Espiritismo: Puerto Rican Mediumship & Magic

“She cannot give you that,” Irma argued. “But she can offer you prayers and light. She
can make a novena and give you three Misas. You can take this and go in peace, or we can
send you to escuela espiritual. But you will not keep your hold over her.”
Then, turning to the woman, Irma said: “Do you see how this spirit is suffering? Can you
forgive him for what he has done to you?” The woman nodded her head. “Will you give him
what I said you would?” The woman agreed.
“She will forgive you,” Irma said, “but you must forgive her in return. This will bring you
much good and help you progress on your journey.”
The spirit remained quiet at first, but then began to cry and nod. “Yes, yes, I will take it
and go. But she must pay it. And quickly. I am not going to go if she takes too long.”
Doña Irma assured him that would not be a problem and the medium who had been
hosting the spirit began to relax and slumped over. “Luz y progresso,” he said hoarsely,
allowing his cuadro to come through and clear him out.
After that difficult negotiation, the sessione moved along more quickly. A young man of
about thirty was hearing voices that he could not silence. He had been to see medical doctors
and had been to other espiritistas, but nothing seemed to help. Irma diagnosed his problem as
a karmic burden he had assumed in his late teens. She called on the man's aunt, who had
raised him and was present, to help heal him, warning him that he would be entering into an
agreement with his cuadro, an agreement that must be honored. “All debts must be paid,” she
warned him as he returned to his seat.
Then another medium pointed to a young woman of about twenty-five and said: “You
don't sleep at night. They don't let you. You feel their presence all night.” The woman nodded
as she came somewhat nervously up to the front.
“These causas have been sent to destroy you,” the medium warned. Apparently the
woman had experienced a number of setbacks, including the loss of a good-paying job for
which she had not really been qualified. The medium told her that malign spirits had set her
up for failure and performed black magic on her. She would require a special cleansing in
order to free herself from these negative energies.
Throughout the evening, messages and healing continued to come through for those in the
congregation. Right before the end, another medium began to tremble lightly and pass
through another spirit.
“Buenas noches, hermanos,” said the rusty voice of an old man. This spirit, who was one
of the medium's guides, had come to give a cleansing and a blessing to the people. He called
various people up and proceeded to cleanse them with hand passes and Florida Water as he
made the sign of the cross over them. Then he turned to the congregation and said: “May the
Light stay with you all.”
“And with you,” the congregation responded.
Then the closing prayers were recited and everyone filed out. Once outside the ritual
space, the congregation snacked on cheese and crackers, drank coffee, and spoke about
general things, as it was forbidden to speak of the events of the evening outside of the ritual
space unless it was for the purpose of teaching. The mediums retired to a bedroom where they
also snacked and talked. Once members of the congregation had left, they gathered at the
dining room table where they were joined by Manny, who reviewed the impressions and
videncias he had received during the ritual.