Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
510. When a father who watches over his child is reincarnated, does he still continue to
watch over him?
"His task, in that case, becomes more difficult; but, in a moment of freedom, he asks some
sympathetic spirit to assist him in accomplishing it. But spirits do not undertake missions
which they cannot carry on to the end.
"A spirit, when incarnated, especially in worlds in which existence is grossly material, is too
much fettered by his body to be able to devote himself entirely to another-that is to say, to
give him personally all the help he needs. For this reason, those who are not sufficiently
elevated to suffice for the work of guardianship are themselves assisted by spirits of higher
degree, so that if, from any cause, the help of one spirit should fail, his place is supplied by
another."
511. Is there, besides the spirit-guardian, an evil spirit attached to each individual for the
purpose of exciting him to evil, thus of furnishing him with the opportunity of struggling
between good and evil?
'It would not be correct to say 'attached.' It is very true that bad spirits endeavour to draw you
out of the right road when they find an opportunity of doing so; but when one of them
attaches himself to an individual, he does so of his own accord, because he hopes to be
listened to. In such a case, there is a struggle between the good and the evil spirit, and the
victory remains with the one to whose influence the man has voluntarily subjected himself."
512. May we have several protecting spirits?
"Every man has always about him a number of sympathetic spirits of more or less elevation,
who interest themselves in him from affection, as he also has others who help him to do evil."
513. Do spirits who are sympathetic to an individual act upon him in virtue of a mission to
that effect?
"In some cases they may have a temporary mission; but, in general, they are only drawn to an
individual by similarity of sentiments in good or in evil."
- It would seem, then, that sympathetic spirits may be either good or bad?
"Yes; a man is always surrounded by spirits who are in sympathy with him, whatever may be
his character."