Mexican Spiritualism

[Karyn]

MEXICAN SPIRITUALISM

Mexican Spiritualism began in a cave near Contreras, southwest of Mexico City in 1866. A Catholic priest, Roque Rojas went into a trance state. The spirit of Padre Elias, who represented the Holy Spirit, spoke through him. When Rojas died in 1920, a young woman, Damiana Oviedo, took his place. She received divine instructions to prepare others to carry on his teachings

Spiritualism in Mexico is not considered a religion, instead it is a spiritual doctrine. They believe the spirit never dies. After death, it wanders from one to 100 days, until rebirth. There are 7 reincarnations in all. The practice is condemned by the Catholic church, but many followers consider themselves Catholics. There is an emphasis on the Holy Trinity and Padre Elias. The Virgin Mary is also an important figure. It is during the rite known as Catedra that she can work through the trance medium.

Meetings can be held in various places, a centro (center), recinto (precinct) or templo (temple). The recinto is either the mediums house or a freestanding building for spiritualistic sessions. In larger centers, several mediums work together. There is no organization, but the Templo del mediodia in Tolnahuac district in Mexico City acts as a cathedral of spiritualism.

Communication with spirits is typically through mediumistic trance and spirit possession. The medium gives advice on health, domestic and business problems by answering through a tutelary spirit. Some of these spirits have been Aztec tribesmen, some were only known by their first names, and others were fully identified. For example, Pedro Jaramillo was a famous faith healer from the early 1900s from northern Mexico, came as a spirit tutor.

Religious services are biblically based. The Giving Light service is practiced regularly. They believe a spirit remains in darkness and is not given light until it manifests through the medium. Communication with the recently passed is believed to be difficult and there must be a waiting period, perhaps six months before any conversation was possible. Mediums also practice healing and cleansing. They believe there were two kinds of illnesses, organic and spiritual. The first is cured by doctors, the other by Spiritualists.

Francisco I. Madero was a noteworthy Mexican medium of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who practiced in France and Mexico. Madero was dedicated to God and practiced in an effort to make the world a better place. His main form of communication was automatic writing, and he used a planchette and table for readings. Madero followed the writings of the French Spiritualist Kardec who wrote the classic Medium’s Book, used by students to learn unfoldment.  Madero wrote his own book, Manual Espirita, in 1911, which was only recently translated.

Photo is of Templo del mediodia

Additional Reading:.

Kelly, Isabel Folk practices in north Mexico; birth customs, folk medicine, and spiritualism in the Laguna Zone, 1965

http://www.cmmayo.com/SPIRITISTMANUAL/interview-stephen-hermann-author-of-mediumship-mastery.html

[Kevin Lee]

Marvelous to read about this happening in Mexico... thank you!