THE PERISPIRIT

Definition | Formation | Nature |
Union w/ Physical Body | Functions

Functions of the Perispirit

Part 5 of 5: Instrument for the Phenomena of Mediumship

The perispirit is a fundamental instrument in the communications between the spiritual and physical planes. This applies for mediumistic phenomena of both the intelligent and physical kinds.

Allan Kardec writes¹ :
 "It is by means of the perispirit that spirits act upon inert matter and produce the different phenomena of the manifestations.  Its ethereal nature does not present an obstacle, once we recognize that the most powerful of motors are powered by gases and other imponderable fluids. There is no room, then, with the aid of such a lever, for fear of seeing spirits produce certain physical effects, such as rapping and noises of all kinds, lifting of objects, transport and projection of objects through space, etc. There is no need to explain such effects as marvelous or supernatural. The spirits, acting upon matter, can manifest themselves in various and differing ways; through physical effects, like noises and the movement of objects; through the transmission of thought, through vision or hearing, through words, or through touch, writing, design, music, etc., in other words, through all the means possible of putting them in contact with men."

You can read more about thus role of the perispirit in our web sub-sections on mediumship, found in the section about the scientific aspect of Spiritism. 

¹ in "Posthumous Works", Manifestations of the Spirits, items 13 and 14

Kardec, Allan. "Return To The Body." The Spirits' Book.  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 135;139-140.

Kardec, Allan. "The Liberation of The Soul." The Spirits' Book.  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 150.

Kardec, Allan. "Spirits." The Spirits' Book.  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 34-35.

Kardec, Allan. "The Fluids" A Genese [Genesis]. 37th ed. Trans. Guillon Ribeiro (translated from 5th edition in French). Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation].1987. 277-280.

Kardec, Allan. "Manifestações Dos Espiritos" [Manifestations of the Spirits]. Obras Póstumas  [Posthumous Works]. 8th ed. Trans. Salvador Gentile. Ed (of translation). Elias Barbosa. (translated from 6th edition in French). Araras-SP, Brazil. Instituto de Difusão Espírita [Institute for Spiritist Dissemination].1993. 42-43.

Palhano Jr., Lamartine. "O Corpo Espiritual" [The Spiritual Body]. Teología Espírita [Spiritist Theology]. Rio de Janeiro: Centro Espírita Léon Denis [Leon Denis Spiritist Center]. 2001. 105-110.

Barbosa, Pedro Franco. "O Homem." [Man] Espiritismo Basico [Basic Spiritism]. 3rd ed. Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation].1987. 152-165.

Dellane, Gabriel. "A Vida" [Life] A Evolucao Animica [The Evolution of Soul]. Trad. De Manuel Quintao. 6. Ed. Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation], 1989, Pag.39, 55-56.

Dellane, Gabriel. " A Alma Animal" [The Animal Soul]. A Evolucao Animica [The Evolution of Soul]. Trad. De Manuel Quintao. 6. Ed. Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation], 1989, Pag.39, 81.

Dellane, Gabriel. "O Papel da Alma do Ponto de Vista da Encarnacao, da Hreditariedade e da Loucura" [The Role of the Soul from the Point of View of Incarnation, Heredity, and Madness]. A Evolucao Animica [The Evolution of Soul]. Trad. De Manuel Quintao. 6. Ed. Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation]. 1989.225-226

Dellane, Gabriel. A Reencarnação [Reincarnation]. Trad. Carlos Imbassahy]. 11. Ed. Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation]. 1998. 59-63.

Luiz, André [Spirit Author], XAVIER ,Francisco Candido & VIERA, Waldo [Mediums]. " Predisposicoes Morbidas" [Morbid Predispositions] . Evolucao em Dois Mundos [Evolution in Two Worlds]. 14. Ed. Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation]. 1995. 213-214.