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One of the quiet truths of the Spiritist movement is that it has always been a movement of gatherings — small rooms where people meet to study, to support one another, and to put charity into practice. From the first circles around Allan Kardec to a study group meeting tonight in a living room halfway across the world, Spiritism grows wherever two or three decide to sit down together.
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June is full of exactly that. This edition is anchored in connection: a free directory that helps you find a Spiritist group near you, a family retreat in the Connecticut woods, and a Spiritist film festival in Copenhagen. We also pause, at month's end, to remember Francisco Cândido Xavier — who returned to the spiritual world on June 30, 2002, and whose life of service still draws so many of us together.
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Wherever you are, and however large or small your circle, you are part of something worldwide. Let us know what's on your radar!
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ON THE RADAR
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- This Weekend — 23rd Family Spiritist Retreat in Connecticut (June 21): The 23rd Family Spiritist Retreat takes place at Old Mine Park in Trumbull, CT — a day of study, nature, and fellowship for all ages. If you're in the Northeast, there's still time. Register
- Spiritual Film Days Comes to Copenhagen (June 27–28): Next weekend, director Wagner de Assis presents Spiritual Film Days in Copenhagen — five of his spiritual films, including the new Fox Sisters, with filmmaker discussions. A rare English-accessible European gathering devoted to Spiritist cinema, and another sign the genre is finding audiences well beyond Brazil.
- An Online Home for Spiritist Groups: The Spiritist Institute maintains SpiritistGroups.org, a free, searchable directory of Spiritist centers and study groups across the English-speaking world — nearly 200 groups in six countries. Runs a group that isn't on the map yet? Adding it is free. (More in this month's feature, below.)
- Remembering Chico Xavier — 24 Years On (June 30): June 30 marks 24 years since Francisco Cândido Xavier returned to the spiritual world in 2002. Across the world, centers will hold special programs honoring the medium who psychographed more than 400 books and gave the proceeds to charity. For his works available in English, visit spiritistbooks.org/fcx.
- 20th US Spiritist Symposium — Registration Open: Registration is open for the landmark 20th US Spiritist Symposium, "The Compass for Spiritual Progress," on Saturday, November 7 in Dania Beach, Florida. An early-bird discount is available. spiritistsymposium.org
- 4th International Spiritist Congress Joanna de Ângelis — Registration Open: "Overcoming the Pains of the Soul: The Path to Mental Health," August 28–30 in Fátima, Portugal. Register
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FEATURED THIS MONTH
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SpiritistGroups.org — An Online Home for Spiritist Groups
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Imagine feeling the first pull of curiosity about Spiritism — or moving to a new city and hoping to keep studying — and wanting, simply, to find others to sit down with. For a long time, that modest wish ran into a frustrating wall: there was no single place to look. Spiritist centers were scattered across word-of-mouth, social media pages, aging link lists, and the memory of whoever happened to know someone. Many groups went unfound altogether — not for lack of warmth, but because no one could see them.
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SpiritistGroups.org exists to answer exactly that need. It is a free, searchable directory and map of Spiritist centers and study groups across the English-speaking world — one place where a seeker can type in a city or country and find the people already gathering nearby. Each listing shows what matters when you're deciding whether to walk through the door: a description of the group, its location on the map, its website, and how to get in touch.
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Today the directory maps nearly 200 groups across six countries:
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- 124 in the United States
- 33 in the United Kingdom
- 17 in Canada
- 15 in Australia
- 4 in Ireland, and
- 1 in New Zealand
And it keeps growing as more centers add themselves to the map!
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Why does finding a group matter so much?
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Because Spiritism is learned not only from books, but in community. A study group offers steady guidance through Kardec's works, people to turn to when a hard question arises, and the encouragement to carry study into practice — the charity and self-improvement that are the heart of Spiritism. Reading can begin the journey; a group helps you continue it.
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If you've been studying on your own, take a moment this month to see who's nearby.
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NEW RESOURCES
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Let's Listen To It Again:
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Spiritist Conversations: What Are Spiritist Passes?
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Passes — the transmission of healing energies — are among the most common practices at a Spiritist center. In this conversation, Dan, Flavio, and Suzana welcome Dr. Sonai Doi, president of the International Spiritist Medical Association, to explore what passes are and how they work. A fitting companion to this month's feature on finding a Spiritist group near you.
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Coming Up:
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- June 21: 23rd Family Spiritist Retreat, Old Mine Park, Trumbull, CT (USA)
- June 27–28: Spiritual Film Days with Wagner de Assis — five of the director's spiritual films, including the new Fox Sisters (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- August 28–30: 4th International Spiritist Congress Joanna de Ângelis: "Overcoming the Pains of the Soul — The Path to Mental Health" (Fátima, Portugal)
- September 12: Integrating Well-being: Spirituality, Spiritism & Science — a one-day gathering with Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD; Helané Wahbeh, ND, MCR; Haroldo Dutra Dias, PhD; and Alexander Moreira-Almeida, MD, PhD. Hosted by Dan Assisi. Simultaneous Portuguese translation provided. (Davenport, FL — USA)
- September 18–20: 9th European Spiritist Gathering + 1st Youth European Spiritist Gathering (Wégimont, Belgium) — for more information, contact european.spiritist.meeting@gmail.com
- October 10–11: 19th Spiritist Conference of Georgia: "The Spiritist View of Afflictions" (Georgia, USA)
- November 7: The 20th US Spiritist Symposium: "The Compass for Spiritual Progress" — a landmark anniversary edition! (Dania Beach, FL — USA)
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Do you know of an event in which our readers would be interested? Let us know!
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THE SPIRITIST TIME MACHINE
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- June 3, 1925: Astronomer, writer, and psychical researcher Camille Flammarion discarnates in Juvisy-sur-Orge, France. A founder of the French Astronomical Society, he was a lifelong investigator of mediumship and life after death.
- June 10, 1854: The Society for the Diffusion of Spiritual Knowledge, the first American Spiritualist organization, is established in New York. It published The Christian Spiritualist and offered free public séances; among its members were New York judge John Worth Edmonds and former governor N. P. Tallmadge.
- June 12, 1851: British physicist, writer, and psychical researcher Sir Oliver Lodge is born in Penkhull, Staffordshire, England. A pioneer of radio, he became one of Spiritualism's most respected scientific advocates.
- June 12, 1856: Allan Kardec receives a message from the Spirit of Truth, through the mediumship of Aline C., confirming his role in codifying Spiritism — a new body of knowledge.
- June 14, 1942: Italian medium Linda Gazzera discarnates. Her phenomena were studied by researchers including Cesare Lombroso, Charles Richet, and Enrico Imoda.
- June 17, 1832: British chemist and physicist Sir William Crookes is born in London. He studied the mediums Kate Fox, Florence Cook, and Daniel Dunglas Home, and became a leading scientific proponent of survival after death.
- June 21, 1886: Scottish medium Daniel Dunglas Home — considered one of the greatest physical-effects mediums the world has seen — discarnates in Paris, France.
- June 24, 1943: Italian writer and psychical researcher Ernesto Bozzano discarnates in Genoa, Italy. He documented hundreds of séances and was an early researcher of deathbed and end-of-life phenomena.
- June 28, 1890: Medium Elizabeth d'Esperance materializes a seven-foot golden lily during a physical-effects séance in England, witnessed by several scientists, including Alexander Aksakof.
- June 30, 2002: Brazilian medium Francisco Cândido Xavier discarnates in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Over his lifetime he psychographed more than 400 books and dedicated their proceeds to charity. For his works in English, visit spiritistbooks.org/fcx.
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We hope you enjoyed what's on our radar for this month.
Do you have suggestions about what we should feature? Email us!
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Have a passion for promoting Spiritism in English?
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The Spiritist Radar is a publication of The Spiritist Institute.
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