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Welcome to the March edition of The Spiritist Radar!
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This month, we explore a groundbreaking study uncovering genetic variations linked to mediumship, providing new insights into the biological and spiritual dimensions of this fascinating faculty. We also celebrate Dr. Alexander Moreira-Almeida’s recognition with the 2025 Oskar Pfister Award, highlighting Spiritism’s growing influence in scientific and academic discussions on spirituality.
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Looking to deepen your Spiritist studies? This edition features new virtual study groups, upcoming Spiritist events across Europe and the Americas, and opportunities to connect with Spiritist communities worldwide.
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Dive in, explore, and let us know what’s on your radar!
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ON THE RADAR
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Quick News From Around the World
- Dr. Alexander Moreira-Almeida Wins the 2025 Oskar Pfister Award! The American Psychiatric Association has awarded Dr. Alexander Moreira-Almeida, a Spiritist, the prestigious 2025 Oskar Pfister Award—the highest global honor in psychiatry and spirituality. Past recipients include influential figures like Viktor Frankl, Robert Cloninger, and Harold Koenig. Dr. Moreira-Almeida will deliver a keynote lecture at the APA 2025 conference in Los Angeles this May. Notably, he is also the youngest recipient in the award’s 41-year history!
- A Busy June for European Spiritists: SPIRITISMx Scheduled for June 28. The annual SPIRITISMx event to take place in Oxfordshire, UK, has been schedule for June 28. This year's theme is "The Legacy of Women Who Continue to Inspire," and will feature ten 15-minute talks showcasing ten women who made an indelible contribution to the field of spirituality and Spiritism. Spiritists in Europe will have a busy month of June, as the European Spiritist Gathering in Finland is set for June 7 and 8!
- You Can Now Listen to The Spiritist Radar: Do you prefer to listen to your news? Click here to listen to this edition in audio commentary, or subscribe to it at your favorite podcast platform.
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Do you also have news to share? Send it our way!
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Genetic Variations Linked to Mediumship,
New Study Finds
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Genetic Variations Linked to Mediumship, New Study Finds
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A groundbreaking study published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry has identified unique genetic variations in mediums, suggesting a possible biological basis for their spiritual perceptions. This is another step towards explaining, through mainstream research and science, what Spiritism held since its inception: that mediumship is a spiritual faculty inherent to all spirits, but its expression can be influenced by an individual’s physical makeup. In other words, although all of us have the ability to sense the spiritual world, some may possess a natural sensory or physiological predisposition during specific incarnations that enhances their ability to perceive spirits.
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Conducted by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP), the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the study analyzed whole-exome sequencing of 54 highly experienced mediums and compared their genetic profiles to their first-degree relatives who are not mediums. Researchers found over 15,000 genetic variants exclusive to mediums, affecting more than 7,000 genes. These alterations were primarily related to the immune system, sensory perception, and the pineal gland, historically associated with spiritual experiences.
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The study’s findings suggest that mediums may have a biological predisposition influencing how they process external information, potentially explaining their heightened perceptions.
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This is the first exome-wide genetic study on mediumship, opening new avenues for research into the biological and neurological foundations of spiritual experiences.
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The study was led by Wagner Farid Gattaz, Marianna de Abreu Costa, Angélica Salatino-Oliveira, Daniel Gaspar Gonçalves, Leda L. Talib, and Alexander Moreira-Almeida.
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Studying Spiritism Anywhere
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Remote Study Groups Are Available to Anyone
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While many prefer to study Spiritism in person to benefit from the sense of community that Spiritist groups and societies offer, virtual study groups provide an excellent alternative. These online gatherings are particularly useful for those who do not live near a Spiritist group or have schedule constraints that prevent in-person participation. They also offer opportunities to explore topics or books not currently being studied at a local group and to connect with Spiritists from different regions—even across the globe!
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If you’re looking for a virtual study group, the best way to find one is to ask around—check with your local Spiritist center, reach out to friends, or explore Spiritist communities online. To help you get started, here are some upcoming and ongoing virtual study groups you may want to join.
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New Study Groups on the Great Spiritual Transition
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📖 Topic: Study of the Book Planetary Transition by M. P. de Miranda (via Divaldo Franco)
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📅 When: Sundays at 9 AM Eastern Time
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🔹 Hosted by: The Conscious Living Spiritist Group. This hybrid study group just completed Kardec’s Genesis and is now transitioning to Planetary Transition. The class has an average of 15 participants from various locations.
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📖 Topic: Study of the Book On the Way to the Light by Emmanuel (via F.C. Xavier)
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📍 Where: Virtual meetings + Video library + Discussion board
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🔹 Hosted by: The Spiritist Institute. This study, moderated by Dan Assisi, will explore humanity’s history from a spiritual perspective to help us make sense of today’s world.
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Virtual Groups on Spiritism and Transpersonal Psychology
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📖 Topic: Kardec & de Angelis: Spiritism & Transpersonal Psychology
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📍 Where: Virtual meetings in Portuguese with live English interpretation
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🔹 Hosted by: The Spiritist Society of Bournemouth, in collaboration with AME-Brasil, Mansão do Caminho, and The Spiritist Institute.
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💬 Want updates? Join the WhatsApp group by contacting Fabricio Assunção at +44 795 028 5036.
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📖 Topic: Human Beings in Conflict: Challenges for the Conscious Being
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📅 When: Sundays at 8:30 PM London Time
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📍 Where: Virtual sessions
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🔹 Hosted by: The Spiritist Society of Bournemouth and Dr. Anahy Fonseca (Jungian Psychiatrist, 30+ years of experience)
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💬 Want updates? Join the WhatsApp group by contacting Fabricio Assunção at +44 795 028 5036.
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NEW RESOURCES
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Listen and Watch
Let's Watch It Again:
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Featured Resource: Spiritist Conversation #40 - War: What Is It Good For?
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This Month:
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1st European and 3rd Spiritist Congress of Switzerland
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Join FESUISSE and the International Spiritist Council on March 29-30 at the Konferenzzentrum Schluefweg in Zurich for a transformative event themed “Building the New Era.” This congress brings together Spiritist scholars and enthusiasts to explore the role of spirituality in shaping a brighter future.
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Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals and contribute to meaningful discussions. For more details and registration, visit the official event page
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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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Tidbits of #SpiritualHistory for March
- March 3, 1880: The writer Gaston Luce was born in France in 1880. In addition to authoring many books and articles for Spiritist magazines, Luce was a personal friend of Léon Denis and wrote his biography, "Léon Denis: the Apostle of Spiritism."
- March 9, 1979: Brazilian journalist and Spiritist writer José Herculano Pires passed away in 1979. Pires authored many books, including translations of some of Allan Kardec's works into Portuguese.
- March 9, 1984: Yvonne do Amaral Pereira, a renowned Brazilian medium and author of several psychographed works, including "Memoirs of a Suicide," passed away on March 9, 1984, in Rio de Janeiro. "Memoirs of a Suicide" is a significant Spiritist work attributed to the spirit of Portuguese writer Camilo Castelo Branco, which Yvonne psychographed.
- March 11, 1878: Zilda Gama, Brazilian medium who psychographed many books by Victor Hugo, is born in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. She was an important figure in the early days of Spiritism in Brazil. Gama's legacy continues to inspire and educate people interested in Spiritism today.
- March 12, 1927: Léon Denis, a prominent French Spiritist philosopher who played a crucial role in consolidating the Spiritist movement, discarnates in Tours, France. His work in deepening the moral and philosophical aspects of the doctrine has had a lasting impact on Spiritism worldwide.
- March 14, 1874: The British naturalist researcher Alfred Russel Wallace, co-creator of the theory of evolution through natural selection with Charles Darwin, becomes the first scientist to obtain a photograph of a materialized Spirit in 1874.
- March 20, 1860: The first edition of "The Spirits' Book," published in 1857, contained 501 questions and answers. The second edition, released in 1860, expanded significantly to include 1,018 questions. A subsequent edition made minor revisions, bringing the total to 1,019 questions, which is the version commonly referenced today.
- March 20, 1833: Famous Scottish medium Daniel Dunglas Home, considered one of the greatest mediums of physical effects of the modern era, is born on March 20 in Currie, a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
- March 23, 1857: Gabriel Delanne, a notable French spiritist, psychical researcher, writer, and engineer, is born in Paris. Delanne's work aimed to bridge the gap between spirituality and science, advocating for a more scientific examination of paranormal and psychic phenomena.
- March 25, 1856: On March 25, 1856, while at the Baudin family's home in Paris, Allan Kardec received a communication from a spirit identifying itself as "The Truth." The spirit stated, "To you, I will address myself as The Truth and every month, at this place, I will be at your service for a quarter of an hour." This event marked the first time Kardec received a message from "The Spirit of Truth."
- March 29, 1772: Emanuel Swedenborg, Swedish medium and author of the celebrated book "Heaven and Hell", discarnates in London, UK. He wrote extensively on his experiences in the spiritual world.
- March 31, 1848: The Fox family, particularly the sisters Margaret and Kate Fox, experienced their first documented spirit communication on March 31, 1848, in Hydesville, New York. The sisters reported hearing mysterious rapping sounds, which they claimed were direct attempts by a spirit to communicate. This event is widely regarded as the beginning of the modern Spiritualist movement, which later influenced Spiritism as codified by Allan Kardec.
- March 31, 1869: Allan Kardec, the codifier of Spiritism, returns to the spiritual world on March 31st. He suffered an aneurysm at the age of 64. His legacy continues through the Spiritist philosophy, which he structured and disseminated through works like The Spirits' Book, The Gospel According to Spiritism, and others.
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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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The Spiritist Radar is a publication of The Spiritist Institute.
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