How psychography and Chico Xavier's letters work
Psychography is, according to Spiritist doctrine, the writing of messages that a medium attributes to spirits. It was through psychography that Chico Xavier produced more than 400 books and a large number of letters over his lifetime. First of all, it is fair to say clearly that spiritual authorship is a belief of the doctrine, and science does not prove communication with the dead. This text explains how Spiritism describes the phenomenon and recounts the best-known cases, separating what is documented from what is belief.
What psychography is, according to Spiritism
In Spiritist doctrine, psychography is the ability attributed to certain mediums to write messages said to come from spirits. Allan Kardec classed it as an intelligent manifestation, that is, a communication with meaning and not a simple chance effect.
It is worth repeating: here we describe what the doctrine claims. The current scientific consensus does not support the idea of communication with spirits. For that reason we treat the subject with respect, but without presenting the belief as proven fact.
Mechanical and intuitive psychography
The doctrine usually speaks of different forms of psychography, depending on the medium's degree of awareness:
- in the mechanical form, the medium is said to write without awareness of the content, as if the hand were being guided
- in the intuitive, or conscious, form, the medium perceives the ideas and writes them with their own hands, without recognising themselves as the author
This division is the way Spiritism organises the phenomenon. It is not a scientific classification.
Chico Xavier's letters
Besides the books, Chico Xavier became known for his letters of consolation. Bereaved families, above all parents who had lost children, sought him out in search of a message. Many reported recognising personal details in the texts, which made these letters a much-discussed phenomenon in Brazil.
What is fact: the letters exist and were delivered to many families. What is belief: that they really come from spirits. Both things need to be said together.
The letters that reached the courts
In some cases, psychographed letters and books reached Brazilian courts. The best-remembered are:
- in 1944, the widow of the writer Humberto de Campos took legal action over books psychographed by Chico Xavier and attributed to her husband's spirit. The ruling, handed down that same year, did not recognise the right the widow sought. The court did not decide whether the texts really came from a spirit, and only dealt with the question of copyright.
- between the 1970s and 1980s, in states such as Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná, letters attributed to Chico Xavier were accepted as evidence in homicide trials, which had a great impact.
- in 2006, in Rio Grande do Sul, a defendant was acquitted by a jury after a psychographed letter was presented in her defence.
It is worth noting that the use of this kind of letter as evidence is legally controversial. Some defend it, and others take the view that it has no place in a secular state. In other words, it is not a settled question.
What is fact and what is belief
To make this very clear:
- these are facts: the books exist, the letters were delivered, the legal cases took place and led to decisions
- this is belief: that the texts were dictated by spirits
- science does not prove communication with the dead
Presenting both dimensions together is the most honest way to approach the subject.
Frequently asked questions
What is psychography?
According to Spiritism, it is the writing of messages that a medium attributes to spirits.
What is the difference between mechanical and intuitive psychography?
In the mechanical form, the medium is said to write without awareness of the content. In the intuitive form, the medium perceives the ideas and writes them, without recognising themselves as the author.
How many books did Chico Xavier psychograph?
More than 400. The Federação Espírita Brasileira cites the figure of 412.
Is a psychographed letter valid as evidence in court?
It has been accepted in some trials in Brazil, but the matter is legally controversial and not settled.
Does science prove psychography?
No. The current scientific consensus does not support communication with spirits.
The history of psychography is part of what is known in Uberaba, where Chico Xavier lived. Find out about our Rota Espírita do Triângulo Mineiro at /expedicoes and get in touch with us on WhatsApp. The world is waiting for you. We take care of the rest.
Cover image: Petar Milošević, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
