Spiritist Healing: A (r)Evolution in Mental Healthcare
[still from the film "Astral City: My Spiritual Home"]
Spiritist Healing: A (r)Evolution in Mental Healthcare
Spiritist Healing: In Context
Why should we consider Spiritist healing now? There is currently an epidemic of mental health disorders in the U.S. At least one in five Americans is taking one or more prescribed psychiatric medications, despite their many side effects and lack of effectiveness overtime. However, optimizing wellbeing without psychiatric medications is possible, something many Brazilians have been doing for more than 100 years — using spiritual therapies.
You can learn more about Spiritist Healing in Brazil's 13,000 Spiritist community centers and 50 Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals at IMHU's online course: HERE. That documentary is also available HERE. 7-Day Seminar for Healthcare providers: HERE.
My Time in Brazil Exploring Spiritist Healing
From 2001–2012 I spent 6 months of every year in Brazil exploring Brazilian Spiritism, an offshoot of Spiritualism that specializes in healing and supporting evolution. During that time I served as a guide for those seeking healing, was invited to visit and write about Spiritist psychiatric hospitals, and met with psychiatrists and psychologists to understand their path of diagnosis and treatment. Since 2012 I have led 7-day seminars on location in Brazil so participants can personally experience the work and interact with practitioners.
Spiritist Healing by the Numbers
Spiritists operate over 13,000 community centers and fifty Spiritist psychiatric hospitals in Brazil. These hospitals combine conventional psychiatry with various paths of spiritual healing, such as energy work, compassionate fellowship with peer counselors, blessed water, and the assistance of medical intuitives and mediums for diagnostics and treatment.
Entering the Hospital
A person who enters the hospital first meets with an MD for a physical check-up, then a social worker to consider psychological stress. After being admitted, the person is ushered into a ward specific to their problem. A typical residential stay is 28 days. Most Spiritist hospitals also provide out-patient services.
Spiritist Healing: Spiritual Growth Impacts Mental Health
You don't have to be religious to find healing at these hospitals, but you do need to align with what brings meaning and purpose to you individually. Many people find that meditation and prayer assist in finding meaning and purpose — universal practices found in nearly every culture to induce peace and reduce anxiety and depression.
A Way of Life
Brazilian Spiritism offers a way of life that supports wellness and spiritual evolution. Energy healing, blessed water, study groups, mediumistic meetings, and compassionate fellowship are all available at community centers. Spiritist mediums and healers offer their services for free through community centers and psychiatric hospitals, as they believe their gifts should be given freely.
Bringing it Home to the USA
In Brazil, Spiritist community care has been available for more than 120 years. It has stood the test of time and continues to grow in popularity. Their approach is called “integrative” because it brings spirituality into mental healthcare while recognizing the effective role bio-chemistry can play. In the U.S., the Spiritual Emergence Network and Spiritual Competency Academy recognize a similar category of experience called “spiritual emergency.”
Click HERE for IMHU's online course. 30 min documentary film on Spiritism: HERE. 7-day Seminar in Brazil: HERE.
