MEDIUMSHIP: INTUITIVE AND INSPIRED MEDIUMS
Intuitive Mediums
Intuitive mediums are found among the mediums through whom Spirits speak and write, though we put them here in a separate category in order to distinguish the mechanism involved. As mentioned in a previous section (see Speaking and Writing Mediums), the mediums known as conscious and unconscious speaking mediums, as well as mechanical and semi-mechanical writing mediums, exercise a mediumistic faculty that involves the direct action of the Spirit upon parts of their physical body (though always with a simultaneous mental connection). In the intuitive medium, the Spirit acts only upon the incarnate soul, with which it temporarily identifies. The intuitive medium is one who captures the thoughts of the Spirits.
Intuitive Writing Mediums
We can find this definition of intuitive writing mediums in "The Medium's Book", where Kardec writes:
"The soul of the medium, under this impulsion, directs his hand, and the hand moves the pencil. We have, in this place, to take note of a very important point, which is that the discarnate Spirit does not substitute himself for the medium's soul, for the soul cannot be displaced; but he dominates it without the medium's being aware of his action, and impresses it with his will. And yet the part played, in such a case, by the medium's soul, is not simply passive; for it is the medium's soul that receives and transmits the thought of the discarnate spirit, and he is therefore aware of what he is writing, although the thoughts are not his, and is what we call an intuitive medium.
'If this be the case,' it may be objected, 'there is nothing to prove that the medium is not writing his own thoughts instead of those of another Spirit.' We reply that, in fact, it is sometimes very difficult to ascertain this point. But we may add that we cannot refuse to recognize the fact of suggestion when thoughts are expressed which have never before arisen in the medium's mind, which flow into it spontaneously as he writes, and which are often not only contrary to his ideas and convictions, but notably beyond his knowledge and intellectual capacity.
The part played by a mechanical medium is that of a machine. The intuitive medium, on the contrary, acts as a dragoman, or interpreter, and in order to transmit a thought, must necessarily understand it; but still, this thought is not his thought, for it only passes through his brain."
Intuitive Speaking Mediums
The mechanism of the intuitive speaking medium is like that of the intuitive writing medium. Again, the medium acts as an interpreter of thoughts that are not his own, but that only pass through his brain. In this case, the medium transmits the communicating Spirit's message in his own vocabulary, though maintaining consciousness of the process that is occurring.
These mediums serve well as directors of mediumship sessions and as the counselors (in such meetings) of suffering spirits, for they are very open to spiritual guidance in their work and will know the best approach to use when explaining things to the Spirits that need their comforting and instructive words.
Tools for Discretion and Application
As mentioned above, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain, even for the medium (especially the novice medium) that the thoughts transmitted are truly those of a communicating Spirit. For the medium to recognize thoughts that are not his own, he must know himself well. The Doctrine teaches all of us that we must seek to know our true selves, in our most intimate thoughts, desires, capabilities etc., for this is how we will determine the best way to work toward improving our moral condition. For the medium, this intimate self-knowledge will also help him in distinguishing his own thoughts from those that arise in his mind through an intuitive means. His conscious attention to his thought patterns and his ediumistic exercise will also help him to recognize moments of inspiration.
Eliseu Rigonatti offers these words of advice for the intuitive mediums in the exercise of their faculty. He writes, "Given the ease with which they are able to perceive the thoughts of Spirits, people who are endowed with the intuitive mediumship need to be calm and very prudent-- calm, so as not to act hastily upon any idea that comes to mind, and prudent, to analyze will the intuitions that that they receive. The diligent study of the Gospel is the most sure way to analyze the intuitions and constitutes the best defense against malevolent intuitions. The intuitions that are not in agreement with the teachings of the Gospel should be deterred. Likewise, the medium who cultivates the continuous study of the Gospel opens his receptive faculty to the superior intuitions."
Inspired
Mediums
Inspired mediums, such as Allan Kardec himself, are those to whom the Spirits suggest thoughts. They are a variety of the intuitive mediums, the difference being that in the inspired medium, the action of the Spirits upon the medium is so subtle that even the medium himself does not feel it and only perceives that he is being helped in his ideas. Consequently, it is even more difficult (than with the intuitive medium) to distinguish the medium's thought from that which is suggested.
We find the following description in "The Medium's Book" (items 182-183):
"The peculiar characteristic of the inspirational medium is spontaneousness. And here let us remark that inspiration comes to us all, from Spirits who influences us, for good or for evil, in every circumstance of our lives, and in every resolution we make, and it may therefore be truly said that, in this respect, everyone is a medium.....
It is evident that we may include in this category the persons who, without being endowed with superior intelligence, and without any modification of their normal state, have flashes of intellectual lucidity which give them, for the moment, an unusual faculty of conception and of expression, and sometimes a presentiment of future events. In what are rightly spoken of as "moments of inspiration," the flow of ideas is another in an orderly enchaining, through the action of an involuntary, spontaneous, and almost feverish impulsion; it appears to us, at such times, as though some superior intelligence had come to our aid, and our mind seems to have been suddenly relieved of a burden.
All those who are possessed of genius, artists, poets, scientific discoverers, great writers, etc, are doubtless Spirits of superior advancement, able to comprehend and to conceive great ideas; and it is precisely because of this ability that the Spirits who desire the accomplishment of some particular work select them as their instruments, suggesting to their minds the trains of thought required for their special ends, so that, in a majority of cases, "men of genius" are mediums without being aware of it. Many of them, however, have a vague intuition of this extraneous help, and everyone who seeks inspiration performs, unconsciously, an act of evocation, whenever he makes an appeal to his good genius" to come to his aid."
Kardec then adds a couple of questions that they asked to the Spirits with the answers that they gave:
- Is inspiration confined to the revelation of great things?
" No; it often has reference to the most commonplace circumstances of your daily life. For instance, you may have thought of going somewhere, but a secret voice tells you not to go, because there is a danger in the way; or it tells you to do something which you have not thought of doing; this is inspiration. There are very few persons who are not more or less 'inspired' in this way, at certain moments"
- May authors painters, musicians, and so on, be considered, in their moments of inspiration, as mediums?
"Yes, for in such times, their soul is freer, more disengaged from matter, and recovers a portion of its spiritual faculties; and it is therefore receives, with greater facility, the communications of other Spirits who inspire it with their own suggestions."
The Need for Study
Rigonotti reminds us of how valuable study is for this medium. He writes, "If the person that has the mediumship of inspiration wants to make the most of it, he/she needs to study a lot. It is the duty of all mediums to study, but for the medium of inspiration, study is a supreme necessity. We repeat that it is a supreme necessity because the inspired mediums transmit their own thoughts that the Spirits heighten, awaken, and help to give form to. If they do not actively study, they will not be able to serve as capable instruments for the Spirits who fight to shine the spiritual lights over our planet."
Presentient Mediums
Presentient mediums are a variety of inspired mediums. Kardec writes, "the kind of impression which we call presentiment is a vague intuition of future things. This faculty, more or less developed in certain mediums, is sometimes the result of a sort of second-sight, by which they obtain glimpses of the consequences of things present, and thus perceive the affiliation of events to come; but it is also, in many cases, the result of occult communications. It is to persons who are thus endowed, and who constitute a variety of the inspired mediums, that we give the appellation of presentient mediums.
Kardec, Allan. "Writing Mediums or Psychographs." The Mediums' Book. 2nd ed (1st edition FEB). Trans. Anna Blackwell (translated 1876). Ed. Livraria Espírita Allan Kardec. Brasilia-DF, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation}. 1986. 190-194 (items 180-184).
Rigonatti, Eliseu. "Mediuns Inspirados" [Inspired Mediums] A Mediunidade Sem Lagrimas [Mediumship Without Tears]. Sao Paulo: Editora Pensamento Ltda. 2000. 19.
Schubert, Suely Caldas. "Psicofonia" [Psychophony]. Mediunidade: Caminho Para Ser Feliz [Mediumship: The Path to Happiness]. Votuporanga- SP, Brazil. Casa Editora Espírita "Pierre-Paul Didier". 1999. 145-147.