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

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
gone, in his earthly life; and he will reap the consequences of this rebellion in the life to
come. By this we do not mean to say that his soul is condemned to misery for ever; but as,
instead of detaching himself from matter, he plunges himself deeper and deeper into it, his
enjoyment of earthly pleasures will only have led to his suffering in the spirit-world, until he
shall have redeemed himself from the thraldom of evil by new trials, perhaps heavier and
more painful than those against which he now rebels. Through his indulgence in material
pleasures, he brings himself under the power of impure spirits, and thus establishes between
them and him a tacit compact which leads him to his ruin, but which it is always easy for him
to break with the assistance of higher spirits, if he have the firm determination to do so."
Occult Power - Talismans - Sorcerers.
551. Can a bad man, with the aid of a bad spirit who is at his orders, cause harm to his
neighbour?
"No; God would not permit it."
552. What is to be thought of the belief in the power of certain persons to throw a spell over
others?
"Certain persons possess a very strong magnetic power, of which they may make a bad use if
their own spirit is bad, and, in that case, they may be seconded by other bad spirits; but do not
attach belief to any pretended magical power, which exists only in the imagination of
superstitious people, ignorant of the true laws of nature. The facts adduced to prove the
existence of this pretended power are facts which are really due to the action of natural causes
that have been imperfectly observed, and above all, imperfectly understood."
553. What is the effect of the formulas and practices by the aid of which certain persons
profess to be able to control the wills of spirits?
"Their only effect is to render such persons ridiculous, if they really put faith in them; and, if
they do not, they are rogues who deserve to be punished. All such formulas are mere jugglery;
there is no 'sacramental word,' no cabalistic sign, no talisman, that has any power over spirits;
for spirits are attracted by thought and not by anything material."
-Have not cabalistic formulas been sometimes dictated by spirits?