International Medical Spiritist Association

Medicine and Spirituality are the primary themes of various events planned by the International Spiritist Medical Association in six European Countries in October/November 2009. The first event was in France, and others followed in Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and finally in Portugal.

The 2nd British Congress on the subject of Medicine and Spirituality took place at Stratford Old Town Hall London on 7th and 8th November 2009 , 6 Doctors speakers from Brazil and 3 British speakers.

Saturday began with the transcendental British musician, Tim Wheater (www.timwheater.com), delighting the audience with his beautiful flute playing and overtone chanting. For those who have internet access, this can be seen on: www.youtube.com/watch?v=unegJAiXo6g video made by Carlos Mayoral , one of the Congress volunteers’.

51 volunteers made this Congress possible. 217 attendees came to the congress with delegation from Brazil, Denmark , Ireland, Switzerland, and Sweden. On Saturday, many of the Brazilian specialists made key-note speeches about their researches, studies and experiences. Spiritism arrived in Brazil from France over a hundred years ago and is widely accepted, not only amongst the community but also by a large percentage of the medical establishment, especially psychiatrists and psychotherapists who treat people suffering from mental illness. People who have breakdowns, bereavements, distress and disturbances can be a vulnerable group and a target for earth bound spirits and entities of all kinds. The Brazilians are at the leading edge of treating these people with spiritual methods and also in researching how to improve their methods. Psychological distress is best treated with spiritual awareness as the patient requires understanding as a whole person, with thoughts, emotions, a physical body and an eternal soul. Dr Marlene Nobre was the Brazilian co-host for the congress. She is an advocate for the recognition that holistic therapy which includes spirituality increases the physical, mental and emotional health. Her topic at this Congress was about Contributions of the Medical-Spiritist Paradigm. The Medical-Spiritist paradigm emphasizes holistic medicine, which places the spirit in command of the body. It has effectively contributed to many fields of Medicine including spiritual and scientific research, etiopathogenic studies, treatment of mental disorders and obsessions, spiritual cure, and in the use of complementary therapy that favours self-knowledge and self-healing.

Beautiful music by Villa-Lobos played on cello by Diego Carneiro and Carla Ruaro on keyboard on the 50th anniversary of his death opened the Congress on Sunday morning'

Dr Andrew Powell was the UK co-host and he began Sunday, Remembrance Sunday in the UK commemorating the dead in 2 World wars and other conflicts with a two minute silence for the war dead. He used case studies to illustrate his psychotherapeutic techniques. He explained how psychodrama was used to help a mother who terminated a pregnancy. She was married later and wished for a pregnancy. With the use of light hypnosis, she spoke about her experience. With Dr Powell’s guidance she spoke with the spirit of the aborted baby, explaining her regrets. The baby accepted this without recrimination.

Roy Stemman, the Paranormal review Magazine-UK, wrote an article about this Congress, saying that Automatic writing Mediumship (known in Brazil as psychography) has almost disappeared in Europe but is still much in evidence in Brazil. Clinical psychologist Dr Julio Peres decided to use the latest medical technology to explore what changes occur in the mediums’ brains whilst apparently receiving communications from spirit entities. To find out, he took 10 of them to the United States so that they could undergo neuroimaging at the University of Pennsylvania’s hospital, which has a new Centre for Spirituality and the Mind. (www.paranormalreview.com)

Mr Stemman says: It was in a discussion on “Dementia and Spirituality” that Dr Fabio Nasri revealed that as a doctor he sometimes refers his patients to a Spiritist Centre where they can receive healing treatment that might be more effective than conventional medicine.

When they attend, they are often surprised to recognise one of the healers – Dr Nasri. “I, as a medium, work with magnetic passes,” he told his audience, indicating that as part of this process his patients also received “surgery” from the spirits who work with him.

Dr Peter Fenwick spoke about his research with those who are dying, many of whom have visions of a tunnel, bridge or doorway or see their parents waiting or calling to them. He explained one interested case, where a family member died, but a person terminally ill in hospital had not been informed. However, the terminally ill person knew, as they described seeing this person alongside other family members in the spirit world.

This was a very special and fascinating Congress for the medically qualified where much sharing of information between specialists could take place in an auditorium where ordinary people, such as Spiritualists, Spiritist and others could attend. The audience asked questions for the eminent panel to discuss. In summary, it was another remarkable conference where exchange took place between Brazilian and UK doctors who are believers in the spiritual dimension. The English speakers commented on the warm, friendly & enthusiastic atmosphere created by the Brazilian volunteers which made their Congress so enjoyable.

Each attendee received a certificate of attendance which was personally signed by both co-hosts, Dr Marlene Nobre and Dr Andrew Powell.

• Marlene Nobre greeting