COMMENTARY: AN INSPIRATIONAL LIFE
Last week, Divaldo Pereira Franco, the medium, Spiritist speaker, and ambassador of peace in the world, returned to the Spirit World at age 98. A close friend and collaborator with Chico Xavier, he is recognized as one of the greatest mediums and speakers of Spiritism. He delivered over 20,000 lectures and seminars in 71 countries, continuing well into his late 90s.
In addition to his remarkable oratory, Divaldo was prolific in mediumistic writing, channeling more than 250 Spiritist books in multiple languages, with over 10 million sales. His most notable literary partnership was with his spirit mentor, Joanna de Ângelis, with whom he wrote his first book, “Messe de Amor” (Harvest of Love) in 1964.
All profits from the sale of his books and copyrights are entirely dedicated to his humanitarian work, the Mansão do Caminho (Mansion of the Way). Founded in 1952 with his cousin Nilson de Souza Pereira, it is now a small city with over 50 miles of roads. The "Mansão do Caminho" has become a large educational complex with 22 activities which guide more than 3,000 children and teenagers every day, all free of charge. To this date, more than 30,000 boys and girls have received an education and care at Mansão do Caminho's many schools. The subtitles on this short video featuring Divaldo (at age 90) are easier to read if you maximise it.
SO WHAT IS SPIRITISM AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM SPIRITUALISM?
Spiritualism is the belief that departed souls and other entities can interact with the living directly or through a medium. Spiritualism is too diverse to have a universal code of beliefs; instead, Spiritualists accept sets of more wide ranging principles (in the U.K. members of the SNU agree to 7 principles). But spiritualists are free to interpret them as they wish and many differ about Christianity and reincarnation and the value of different channelled teachings. Spiritualism is strongest in the USA, the UK, and Europe and emphasises service to others through mediumship and healing. Read more.
Spiritism has a core belief in reincarnation and karma and embraces most Christian principles. It began in the 1850s when Alan Kardec submitted hundreds of questions to advanced spirits through mediums. He then collated the answers to form The Spirits' Book and The Gospel According to Spiritism. Although founded on mediumship, Spiritism focuses on mediumship for spiritual and moral guidance rather than personal communication. It is strongest in Brazil and Latin America and emphasises education and service to the poor. Read more.
Ana Castro leads a Zoom group "Spiritist Literature: Directed Study (SLIDS)" every Saturday at 4p.m. Eastern time (Sunday in Australia) - see Zoom groups listed below.
MAURICE BARBANELL THE MEDIUM FOR SILVER BIRCH
Dr. Nick Richbell is an archivist and historian working at Clemson University in South Carolina. He recently received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada; his dissertation is a biographical history of the medium Maurice Barbanell and his spirit guide Silver Birch, one of the most respected guides in Spiritualism. Barbanell spent 61 years dedicated to Spiritualism and is considered the twentieth century’s leading propagandist of the religion and movement.
MAURICE BARBANELL'S POWERFUL MESSAGE
This is the message that Maurice Barbanell dedicated his life to sharing.
"You survive death as a spiritual being, because survival is part of the natural law, a fact which is purely biological in its operation. It has nothing to do with your religious beliefs, or lack of beliefs, or your outlook. It is not a reward or a punishment. You have no alternative but to survive...You are not a body with a spirit. You are a spirit with a body - a tremendous difference. But you are not your body."
Maurice Barbanell (medium for Silver Birch) in his book "Power of the Spirit".
AUTOMATIC WRITING
Many classic works of Spiritualism and Spiritism were received by "automatic writing" where a medium goes into trance and allows their hand to be taken over by a spirit person (see PSI Encyclopedia for examples of mediums who used or investigated this). Sometimes they write at a supernormal speed, in languages unknown to the medium and subjects totally outside their knowledge. The medium can be conscious and reading or conversing with someone else while the writing progresses. Sometimes the writing is tiny and sometimes it can only be read in a mirror, but usually, it comes through complete without the need for editing. Read more.
IS AUTOMATIC WRITING FOR REAL?
Studies on experienced and newbie psychography practitioners using SPECT scans showed less brain activity in the experienced vs. those less experienced in the frontal lobes, which is where we problem-solve. It seems that those who are very experienced with psychography are getting their information from somewhere else.
EXPERIENCE AUTOMATIC WRITING The book Seven Questions About the Greater Reality by Cynthia Spring and Frances Vaughan concentrates on developing the portal of automatic writing, or channeling. As the reader, you are gently encouraged to try your hand at it, to see if you can contact a loved one who has passed or a discarnate mentor. The practice of automatic writing allows you to have your own direct experience.
BRAZILIAN MEDIUM CHICO XAVIER WAS CONFIRMED 99% ACCURATE As well as writing 100,000 pages in 412 books dictated by spirits, Chico Xavier psychographed more than 10,000 personal letters (with signatures) from spirits to their loved ones. He never accepted payment and, because of this, his house was always full of people. Many times he slept only 4 hours a day. The contents of his psychographed letters were accepted in Brazilian courts 3 times - in 1979,1982, and 1985.
In 2014, a group of experimenters analyzed a set of 13 letters allegedly written by the same spiritual author (J.P.). They checked the accuracy of 99 items of verifiable information contained in the letters. 98% of these items were rated as "Clear and Precise Fit," and no item was rated as "no Fit." See journal article.
PROVING MEDIUMSHIP IS REAL WITH MARK BOCCUZZI
Discover how Mark, alongside Dr. Julie Beischel, leads the innovative Windbridge Research Center, revolutionizing our understanding of consciousness, mediumship, and the human spirit's survival after physical existence. This video delves into the fascinating world of instrumental transcommunication (ITC), AI integration in psychic research, and the transformative power of mediumship.
TOP TEN THINGS MOST DEAD PEOPLE WANT YOU TO KNOW 1. They're not dead.
2. They are fine.
3. They miss their loved ones.
4. They are now in perfect health.
5. Life there is hugely better than on Earth.
6. They hate to see their loved ones grieving.
7. There's no such thing as a devil or hell.
8. They wish they had told their loved ones that they loved them more often.
9. They are sorry for any pain they caused.
10. They look forward to a happy reunion when the time comes.
ANGEL MEDIUM NANCY FREIER CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANGELS AND GUIDES
Nancy Freier has been a channel for angelic wisdom and guidance since 1986, following the sudden passing of her beloved soulmate. In the days and weeks that followed, magical synchronicities unfolded, confirming her calling to help others heal through angelic communication. She launched The Inner Voice magazine in print in the 1990s, transitioning it to an online format in 2012, where her popular column Angel Talk™ continues to appear. Nancy also runs an Angel Guidance Zoom group on the second Saturday of the month at 2pm Eastern time.
FORGIVENESS IS NEEDED BY THOSE WHO HAVE DIED One of the main things our loved ones say when they communicate through a medium is that they want forgiveness. This is illustrated in the following extract from a book by Laura Lynne Jackson, a medium certified by the Forever Family Foundation and the Windbridge Institute. Her book "The Light Between Us: Stories from Heaven, Lessons for the Living" contains many heartwarming stories. Read an excerpt 'Forgiveness from the other side'.
ADVICE FROM JOHN HOLLAND
Psychic medium John Holland shares a bit about his life, as well as some advice about being an author, mediumship, intuition, dreams, and more. His book Bridging Two Realms: Learning to Communicate with Your Loved Ones on the Other Side offers one of the clearest pictures anyone could have of the Spirit World. He draws on his decades of personal experiences with Spirit and includes inspirational stories and real-life case studies to help you pursue the unfoldment of your own spiritual abilities safely and wisely.
NEXT WEEK'S FREE AFTERLIFE ZOOM GROUPS - ALL WELCOME
Saturday May 24th 2025 / Sunday May 25th Australia
Exploring Different Styles of Meditation with George Lockett - This week a meditation on the five elements.
George E. Lockett has spent 50 years practising Transcendental Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, often in large groups of people meditating together. He has experienced transcending and having out-of-body experiences. After joining the local Spiritualist Church and training under the Surrey Healers' Association, he became known as "Healer George" when he worked at Mind Body Spirit fairs nationwide. He also found that he could talk telepathically to the animals during his ten years on his farm, knowing when a problem happened and needed attention. George's fascinating book Journey Into The Self: The Multidimensional Nature of Being Human is available in Kindle or paperback. He also has produced a free "Energy Balancing Guided Meditation." Download a free PDF copy of "Journey Into The Self".
Times:
Pacific Time 9.00 a.m. Saturday
Phoenix 9.00 a.m. Saturday
Mountain time 10.00 a.m. Saturday
Central time 11 a.m. Saturday
Eastern Time noon Saturday
London time 5.00 p.m. Saturday
Vienna 6.00 Saturday
Perth midnight. Sunday
Sydney/ Melbourne 2.00 a.m. Sunday
New Zealand 4.00 a.m. Sunday Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: David Wright https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3334491615?
pwd=WUd1amxxMm40TTFpRTVXcVo3NHFIZz09
Saturday May 24th 2025 / Sunday May 25th Australia
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study (SLIDS) with Ana Castro.
A free Zoom group about Spiritism, Kardec, and Chico Xavier. See videos of previous meetings.
Times:
Pacific time 1 p.m. Saturday
Phoenix time 1 p.m. Saturday
Mountain time 2 p.m. Saturday
Central time 3 p.m. Saturday
Eastern time 4 p.m. Saturday
London 9 p.m. Saturday
Rome 10 p.m. Saturday
Sydney/Melbourne 6 a.m. Sunday
New Zealand 8 a.m. Sunday
Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: Ana Castro
Just click this link to join.
Sunday May 25th 2025 / Monday May 26th Australia
Mediumship Development with Dr. Susan Barnes, CSNU. Developing the skills of mental mediumship and blending with spirit.
Meetings: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday
Note: If Dr. Sue is not there at the appointed time, it is probably because she is dealing with an ongoing health issue.
She apologises in advance and will try to be back next time.
Times:
Pacific Time 10 a.m. Sunday
Phoenix time 10 a.m. Sunday
Mountain Time 11 a.m. Sunday
Central Time noon Sunday
Eastern Time (New York) 1 p.m. Sunday
London 6 p.m. Sunday
Rome 7 p.m. Sunday
Sydney/Melbourne 3 a.m. Monday
New Zealand 5 a.m. Monday Check time in Your City
Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU susanbbarnes@gmail.com
Online in Zoom https://zoom.us/j/8738817733
Sunday May 25th 2025 / Monday May 26th Australia
Global Gathering:Spiritual Care at the End of Life: Reflections of a Death Doula with Robert Cornett, MTS Robert Cornett is a certified End of Life Doula working with hospice patients and their families in the Hudson Valley, New York, USA. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School and has done extensive study of religious conceptions of the afterlife and the literature of post-mortem experience and communication. He is also an actor and playwright. He will be discussing his work as a soul companion to people as they approach the threshold of death, and other organisations and people working in the field.
Times:
Pacific Time 2 p.m. Sunday
Phoenix 2 p.m. Sunday
Mountain Time 3 p.m. Sunday
Central time 4 p.m. Sunday
Eastern time 5 p.m. Sunday
London 10 p.m. Sunday
Rome 11 p.m. Sunday
Perth 5 a.m. Monday
Sydney/Melbourne 7 a.m. Monday
New Zealand 9 a.m. Monday
Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: wendyzammit@gmail.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Monday May 26th 2025 / Tuesday May 27th Australia
GATHERINGS OVER STRANGE HAPPENINGS with Kim Parker Every two weeks on Mondays (UK, Europe, and the USA) and Tuesdays 7 a.m. (Sydney).
A small group that meets to share and explore the meaning of strange experiences like missing time, seeing scenes from another time, interacting with a person who suddenly wasn't there, bi-location, etc. If it's something you cannot share easily with others, bring it to this group to get validation and speculate on its cause. See a short video about GOSH
When:
Pacific Time 2 p.m. Monday
Phoenix 2 p.m. Monday
Mountain Time 3 p.m. Monday
Central time 4 p.m. Monday
Eastern time 5 p.m. Monday
London 10 p.m. Monday
Vienna 11 p.m. Monday
Perth 5 a.m. Monday
Sydney/Melbourne 7 a.m. Tuesday
New Zealand 9 a.m. Tuesday Check the time for your city
Email: Kim at kmrainbow57@yahoo.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Tuesday May 27th, 2025/ Wednesday May 28th, Australia
Australian-based Physical Mediumship Development Circle (Dark Circle) Every week, participants interested in trying to develop physical mediumship sit in a darkened space in their own homes for 40 minutes, relax, and listen to music. At the moment, the group is focusing on table tipping with several members getting phenomena.
Times:
Pacific time 3 a.m. Tuesday
Phoenix Time 3 a.m. Tuesday
Mountain Time 4 a.m. Tuesday
Central Time 5 a.m. Tuesday
Eastern Time (New York) 6 a.m. Tuesday
London 11 a.m. Tuesday
Rome 12 p.m. Tuesday
Perth/Singapore 6 p.m. Tuesday
Sydney Australia 8 p.m. Tuesday
Auckland 10 p.m. Tuesday Check time in your city
Email paulhinson@gmail.com for more information and the Zoom link.
Tuesday May 27th, 2025/Wednesday May 28th, Australia
Receiving Messages Through Spirit Art with Susan Barnes - Receiving spirit messages through art
We are meeting to create spirit art with messages. No art experience required.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
If Dr. Sue is not there at the appointed time, it is probably because she is dealing with an ongoing health issue. She apologises in advance and will try to be back next time.
Times:
Pacific time 6 p.m. Tuesday
Phoenix time 6 p.m. Tuesday
Mountain Time 7 p.m. Tuesday
Central Time 8 p.m. Tuesday
Eastern Time (New York) 9 p.m. Tuesday
London 2 a.m. Wednesday
Perth/Singapore 9 a.m. Wednesday
Sydney/Melbourne 11 a.m. Wednesday
New Zealand 1 p.m. Wednesday Check time in your city
Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU susanbbarnes@gmail.com
Online in Zoom https://zoom.us/j/873881773
Wednesday May 28th 2025 / Thursday May 29th Australia
USA-based Physical mediumship development group with Rob Blackburn and Craig Hogan. Participants sit in a darkened space in their own homes; the group has been going for some time and members are experiencing phenomena.
THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY TAKING NEW MEMBERS
Times:
Pacific 6 p.m. Wednesday
Arizona 6 p.m. Wednesday
Mountain time 7 p.m. Wednesday
Central time 8 p.m. Wednesday
New York time 9 p.m. Wednesday
London 2 a.m. Thursday
Paris 3 a.m. Thursday
Perth 10 a.m. Thursday
Sydney/Melbourne 1 p.m. Thursday
New Zealand 3 p.m. Thursday Check time in your city
Email r.craig.hogan@afterlifeinstitute.org for meeting guidelines and link.
Thusday May 29th 2025/
Platform Mediumship with Paul M. Hinson Paul is an English medium now based in Sydney. He does "platform readings," giving messages to most people present.
Times:
Pacific Time 2 a.m. Thursday
Phoenix 2 a.m. Thursday
Mountain time 3 a.m. Thursday
Central time 4 a.m. Thursday
Eastern Time 5 a.m. Thursday London time 10 a.m.Thursday
Rome 11 a.m. Thursday
Perth 5 p.m. Thursday
Singapore 5 p.m. Thursday Sydney/ Melbourne 7 p.m. Thursday
New Zealand 8 p.m. Thursday Check time in your city Coordinator: Paulhinson@gmail.com
JAN PRICE'S NDE
While many people are greeted by a “Being of Light” during their near-death experience, Jan Price was greeted by Maggi, her beloved dog who had died three weeks earlier. Their new relationship while she was in heaven will astonish you as you learn all about “dog heaven”. Her experience will show you what happens to your beloved pet when they cross over to the Other Side. Kevin Williams' website near-death.com has excerpts from her book, The Other Side of Death, which describes her NDE and her adventures with her pet. Read more.
There is also a video - see from 18.18.
SILVER BIRCH ON SERVICE "We are all servants of the Great Spirit. Some of us have evolved a little higher. Because of that, we return to give service, for service is the law of life. Where there is no service, there is desolation. Where there is service, there is peace and happiness. Your world must build a new system of life with service to one another. (Teachings of Silver Birch, p. 85).
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RESEARCH INTO SPIRITUAL HEALING?
Monday 26th May 2025 at 8pm (BST)
An enlightening online talk by Professor Chris Roe on an ongoing randomised controlled trial that tests for noncontact healing effects. Participants have been recruited in collaboration with the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, Edinburgh. Read more.
FEEDBACK:(3 only)
1)
"I recently heard some say with such conviction and passion, "I want to help as many people as I can before I die". I thought it was fabulous.
And on that note, if only people understood, we reincarnate back into this world, somewhere in the near future, we would stop saying, "we have but one life" and acting that way, and rather they worked to toward improving this world. How much better off we would all be."
Peter
2)
"NOTHING ever 'dies'
When it's your time to cross over, your dog will be there to welcome you over, and the love of you both will continue. Don't despair.
My own dog came back to visit me after she had passed, she was full of joy being with me. The wonderful emotional experience lasted for about 2 minutes."
Paul
3) "Karen Fox, a terrific medium, has written 3 children’s books about how to talk to your kids about the world of spirit, to make it less scary or upsetting when they see something. She’s looking for a publisher." Sheila.
Can anyone help?
HIGHLY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC: PERFECT SYMPHONY
What makes a music video so great that it gets over half a billion views and more than 100,000 comments? A great song, two fabulous singers at the top of their game, sumptuous visuals, and great collaboration. It's truly a perfect symphony! No wonder so many reviewers say they get goosebumps listening to it. The very tall young man sitting next to Andrea is his son Matteo, who is trying to make his way as a singer, and the pianist is his older son Amos.
Whilst we encourage and publish many papers and reports by afterlife researchers, we are not in a position to guarantee the accuracy of all claims. We accept the imputed claim that the afterlife and paranormal research done by the researchers is done in good faith.
FRIDAY
AFTERLIFE REPORT
COMMENTARY: AN INSPIRATIONAL LIFE 
SO WHAT IS SPIRITISM AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM SPIRITUALISM?
Spiritism has a core belief in reincarnation and karma and embraces most Christian principles. It began in the 1850s when Alan Kardec submitted hundreds of questions to advanced spirits through mediums. He then collated the answers to form 
"You survive death as a spiritual being, because survival is part of the natural law, a fact which is purely biological in its operation. It has nothing to do with your religious beliefs, or lack of beliefs, or your outlook. It is not a reward or a punishment. You have no alternative but to survive...You are not a body with a spirit. You are a spirit with a body - a tremendous difference. But you are not your body."
goes into trance and allows their hand to be taken over by a spirit person (see 
The book 
As well as writing 100,000 pages in 412 books dictated by spirits, 
1. They're not dead.
One of the main things our loved ones say when they communicate through a medium is that they want forgiveness. This is illustrated in the following extract from a book by Laura Lynne Jackson, a medium certified by the Forever Family Foundation and the Windbridge Institute. Her book 
George E. Lockett has spent 50 years practising Transcendental Meditation as taught by 
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study (SLIDS) with Ana Castro. 
Developing the skills of mental mediumship and blending with spirit.
Robert Cornett is a certified 
When:
Every week, participants interested in trying to develop physical mediumship sit in a darkened space in their own homes for 40 minutes, relax, and listen to music. At the moment, the group is focusing on table tipping with several members getting phenomena.
We are meeting to create spirit art with messages. No art experience required. 
USA-based Physical mediumship development group with Rob Blackburn and Craig Hogan. Participants sit in a darkened space in their own homes; the group has been going for some time and members are experiencing phenomena. 
Paul is an English medium now based in Sydney. He does "platform readings," giving messages to most people present.
JAN PRICE'S NDE 
"We are all servants of the Great Spirit. Some of us have evolved a little higher. Because of that, we return to give service, for service is the law of life. Where there is no service, there is desolation. Where there is service, there is peace and happiness. Your world must build a new system of life with service to one another. (Teachings of Silver Birch, p. 85).
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RESEARCH INTO SPIRITUAL HEALING?
