What are Spiritual Fluids?

In Espiritismo, spiritual fluids are both symbolic and literal. They are invisible energies that connect spirits and mediums, facilitating communication between the physical and spiritual worlds. These fluids also manifest physically through bodily fluids, creating a dynamic interplay between the tangible and the intangible.

Water as a Conduit in Espiritismo

First and foremost among spiritual fluids is water, which is central to Espiritismo as a spiritual medium, serving as a conductor and amplifier of spiritual fluids. Practitioners frequently place glasses or bowls of water on their spiritual altars or bóvedas to absorb negative energies and facilitate spiritual clarity. Likewise, spiritual baths (“baños”) infused with specific herbs, colognes, and prayers are traditionally used to cleanse and recalibrate an individual's spiritual energies. Bóveda setups, such as arrangements of nine glasses representing one's spiritual court, are considered integral in ancestral elevation rituals, further emphasizing water's role in connecting with ancestors and spiritual guides.

Espiritistas have also described sensations of energy flowing like currents or waves during mediumship or healing rituals, highlighting water’s ubiquity in facilitating spirit communication and purification.

Spiritual Fluids Within the Human Body

Although it isn’t within the formal teachings of traditional Espiritismo, contemporary Espiritistas sometimes draw metaphorical parallels between certain bodily fluids and energetic currents experienced during mediumship or spiritual practices.

Amniotic Fluid

In many Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities, the amniotic fluid present at birth holds deep spiritual significance, considered to be a person’s first "spiritual bath" that marks their transition from the spirit world to the physical one. Espiritistas traditionally interpret circumstances around birth fluid, such as being born in the amniotic sac or "in the veil," as potential indicators of spiritual gifts or ancestral connections.

Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier physically filters substances entering the brain. In many diasporic traditions, plant medicines like ayahuasca, cacao, and herbal baths are used to "open the gates" of perception. While working with entheogens like ayahuasca isn’t traditionally part of Espiritismo's healing tradition, some Espiritistas who work with other plant-based cleansings have reported that certain herbs heighten intuition or increase dream activity. This suggests a link between physical purification and spiritual receptivity.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

While not a formal tenet of Espiritismo, some contemporary practitioners have drawn parallels between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which circulates the brain and spinal cord, and the energetic sensations described during mediumship. This idea is mirrored in other traditions such as: 

• Kundalini energy from Hindu mysticism, which rises through the spine.

• The Ashe from Yoruba traditions, which resides in the head and determines destiny.

• The work of author Franz Mesmer, who believed that "animal magnetism" traveled through the body like a subtle electric current.

Electromagnetic Energies

It’s an established scientific fact that the heart and brain generate electromagnetic fields. Though not technically bodily fluid, contemporary spiritualists sometimes refer to the body's electromagnetic fields as metaphorical bridges between physical and spiritual energies. This is similar to Mesmer’s idea of “animal magnetism,” as well as concepts found in Reiki and other energy healing practices. The idea that spiritual fluids interact with electromagnetic fields may also help explain why some people are more naturally sensitive to spirit presence or energy changes around them.

Espiritistas working in healing often report that laying hands on someone produces a noticeable energy shift, similar to how electricity moves through a conductor. Certain branches of Kardecian traditions like Scientific Table Spiritism even have practices like "magnetic passes" to intentionally direct spiritual energy, creating tangible sensations of warmth and tingling believed to facilitate healing and spirit presence.

Conceptual Dimensions of Spiritual Fluids

Beyond physical expressions, spiritual fluids also embody symbolic significance, deeply rooted in traditional Espiritismo:

Mediumship and Trance States

Mediums frequently describe fluid-like sensations during spirit communication, experiencing being "filled" or "carried" by spiritual currents. Ritual elements like rhythmic music, chanting, and water-based preparations help mediums align with these fluidic energies, deepening trance states and interactions with spirits.

Dreams and Spiritual Travel

In Espiritismo, dreams are significant pathways for direct spirit communication. During sleep, your spirit is thought to partially detach from your physical body, traveling fluidly through spiritual realms. This fluidity allows easier interaction with spiritual guides and ancestors, helping to maintain ancestral connections and foster spiritual insight.

Intuition and Sensory Experiences

Espiritistas sensitive to spiritual fluids often report being able to physically sense energetic shifts before or during spirit manifestations and rituals. For neuro-spicy practitioners like me, this can feel like a sensory overload. I’ve found that rhythmic breathing, grounding practices, and spiritual cleansing can potentially help.

Remember to honor your individual intuitive experiences and diverse learning styles! If traditional rituals feel overwhelming, consider ways you might be able to adapt the ritual or pace it out to be more manageable. Ultimately, I believe that Espiritismo is a living tradition that evolves with us and meets us where we are.

In summary

In Espiritismo, spiritual fluids illustrate the continuous interplay between matter and spirit. By deepening our understanding of these energies — both literal and symbolic — Espiritistas can honor their ancestral wisdom and expand their spiritual capacities. I invite you to reflect on your own bodily sensations, intuitive insights, and energetic awareness. If you’re up for it, I’d love to hear about your experiences with spiritual fluids in the comments below or during one of my classes or weekly misas.

Interested in learning more?

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