"And what the dead had no speech for when living, they  can  tell  you
being dead: the communication of the dead is tongued with fire  beyond
the language of the living."

                                                           T S Elliot ("Little  Gidding")

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA

Dear friends of  GEAE,

So we are at the beginning of a new century.  A  year  that  for  many represents the beginning of a new era. The epoch we live (let us write a few lines as a registration for  the future generations to come...) is one of negation. Negation  of  man's power (please, understand me  well,  I  talk  about  humankind)  since Nature still is  a  big  surprise  and  science  has  show  we  aren't invencibles. Negation of man's future - as it is largely supposed that nobody has come to tell us what is beyond  -  and  therefore  the "let-us profit-the-day-before-it's-too-late" is the role of the  hour. Negation of man's past values (what is the use of they  today?)  which are being constantly deceived by lack of self  understanding  and  the
arising of new though less poetical ones.

Is this a transitory epoch? We dare not say yes because many before us could have said exactly the same. In fact we believe we live the  apex of materialism in so far as there is a generalized idea that the  most important questions for the human being are unsolvable by  definition. The hope is that, for many, religion  is  returning  as  an  important private undertaking, in the real meaning of the concept.

For those who have kept the faith  in  the  future  life,  it  is  the forecast of a new humankind.

In this issue, we present an interesting text written  by  Leon  Denis (the famous apostle  of  Spiritism)  originally  entitled  "the  moral crisis". It is specially intriguing since Denis  was  concerned  about the state of negation of his time (the beginning of 1900) which is very similar to ours. His words (although written in an old  way)  seem  to have been written just a  couple  of  days  ago  and  address  present society. We  continue  our  regular  edition  of  "Astrak  City"  with chapters 5 abd 6. Finally, we  bring  two  special  messages  by  Ella Wilcox (1918) and by our spirit friend Emmanuel.

Let us keep the hope alive in  the  beginning  of  this  new  calendar journey.

Peach to all

GEAE Editors

A MESSAGE TO A GLOBALIZED WORLD (PART I)
Leon Denis

It is manifest, as we have endeavoured to show, that the  great  world of thought  is divided between two inimical and contradictory schools. Viewed in this light, our epoch is  one  of  trouble  and  transition. Religious faith has grown lukewarm and the  broad  principles  of  the philosophy of the future are apparent as yet but to a very few minds.

The present age is certainly a mighty one as reckoned by  the  sum  of progress   accomplished.   With   its   powerful   appliances   modern civilization has transformed the earth's surface: by  lessening  space it has  brought  the  nations  nearer  together.  Education  has  been generalized and institutions have been improved. Right has replaced privilege and liberty triumphs over the spirit  of routine and authority. A great battle is being waged  between  a  past that strives against death, and a future that struggles  to  be  born. Stimulated by this struggle the world is restive and pushes onward: an irresistible impulse urges it on,  and  the  road  traversed  and  the results  accomplished  lead  us  to  presage  still   more   brilliant achievements.

If, however, the physical and intellectual progress  which  have  been realized are truly remarkable, on the other hand,  moral  progress  is nil. As regards this, the world seems rather to be  retrograding:  men  are  so  feverishly absorbed by politics, by industrial and  financial  enterprises,  that they sacrifice spiritual welfare to material ease.

If civilization  dazzles  us  by  the  display  of  some  magnificent achievements, like everything human, it has its dark side.  Certainly, it has, in  a  measure,  improved  the  conditions  of  life,  but  in satisfying, it has increased the requirements of man: in whetting  his desires and appetites, it has stimulated his sensuality and depravity. The craving for pleasure, luxury  and  wealth  is  growing  ever  more imperious. Man feels that he must acquire and possess,  regardless  of the cost.

This is the cause that has brought about those shameless  speculations which are being constantly transacted in broad daylight. This  is  the cause of deterioration of character and conscience which we behold: of that fervent worship rendered to wealth, the golden calf  whose  altar has been erected where fallen divinities used to  reign.  Science  and industry have a hundred fold increased the wealth of mankind, but  this wealth has been of direct benefit  but  to  a  small  portion  of  the masses. The livelihood of the poor is still precarious, and fraternity fills more space in oratory than in the heart. One can still starve in the streets of a wealthy capital. Factories and manufacturing  centres have become  hotbeds  of  physical  and  moral  corruption:  veritable infernos of labour.

Drunkenness,  prostitution  and  debauchery  everywhere  spread  their poison, checking life at its outset and impoverishing the  generations to come: the newspapers vie with each other in the broadcast sowing of defamation and falsehood, while an unwholesome literature  crazes  the brain and impoverishes the soul.

Everyday chronicles fresh inroads of  suicide  and  despair.  In  1820 France recorded fifteen hundred suicides: today they number more  than eight thousand. For lack of energy  and  moral  sense,  eight  thousand beings each year are driven to abandon life's fruitful struggle and to seek relief in what they deem to be oblivion. The number of crimes and punishable offenses has increased threefold these last fifty years. In the ranks of condemned criminals  the  proportion  of  adolescents  is considerable.  Must  be  not  attribute  this  state  of   things   to environment, to the bad example set to children, to  the  weakness  of parents and to the lack of family training? All this is true and  here is more besides.

The evils we endure arise  from  the  fact  that  notwithstanding  the strides of science and the broadening of education, man still  ignores himself. He knows little of the laws of the universe; he knows nothing of the forces that are within him. The "know  thyself"  of  the  Greek philosopher has remained a sterile appeal. The man of  today  wots  no more than he of twenty centuries ago, whence he is come, whither he is bound, or what is the real object of his existence.  No  teaching  has revealed to him an accurate idea of his function in this world, of his duties or of his destiny.

The  human  live  undecidedly  vacillates  between   the   inducements proffered by two powers. On the on hand come the  religions,  followed by their pageant of error and superstition, their spirit of domination and intolerance, but attended likewise by the  consolations  of  which they are the source, and such feeble glimpses of primordial  truth  as they still retain.

On the other hand stands  science:  materialistic  in  essence  as  in tendency,  the  embodiment  of  cold   negation   and   unconciliating individualism; but followed also by a goodly  retinue  of  substantial results and discoveries.

Such are the two giants : a religion without proofs,  and  a  soulless science which confront, defy and contend with one another; and endless struggle, since each responds to an imperious craving in the heart and brain of man. And around these accumulate the ruins of  wrecked  hopes and shattered aspirations. Gracious feelings are  dying  out,  discord and hatred are taking the place of peace and good-will.

In the perplexity of this confusion, conscience has lost its  loadstar and its guide. Falteringly and  haltingly  it  feels  its  way,  often unable amidst the general uncertainty to distinguish the good from the bad. The moral dilemma of those unfortunate  beings  who  are  already bowed down by the burden of life, is made wellnigh intolerable by  the limited choice offered as a reward for their sufferings.  On  the  one hand, annihilation; on the other,  an  inaccessible  paradise,  or  an eternity of torture.

What issue out of this labyrinth is there for mankind?  There  is  but one way: to find a common ground where sentiment and reason, those two sturdy foes, may unite for the good and  the  salvation  of  men,  for every man has within him these twin forces by whose dictation he, turn by turn, thinks and acts. Their accord imparts balance and harmony  to his faculties,  multiplies  his  powers  of  action  and  brings  some rectitude and unity of effort into his  life;  whereas  their  discord leads to inevitable confusion. That which takes place in each of us is likewise manifest in society as a whole and cause the  moral  disorder which afflicts it.

That this conflict may cease, it is necessary that the  eyes  of  all, great or small, rich or poor, men, women or children, should  be  open to the truth; that  a  new  and  universal  teaching  should  come  to enlighten all souls as to their origin, duty and destiny.

These are the all important  truths  which  alone  can  serve  as  the foundation of the virile education  that  will  render  mankind  truly strong and free. Their  importance  is  paramount,  as  well  for  the individual whom they direct in his daily round of  work,  as  for  the social body whose institutions  and  relations  they  regulate.  Man's conception of the universe and of its laws, of the part which he  will be expected to enact upon this vast stage, affects his entire life and influences his every determination. According to the dictates of  this conception, man plans his career and elects the goal for which he must strive. It is useless to  endeavour  to  elude  these  problems:  they impose themselves upon our minds, they  dominate  us,  overcoming  our reluctance by their greatness, in short they are the  pivot  on  which hinges all civilization.

Every time that some fresh conception of life and the world  penetrates into the human mind, it gradually passes from brain  to  brain,  until all law, order and morality become impregnated with it.

The conceptions of Catholicism created the civilization of the  Middle Ages, and moulded its feudal, monarchical  and  authoritative  system. Then the reign of favouritism and privilege obtained on earth, as  in heaven. These ideas still survive, although the modern  world  has  no room for them. Unfortunately, although we have discarded  the  ancient beliefs, we have found nothing to substitute for  them.  Materialistic and atheistic positivism discerns nothing in life beyond  a  transient combination of matter and force: they are satisfied to  attribute  the titanic administration of the universe to the  working  of  a  witless mechanism, in which they can trace no token of justice, solidarity  or responsibility. Such a point of view could not fail to cause a general relaxation of all social bonds, a pessimistic skepticism,  a  contempt of law and order, the tendency of which is nether ward.

Leon Denis
Extracted from the book "Here and Hereafter", a translation by Geoge G Fleurot of "Apres la mort", Chapter 8,  pp.96  ("The  moral  crisis"), published by Willian Rider and Son, Limited. 1910.

LET THE PAST GO
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Do not begin the New Year by recounting to yourself or others all your losses and sorrows.

Let the past go.
Should some good  friend  present  you  with  material  for  a  lovely garment, would you insult her by throwing it aside and describing  the beautiful garments you had worn out in past times?

The New Year has given you the fabric for a fresh start in life, why dwell upon the events which have gone, the  joys,  blessings and advantages of the past!

Do not tell me it is too late to be successful or happy. Do  not  tell me you are sick or broken in spirit, the spirit cannot be sick or broken, because it is of God.

It is your mind which makes your body  sick.  Let  the  spirit  assert itself and demand health and hope and happiness in this New Year.

Forget the money you have  lost,  the  mistakes  you  have  made,  the injuries you have received, the disappointments you have experienced.

Real sorrow the sorrow which comes from the death  of  dear  ones,  or some great cross well borne, you need not forget. But think of these things as sent to enrich your nature, and to  make  you  more human and sympathetic. You are missing them  if  you  permit  yourself instead to grow melancholy and irritable.

It is weak and unreasonable to imagine destiny has selected you for special suffering.

Sorrow is no respected of persons. Say to yourself with the  beginning of this year that you are going to consider all your  troubles  as  an education for your mind and soul; and  that  out  of  the  experiences which you have passed through you are  going  to  build  a  noble  and splendid character, and a successful career.

Do not tell me you are old.

Age is all imagination. Ignore years and they will ignore you.

Eat moderately,  and  bathe  freely  in  water  as  cold  as  nature's rainfall. Exercise thoroughly and regularly.

Be alive, from crown to toe. Breathe deeply, filling every cell of the lungs for at least five minutes, morning and night, and when you  draw in long, full breathes, believe you are inhaling health, wisdom and success.

Anticipate good health. If it does not come at  once,  consider  it  a mere temporary delay, and continue to expect it.

Regard any physical ailment as a passing inconvenience, no more. Never for an instant believe you are permanently ill or disabled.

The young men of France are studying alchemy, hoping to learn the secret of the transmutation of gold. If you will study your own spirit and its limitless powers, you will gain  a  greater  secret  than  any alchemist ever held; a  secret  which  shall  give  you  whatever  you desire.

Think of your body as the silver jewel box,  your  mind  as  the  silk lining, your spirit as the gem. Keep the box burnished and clear of dust, but remember  always  that  the  jewel  within  is  the precious part of it.

Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious year lies before  you!  In  a  year  you  can regain health, fortune, restfulness, happiness!

Push on! Achieve, achieve!

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (around 1918)

Therefore, even now,  the  airplane  bombards,  the  radio  broadcasts messages of falsehood and death and the fuel feeds  the  machinery  of aggression.

In the same way, individually, the person only cogitates to  know  and forgets that it is highly recommended to know suitably.

In our activities related to the Gospels, full attention  is  required in order to successfully perform the tasks appointed to us.

Some students of the Gospels  wish  to  keep  the  revelation  of  the Heavens to impose it to their neighbors, they imagine to  possess  the gift of humbleness for the  sake  of  annoying  people,  they  declare themselves patients and upset their listeners,  they  call  themselves believers and disperse someone else's faith, they  exhibit  titles  of goodness and forget their private little tasks.

These friends in particular are those who sought to know  but  not  as they ought to.

Those who really  devise  situations  spiritually  also  help  without offense, they become themselves better with no injury to others,  they teach with no perturbation. They know as it is suitable  to  know  and have learn to become useful. They use both  silence  and  words,  they locate the evil and the good, they identify  light  and  darkness  and distribute Christ's gifts. They are much informed about the Source  of Eternal Wisdom and are attached to it like the  perfect  lamp  to  the power supply. Failure and triumph on  the  transitory  plane  of  life hardly change their energies. These have managed to know as they  should  and  use  their  knowledge conveniently.

Emmanuel
In "Fonte Viva", ed. by FEB. Psc. F C Xavier. Trans.. by  A  L  Xavier Jr.
 

A story of a doctor's odyssey in the Spirit World By Andre Luiz, through Francisco C Xavier CHAPTER 5 & 6. PDF version (~800Kb) available at http://www.geae.inf.br/htdocs/en/books/AstralCity.PDF and http://www.geocities.com/xavnet2/moral/Messa1.htm

(Translated from the 25th Portuguese edition entitled "Nosso Lar". First Portuguese edition published in 1944 by Federação Espírita Brasileira, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.)

Chapter 5 UNDER TREATMENT

The question was put to me by a  young  man  with  a  singularly  kind expression. He smiled as he entered, carrying what looked like a large medical bag. I nodded that I was, and he introduced himself:

"I am Lysias, your brother. My director,  Assistant  Doctor  Henry  de Luna, has placed you under my care as long as you need treatment."

"Are you a medical assistant?" I asked.

"I am a visiting attendant in Health Service. As such, I not only help with the nursing but also go on rounds, alerting the doctors when help is needed, and attending to the needs of newly arrived patients."

Noting my interest, he went on:

"There are many such assistants here in the Astral City. Naturally, as a newcomer, you are still unaware of the  extent  of  our  activities. Just to give you an idea, there are over one thousand patients in this ward alone,  and  this  is  one  of  the  smallest  buildings  in  our hospital."

"This is truly wonderful!" I exclaimed.

Lysias, perceiving that I was about to continue repeating my  praises, rose quickly from his chair and carefully began his examination.

"Your intestinal zone shows serious lesions and unmistakable signs  of cancer, your liver is ruptured in  several  areas,  and  your  kidneys evidence signs of premature failure. Do you know what that means?"

"Yes, the doctor explained it to me yesterday. These disturbances  are all of my own doing..."

Noting my obvious embarrassment at this confession, he continued:

"In the group of eighty patients under my care, fifty-seven are in the same condition as  you.  Did  you  know  that  other  patients  arrive mutilated? Those who have misused their  sight  arrive  without  eyes? Others who have used the gift of agility in crime come to us paralyzed or legless. Still others who have lived sexually depraved lives  enter
spirit life totally insane. "

"The Astral City is not a settlement of  triumphant  spirits,  in  the common sense of the word. We are happy because  we  have  constructive work to do, and there is job in every corner of our Colony because the Lord blessed us with the opportunity to serve."

He  paused  briefly,  and  I  exclaimed:  "Please  go  on  with   your explanation, Lysias.  I feel so peaceful and relieved.  Isn't  this  a heavenly abode for the spiritual elect?"

Lysias smiled and answered: "Let's keep in mind the old teaching 'many are called but few are chosen'."

Gazing at the distant horizon, flooded  with  memories  from  his  own past, he  continued:  "Many  religions  on  Earth  summon  us  to  the Celestial Feast. No one who has once felt the  existence  of  God  can deny that in good conscience. Yes, many are called but few answer  the call. Most of mankind accepts a different invitation instead. We waste our opportunities, straying from our chosen path, allowing  our  whims to rule  our  lives  and  thoughtlessly  destroying  our  bodies.  The ultimate result is that thousands of us leave the world in a state  of confusion  countless  multitudes  of  insane,  diseased  and  ignorant spirits wander as you did in the spirit spheres close to the Earth."

Seeing my astonishment, he inquired: "Did you  believe  that  physical death brings us to miraculous places? We must work  hard  and  perform difficult services to achieve spiritual growth. If we  have  debts  on the planet we must inevitably return to repay them, regardless of  the progress we have made, breaking the chains  of  hatred  and  replacing them with the sacred bonds of love. It wouldn't be fair to ask  others to clear the field in which we ourselves have  sown  thorns.  That  is what is meant, my friend, by the saying 'many are called but  few  are chosen'. The Lord forgets no one, yet so few of us remember Him."

Confronted with the idea of individual responsibility, and remembering my own errors, I could not help but decry my perversity. But before  I had time to vent my remorse my kind attendant lifted up his  hand  and spoke:

"Stop. Let us concentrate on the  work  to  be  done.  Those  who  are sincerely repentant must learn to be silent and start anew."

He carefully proceeded with a  magnetic  treatment,  and  then,  while treating the  area  around  my  lower  intestines,  he  continued  his explanation:

"Have you noticed the specialized treatment of your  cancerous  zones? You see, all honest work in the field of medicine is based  on  loving care, but the actual healing is left  to  the  patient.  You  will  be treated with great care, and will fell as fit as you did as a youth on Earth. You will work hard, and I believe you will become  one  of  the best assistants in The Astral City.

However, the case of your infirmities will stay  with  you  until  you have eliminated all traces of your indiscretions and  misuse  of  your health which still remain in your spirit-body. Our  earthly  body,  so often misused, is given to us as a blessed instrument through which we can cure our spirit, if we dedicate ourselves to the task."

I meditate deeply on what I had just heard, thinking on  the  infinite mercy of God, and was moved to tears. Lysias calmly finished the day's treatment and the spoke:

"Tears are purifying medicine when they aren't caused by  feelings  of revolt. So cry, my friend, and ease  your  heart.  Let  us  bless  our physical body with its countless  microscopic  cells,  so  humble  and precious, so detested yet so sublime for the service they  render  us. Without them, how many thousands of years we would spend wrapped up in the mists of ignorance."

Thus speaking, Lysias laid a gentle hand  on  my  head  and  took  his leave.

Chapter 6 PRECIOUS ADVICE

"How are you? A little better, I hope?"

Like any patient on Earth who suddenly finds  himself  the  center  of attention, I was moved to self-pity. Reverting  to  my  old  habit  of abusing brotherly love, I began to complain:

"I do feel a little better, but I am still suffering a great  deal.  I hurt below my stomach and I feel a strange  sense  of  anguish  in  my heart. My cross has been heavy, my  friends;  I  never  knew  I  could withstand so much suffering. Now that I can  think  clearly  again,  I feel sure that these trials have sapped all of my remaining strength."

Clarence  listened  attentively,  not  showing  the  least   sign   of impatience. He even seemed interested, and his attitude encouraged  me to continue.

"Not only that, my moral sufferings are really indescribable! Now that the outside storm has subsided -  thanks  to  the  assistance  I  have received here I've had to face a storm within my soul. What has become of my wife and children? I wonder whether my  eldest  child,  my  only son, has followed the plans I made for him. And  what  about  my  dear daughters? And my wife, who was sure she would die of loneliness if we were ever parted, what of my wonderful wife?  I  can  still  feel  her tears from my last moments on Earth."

"I can't say how long I've been living this nightmarish  separation my continuous suffering has robbed me of all sense of time.  Where  is my poor wife? Weeping besides cold ashes? Or at  the  gates  of  death herself? What bitter sorrow! What a terrible fate for a man devoted to his family! Very few have gone through as much as I,  I'm  sure.  Why, even on Earth I suffered years of vicissitudes, bitter disappointments and infirmities, and was granted only a  few  hours  of  happiness  in return. Then I was subjected to painful physical  death,  followed  by unceasing torture in spirit, and a never-ending succession of miseries and tears! Is there no meaning of attaining peace? As much  as  I  may wish  to  adopt  an  optimistic  attitude,  I   can't   help   feeling heavy-hearted and full of grief. What an  unfortunate  fate,  generous benefactor."

By that time my feelings of self-pity  had  reached  such  proportions that my words gave way to tears. Clarence, however,  rose  calmly  and asked simply:

"My dear friend, do you really seek your spiritual cure?"

I nodded in assent and he went on: "Then learn not to speak so much of yourself and  your  sufferings.  Self-pity  is  a  symptom  of  mental illness, which  is  time  consuming  and  difficult  to  cure.  It  is imperative that you create new trains  of  thought  and  control  your words. The only way to spiritual balance is to open your heart  to  de Divine Light. If you consider the necessary effort to be an oppressive burden or see the struggle for redemption as an imposition,  it  is  a
sure sign of spiritual blindness. The  more  you  dwell  on  your  own painful experiences, the more you bind yourself to them.  You  can  be sure that the same Father whom shelters and watches over you will also care for your loved ones on Earth.  We  should  certainly  regard  the family as a sacred institution, but always keep in  mind  that  it  is just a small branch of the Universal Family under the loving  guidance of one Divine Father. You can count on  us  to  resolve  your  present problems and sketch plans for your future, but neither you nor we have the time to waste on your complaints. We in  this  colony  accept  the hardest toil as a welcome opportunity for ascent, remembering while we plod along, weighted down with debts, that Providence is  unsurpassing in its love. If you, too, wish to stay with us you must learn to think properly."

Meanwhile my tears had dried. His words had  brought  me  back  to  my senses. I was ashamed of my own weakness and  I  adopted  a  different attitude. "While  in  the  flesh,"  continued  Clarence,  "didn't  you compete for lucrative positions, knowing their advantages? Didn't  you appreciate the legitimate means of  increasing  the  welfare  of  your loved ones? Weren't you engaged in obtaining just fees in the interest of adding to the comfort  and  stability  of  your  family?  Here  the program  is  the   same;   only   the   details   differ.   On   Earth conventionalities and monetary gains are the  ruling  forces,  whereas here we aim at constructive work with lasting benefits to the immortal spirit. We look on suffering as a means to enrich  the  soul,  and  on each suffering as a step towards our divine  goal.  Can  you  see  the difference? Weak souls resist service  and  remain  inactive,  venting their complaints to all. Strong ones, though, accept  the  task  given them as constructive steps on the path towards perfection.  Mind  you, no one will blame you for missing your earthly family  or  would  ever think of extinguishing your source of sublime feelings.  Nevertheless, you must remember that tears of despair help nothing.  If  you  really love your Earthly family and wish to be useful to them, you must first accept your present condition cheerfully."

A long pause ensued. Clarence's advice has changed the current  of  my thoughts and I began to ponder  on  his  wisdom.  While  I  was  still immersed in deep reflection, my benefactor, like a father who  forgets the waywardness of his child and recommences a lesson  with  the  same serenity, asked again with a bright smile: "Well, how are you  now?  A little better?

Pleased and comforted to feel  I  was  forgiven,  like  a  little  boy anxious to learn, I replied:

"I am better now, to better understand the Divine Will."

In the next issue of "The Spiritist Messenger" - Chapter 7 and 8.