Allan Kardec, father of spiritualism
Spiritism is a doctrine that emerged in the 19th century, systematizing communication between humans and popular beliefs surrounding spiritual beings. Its purpose is to achieve emotional solace, spiritual evolution, or the search for knowledge in other planes of reality. This movement spread thanks to Allan Kardec, who is considered the father of modern Spiritism.
Hippolyte Leon Denizard Rivial, known by his pseudonym Allan Kardec, was born in Lyon, France, on October 3, 1804, and died in 1869.
He received his education at the Pestalozzi Institute in Yverdon, Switzerland, distinguishing himself as a teacher and writer before dedicating himself entirely to the study of paranormal phenomena.
It was in 1855 that he began investigating "table-turning" phenomena, a popular trend in Parisian salons of the time, similar to poltergeists. The practice involved sitting around a table and asking it a series of questions. The table would respond with knocks or turns, which were coded using a system of knocks corresponding to letters of the alphabet.
It was here that he developed a systematic approach to communicating with these forces, adopting his pseudonym. It seems that in one of his séances, it was revealed to him that in a previous life he had been a Celtic druid named "Allan Kardec," a name he would also use to distinguish his spiritualist work from his previous educational background.
Spiritism, according to Kardec, was based on the following precepts:
-The existence of God as supreme intelligence
-The immortality of the soul
-Communication between the spiritual plane and the material world
-The law of cause and effect, similar to karma, along with free will
His intention was to unite a scientific-philosophical approach with new spiritual sensibilities, developing empirical observation with logical reasoning.
His empiricism was based on the repeated observation of verifiable evidence, as well as on experimental proofs of this evidence in the form of physical phenomena such as table movements and other similar sounds, sustained over time.
The two main works that compiled this thinking were "The Spirits' Book" (1857), presented in the form of questions and answers supposedly obtained from spirits, and "The Mediums' Book" (1861), which focused on concrete practical methods.
Among the most common practices of Spiritism are:
-Sessions with mediums, as specialized intermediaries.
Kardec believed that with proper training and practice, even without a special gift and adequate spiritual sensitivity, anyone could perform these practices.
-Psychography, which consists of automatic writing transmitted by spirits, where a hand is guided by a spirit to write messages.
Other more modern tools were also used, such as the Ouija board or the pendulum, which did not offer a deeper, more philosophical communication, as they involved specific questions with closed answers.
-Magnetic passes, transmitting healing energy through the laying on of hands. These practices originated with Franz Anton Mesmer, an 18th-century German physician who spoke of the theory of animal magnetism, which offered relief through the natural healing of the body and mind by benevolent spirits.
-Proselytizing, based on the works of Kardec and other Spiritist authors
-Spiritual cultivation, through helping others
Although Spiritism reached its peak popularity in the early 20th century, it has faced challenges such as new scientific and technological advances in an increasingly secularized world.
Despite this, the figure of Allan Kardec has been so revered that his tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is still visited, where flowers are left if he grants the requests made to him.
The rational foundations of Spiritism should not be confused with the less scientific practices that have permeated popular culture due to current films, literature, and television, associating it with demons or witchcraft and other sensationalist phenomena. At the same time, these beliefs are influenced by other perspectives, such as those of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, which would warrant another article.
Spiritism remains a path to understanding the spiritual dimension of human existence, offering answers to universal questions about life and death.
Nuria Acquaviva - nacquavivaps@gmail.com
Bibliography:
Kardec, A. The Spirits' Book. Ed. Hojas de Luz, 2007.
Kardec, A. The Mediums' Book. Ed. Hojas de Luz, 2007.
Riffard, P. Dictionary of Esotericism. Alianza Editorial, 1987, Madrid.
Tondriau, J. Dictionary of the Occult Sciences. La tabla de esmeralda. EDAF, 1985, Madrid.
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