ON THE RADAR

Quick News From Around the World

• "Divaldo" Film Hits YouTube This Month: The inspiring Brazilian biopic about Divaldo Franco, the renowned Spiritist medium and humanitarian, is streaming for free — but only until January 31st. The film (in Portuguese with English subtitles) is exclusively available to US viewers. Want to see more international spiritual content reach wider audiences? Give it a watch and engage with the video to signal interest to Disney, the rights holder. Watch now and/or leave a like and a comment to help spread the word.
• Dr. Jim B. Tucker retires from the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), the pioneering research division founded by Dr. Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia to explore the relationship between mind, brain, and the survival of consciousness. Under Dr. Tucker’s leadership, DOPS expanded its studies to include near-death experiences, children’s past-life memories, and after-death communications. A new research director will join next July, continuing this vital legacy. Want to know more about DOPS? Read this NYTimes article, Do You Believe in Life After Death? These Scientists Study It.
• Academia on Mediumship: Dr. Alexander Moreira-Almeida’s latest article, “Mind beyond the brain: proposal of a pragmatic interactionist framework,” published in the International Review of Psychiatry, explores a fascinating idea: the connection between the mind and brain might go beyond what science currently understands. Drawing on studies of near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, mediumship, and past-life memories, Moreira-Almeida proposes a pragmatic framework to help make sense of these mysteries. Read this month's feature below to learn more about the special edition of the International Review of Psychiatry.
• 2025 Spiritist Learning Series: The California Spiritist Association is starting a new series of 30-minute talks with different speakers from around the globe broadcast simultaneously to audiences online and at some California Spiritist groups. Watch the January edition about Joanna de Angelis, a spiritual pioneer in psychology and healing, with Marcia Trajano.
• Spiritism Meets Psychology: A unique opportunity to explore the connection between Spiritism and psychology is now available online. This free course examines Allan Kardec's Spiritist teachings through the lens of Joanna de Angelis' transpersonal psychology. Hosted by members of the Brazilian Medical Spiritist Association, the monthly sessions take place on Zoom at 8:30 PM London time, with live English interpretation provided. If you're interested in joining, reach out to Fabrício Assunção at the Spiritist Society of Bournemouth (UK) via phone or WhatsApp at +44 795 028 5036.
• You Can Now Listen to The Spiritist Radar: Too much reading to do? Prefer to listen to your news? We've launched a new monthly podcast covering the content of The Spiritist Radar! Click here to listen to the December edition, or subscribe to it at your favorite podcast platform.
• The British Union of Spiritist Societies is organizing a series of talks with Dan Assisi around the Greater London area on January 23-27, including a seminar on Spiritual Healing. See our calendar below for more details.

FEATURE: MIND BEYOND THE BRAIN

Mind Beyond the Brain: A Groundbreaking Special Edition of the International Review of Psychiatry

• Sommer, A. (2024). Hidden histories of science and medicine: spirit mediumship and the ‘psychology without a soul’. This article explores the historical relationship between spirit mediumship and the development of psychology. Read it here.
• Shushan, G. (2024). Diversity and similarity of near-death experiences across cultures and history: implications for the survival hypothesis. A cross-cultural examination of near-death experiences and their implications for the survival of consciousness. Read it here.
• Coelho, H. S. (2024). How metaphysical ignorance shapes the discussion on the nature of the mind. This article critiques how metaphysical assumptions influence debates on the mind’s nature. Read it here.
• Costa, M. de A., & Moreira-Almeida, A. (2024). What does mediumship tell us about the mind beyond the brain? A study exploring how mediumship contributes to our understanding of consciousness. Read it here.
• Weiler, M., & Acunzo, D. J. (2024). What out-of-body experiences may tell us about the mind beyond the brain. An investigation into what out-of-body experiences reveal about the mind’s relationship to the brain. Read it here.

NEW RESOURCES

Read

• The Spiritist Magazine #69: The January-March 2025 edition is out with the feature article "Ten Steps to Overcome Jealousy and Envy" by Joseph.

Listen and Watch

• Spiritist Talk Series:
  
  • Scientific Spiritism: Practical Insights for Life by Marcelo Medeiros
  • Spiritist Movement in Action: Spiritist Literature with Korngold, Marshall-Netto, Netto, and Korngold.
  • Ask Me Anything (Special Edition) with Assisi, Korngold, Lima, and Trajano
• Spiritual Light:
  • Fear of Old Age and Death
  • Why do Spirits Need to Reincarnate?
  • Communication with Spirits and the Role of Mediums
  • Do Not Judge So That You Will Not Be Judged
• Psychology & Spirituality:
  • 94 - Illuminating the Shadow (Shadow Work)
  • 95 - Holistic Health - Pt 1
  • 96 - Holistic Health - Pt 2 (Connecting the Body and the Mind)
  • 97 - Holistic Health - Pt 3 (Love, Healing, Personal Transformation)
  • 98 - Self Discovery and the Existential Meaning of Life
• 2025 Spiritist Learning Series:
  • Joanna de Angelis: a Spiritual Pioneer in Psychology and Healing by Marcia Trajano

Let's Watch It Again:

EVENTS

This Month:

• January 23-27: BUSS Series of Talks with Dan Assisi in Greater London, UK.
  • 23 - Spiritist Society of London
  • 24 - Brentwood Spiritist Group
  • 25 - Spiritual Healing seminar for Spiritist workers
  • 26 - West Kent Spiritist Group
  • 27 - Allan Kardec Spiritist Group

Coming Up in 2025:

• January 23-27: BUSS Series of Talks with Dan Assisi in Greater London, UK.
  • 23 - Spiritist Society of London
  • 24 - Brentwood Spiritist Group
  • 25 - Spiritual Healing seminar for Spiritist workers
  • 26 - West Kent Spiritist Group
  • 27 - Allan Kardec Spiritist Group
• February 15: Mediumistic Painting with Florencio Anton (Bicester, UK)
• March 28-29: 1st European and 3rd Spiritist Congress of Switzerland
• April 5-6, 2025: 14th Spiritist Conference of Florida (FL, USA)
  • Registration is now open, and the first 100 registrants receive a 2-for-1 discount
• May 24, 2025: The 11th Spiritist Youth Retreat (NY or CT, USA)
• September (Planned): US Spiritist Symposium (MI, USA)
• September 12-14, 2025: 3rd Joanna de Angelis Spiritist Psychology International Congress (Hertfordshire, UK)
• October 2-5, 2025: 10th Toronto Spiritist Weekend (ON, Canada)
• October 4-5, 2025: 11th Spiritist World Congress & 1st Youth Spiritist Congress (Punta del Este, Uruguay)

THE SPIRITIST TIME MACHINE

Tidbits of #SpiritualHistory for January

• January 1, 1846: Léon Denis, a prominent French Spiritist philosopher who played a crucial role in consolidating the Spiritist movement, is born in Foug, France. His work in deepening the moral and philosophical aspects of the nascent body of knowledge has had a lasting impact on Spiritism worldwide.
• January 1, 1858: Allan Kardec founds the Revue Spirite (Spiritist Review), a quarterly international magazine dedicated to Spiritism, psychological studies, and experimental spiritualism. The Revue Spirite is the official publication of the International Spiritist Council. #Spiritism #Spiritualism
• January 2, 1873: Thérèse of Lisieux, French Catholic nun and author, is born in Alençon, France. She gained recognition for her writings on spirituality.
• January 2, 1884: The Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB) is founded. FEB promotes Spiritism's principles in Brazil by supporting Spiritist centers, offering resources, and organizing events to advance the understanding and practice of Spiritism.
• January 3, 1945: Edgar Cayce, American mystic, psychic, and clairvoyant who is often referred to as the "Sleeping Prophet," discarnates in Virginia Beach, USA. He is best known for his ability to provide psychic readings on a wide range of topics, including world events.
• January 4, 1903: Renowned Russian scientist and psychic researcher Alexander Aksakof passed away in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He coined "telekinesis" and conducted pioneering research in psychic phenomena, making him a key figure in the Spiritualist movement.
• January 5, 1941: Henri Bergson, French philosopher and former president of Psychical Research in London, discarnates in London, England. He is known for his work in philosophy and metaphysics, particularly his exploration of concepts like "élan vital" and the nature of time.
• January 6, 1868: The book "Genesis, Miracles and Predictions According to Spiritism" was published by Allan Kardec in Paris, France. Genesis is the last of the five basic books of the Spiritist Codification. The book is divided into three parts: Genesis, Miracles, and Predictions.
• January 9, 1862: Ernesto Bozzano, Italian psychic researcher and writer, is born in Genoa, Italy. He is known for his extensive work in the study of paranormal phenomena and the investigation of mediumship where he documented séances and was an early researcher on deathbed phenomena.
• January 12, 1972: Members of the Portuguese Spiritist Federation inform Divaldo Pereira Franco that his book "Dimensões da Verdade" by Spirit Joanna de Ângelis is listed in the Church's Index Expurgatorius by the Portuguese dictatorship for its "dangerous content." #Spiritism #OnThisDay
• January 13, 1910: The renowned American medium, Andrew Jackson Davis, discarnates in Boston, USA. Known as the "John the Baptist of Modern Spiritualism," he played a pivotal role in popularizing the spiritualist movement in the USA during the mid-19th century.
• January 15, 1861: Allan Kardec publishes The Mediums' Book, the second of the five fundamental works of Spiritism. TMB is the first comprehensive treatise on mediumship, demystifying it and making it accessible to anyone willing to learn.
• January 21, 1883: Amélie Gabrielle Boudet, French teacher, artist, and the wife of Allan Kardec, discarnates in Paris, France. She played a crucial role in the early days of the Spiritist movement by assisting her husband in the research, documentation, and dissemination of Spiritist teachings.
• January 25, 1863: Andrew Jackson Davis founds The Lyceum in New York, a Sunday school for poor children on the streets to help them to a better life.
• January 29, 1688: Emanuel Swedenborg, Swedish medium and author of the celebrated book "Heaven and Hell", was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He wrote extensively on his experiences in the spiritual world and the complex theology he developed as a consequence.

We hope you enjoyed what's on our radar for this month.