of Allan Kardec:

evocation(To Master Allan Kardec) I ask for your guidance, Master, for our mediumistic group.

Response (emphasis added): For all meetings, we advise you to prepare in advance, having the topic and questions ready for your studies. To the mediums, the pursuit of improving their faculties. Do you want to be good mediums? Then study, the regular practice of mediumship, and the uninterrupted pursuit of moral improvement is the right path. You don't need to practice excessively, without proper rest and without caution, so as not to attract charlatans.. But even a quarter of an hour of dedication, for example. Sincerity of intention will also help you. Ask yourselves why you are gathered here, consult your conscience, for Frivolous arguments attract only the frivolous and the mocking.. Faith is the instrument of reason, not just emotion. You will make it unshakable through study and meditation. Mediums, strive to be good mediums; collaborators who do not yet have their mediumistic faculty well developed, strive to have a good heart and faith. Q., I tell you that you are an inspired medium and a conscious psychophonist, without knowing it. Z., an inspired and intuitive medium. All mediums, strive to be good mediums..

Comments:

The communication was obtained by the medium D., a psychographer, in an environment separate from our group's meeting. Before asking this question, he concentrated on prayers and first sought the opinion of the Spirit of Saint Augustine, president of another mediumistic group with which he interacts.

Like all communications obtained within and outside our group, we subject it to the most rigorous critical examination, within our capabilities. We do this through a virtual document, shared among all of us, where we make observations and raise questions that, as needed, may be addressed in a new evocation (to the same Spirit, or to another that we deem appropriate to try to call upon), as you can see in an excerpt from another communication., to be discussed shortly:

Regarding the communication in response to the evocation of the Spirit of Allan Kardec, we had nothing to criticize. It seemed eloquent, direct, simple, and alerting, without circumlocutions or subterfuges—all characteristics of Allan Kardec, who communicated to make himself understood by all. Whether he himself communicated or whether the communication came through another Spirit, inspired by him, does not really matter, since the message arrived and fulfilled its purpose.

Yes, friends, even the spirit of Allan Kardec can be evoked and communicate, but the question will always be the intent and seriousness of the one who calls. As we know, calling out of curiosity or frivolity will end up arousing the interest of frivolous or impostor spirits, mystifiers.

We chose this brief message to open our article section entitled “Communications from Beyond the Grave,” where we will seek to follow in the footsteps of Allan Kardec, both in the analysis and presentation of communications, whether spontaneous or not., obtained in our environment or in other groups. We wish to be yet another example, another small light, still somewhat pale, shining in this dark night into which the Spiritist Movement has plunged, from which we hope that everyone may soon awaken—and this "soon" depends only on the will of each one. Gather together, friends. Study, persevere. Immerse yourselves in Kardec's pages so that you may emerge aware of the needs of this science, inspired by him to take your own steps. Into the night you will advance and, gathered together, you will do your part in illuminating this path. Private meetings, thus held, will always be of better quality than those held in heterogeneous environments and, above all, without study.

“Ask yourselves why you are gathered here, consult your conscience, for frivolous reasons attract only the frivolous and the mocking.."”

Mediumship is a faculty that allows interaction between the material world and the spiritual world. Allan Kardec, throughout his studies, observed that mediumship expresses itself in diverse ways and with distinct effects, which leads us to understand that there is no single way to establish communication with spirits. As he himself states, “mediumship is a multifaceted faculty”, which implies the variety of manifestations and experiences that it can generate.

Collaboration by Ceres Marcon

"Mediumship is a multifaceted faculty; it presents an infinity of nuances in its means and effects. Whoever is able to receive or transmit communications from Spirits is, for this very reason, a medium, regardless of the means employed or the degree of development of the faculty—from simple occult influence to the production of the most unusual phenomena."

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Review, February 1859

Among the countless mediumistic manifestations, one of the best known and most used is psychographyIn this type of mediumship, the medium acts as a channel for written communication with the spiritual plane, being one of the most common forms of manifestation in the field of Spiritism. When we address psychography, we can observe that mediums can be classified according to their degree of control over the process, and these classifications directly influence the obstacles they face throughout the development of this faculty.

There are three main types of psychographic mediums:

• Intuitive mediums: These are those who receive inspiration from spirits but write consciously, with some control over what is being said. The communication is more indirect, with the medium receiving intuitions or guidance, but still maintaining control over the writing.
• Mechanical mediums: These mediums become automatic channels for spirit communication. During the process of psychography, they have no conscious control over what is being written, which characterizes a more spontaneous and intense manifestation.
• Semi-mechanical mediums: They represent a middle ground between the previous types. Although there is some influence of the spirit on the writing, the medium still maintains some degree of control and awareness over the process.

However, as Kardec warns us, even though it is a natural faculty, mediumship is not without its difficulties. He tells us:

"Although the faculty is not an exclusive privilege, it certainly encounters opponents, at least in the sense that it is understood. It is also true that it does not fail to present obstacles to those who possess it; it can be altered and even lost, and it can often be a source of serious disappointment."

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Review, February 1859

These words from Kardec remind us that mediumship, despite its accessibility to many people, is not simple. It can encounter resistance, both internal and external, and the medium may face obstacles of various kinds—from difficulty maintaining control over communications to the risk of being influenced by deceptive or malicious entities.

In his analysis, Kardec alerts us to the complexity of the causes of mediumship and how it can often manifest in individuals whose moral characteristics are not necessarily exemplary. He states:

"The gift of mediumship depends on causes still imperfectly understood, in which physical factors appear to play a large role. At first glance, it would seem that such a precious gift should only be shared by select souls. However, experience proves otherwise, for we find powerful mediumship in people whose morals leave much to be desired, while others, esteemed in every respect, lack it."

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Review, February 1859

From the above excerpt, we can see that, contrary to what one might assume, this mediumistic faculty is not an exclusive privilege of people of great moral virtue. Mediumship does not depend solely on the individual's purity or moral character, but involves a combination of factors, including physical and spiritual aspects that are not yet fully understood. This complexity can even result in powerful manifestations in individuals whose moral conditions are not ideal, while others, who could be considered more balanced, lack it.

Therefore, mediumship, by its very multifaceted and unpredictable nature, presents a series of challenges that go beyond spiritual matters, also involving physical, psychological, and moral issues. It is precisely for this reason that mediums, when seeking to develop and control their faculties, must be aware of the internal and external obstacles that may arise along the way.

Furthermore, Kardec also warns us:

“(…) the good quality of the medium is not only in the ease of communication, but solely in his ability to receive only good ones. Now, it is in this that his moral conditions are omnipotent; and it is also in this that he encounters the greatest obstacles.” 

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Review, February 1859

This statement is crucial to understanding that, for a medium, the quality of spiritual communications is related to the quantity or ease with which they receive messages, as well as their ability to discern and filter spiritual influences. The medium must be prepared to reject the influences of imperfect spirits and accept only messages from elevated and trustworthy spirits.

However, Kardec emphasizes that the medium's moral condition is of paramount importance. The medium's morality not only influences the type of communication they are able to receive, but also acts as a true "filter" to prevent them from being deceived or influenced by inferior or deceptive spirits. Therefore, the greatest obstacles for the medium are not only technical or physical difficulties, but also moral issues, which require constant vigilance and improvement.

In this sense, mediums must be in a constant process of self-knowledge and inner transformation. Mediumship is, by its very nature, an opportunity for growth, but it also demands great responsibility. The medium cannot be a mere passive channel, but must constantly seek moral elevation, ethics, and spirituality, so that their mediumistic faculties will be well-directed and bring benefits to themselves and others.

Therefore, the moral obstacles mediums face are often linked to a tendency to be carried away by ego, vanity, or the anxiety of "showing" their abilities. Humility, discipline, and detachment are essential qualities to ensure that the medium does not stray from the path of goodness and truth, thus minimizing the risk of disappointment or harmful communications.