What Are Somnambulistic Mediums

In Spiritism, somnambulistic mediums enter an altered state of consciousness similar to natural sleepwalking, allowing them to communicate with Spirits. They may speak, write, or move unconsciously, while their soul actively interacts with the spiritual plane.

The key characteristic is apparent unconsciousness: the medium seems deeply asleep while experiencing intense spiritual activity.

Sleep and Fatigue in Somnambulistic Mediums

Trance demands significant energy. Both the brain and perispirit are highly active, facilitating Spirit communication. Therefore, fatigue and sleepiness before, during, and after sessions are common.

Typical signs of sleep in somnambulistic mediums:

• Deep tiredness and drowsiness;
• Partial rest after the trance;
• Need for proper rest to maintain physical and spiritual health;
• Natural sleepwalking state enhances soul lucidity.

Adequate rest improves spiritual attunement and prevents energy depletion.

Magnetic Induction and Trance

Sleepiness or trance can occur naturally or be induced by other Spirits through magnetic influence. Benevolent Spirits use energy flows to guide the medium into the ideal state for communication.

Important precautions:

• Not all Spirits have good intentions;
• Observe if messages align with Gospel principles;
• Moral development helps attract higher Spirits.

Spiritist Phenomenology and the Gospel

Spiritist phenomenology studies manifestations from physical effects (noises, object movement) to intellectual effects (psychography, psychophony).

The Gospel According to Spiritism guides mediums:

1. Observation and Discernment: Identify benevolent and malevolent Spirits.
2. Self-Knowledge: Encourages moral development for safe mediumship.
3. Teaching and Learning: Understand the purpose: comfort, instruction, and charity.
4. Mediumship Development: Moral integrity attracts higher Spirits, creating a cleaner channel for messages.

Yvonne do Amaral Pereira: Somnambulistic Medium Example

Yvonne do Amaral Pereira frequently entered deep trance, almost unconscious of her surroundings, producing psychographic and psychophonic messages. She reported perispiritual displacements, feeling separated from her body while interacting with Spirits.

Her main guides included Charles and Bezerra de Menezes, demonstrating the importance of Gospel-based moral guidance in mediumship.

Types of Somnambulism and Mediumship

Allan Kardec classified somnambulism as:

• Natural: Spontaneous, no external induction;
• Artificial: Induced via magnetic passes;
• Magnetic: Provoked by another person using magnetic fluid.

Difference between mediums and somnambulists:

• Somnambulists express their own thoughts;
• Mediums are passive, conveying another Spirit’s intelligence.

Lucidity and Spiritual Assistance

Somnambulists can receive help from Spirits to overcome limitations:

• Accurately perceiving diseases;
• Receiving remedies from guiding Spirits (“angel doctor”);
• Safely manifesting mediumship.

Note: Moral quality is crucial; levity or malicious Spirits can interfere.

Common Phenomena in Somnambulistic Mediums

• Rapid, unconscious psychography;
• Psychophony without awareness;
• Perispiritual displacements;
• Memory loss of trance content;
• Physical sensations reflecting soul location (cold, heat, motion).

Recommended Readings

1. The Mediums’ Book – Allan Kardec: Foundation of mediumship;
2. Genesis – Allan Kardec: Fluids, phenomena, and miracles;
3. Piercing the Invisible – Yvonne do Amaral Pereira: Somnambulistic experiences;
4. At the Frontiers of Madness – Manuel Philomeno de Miranda / Divaldo Franco: Mediumship and mental health;
5. Mediumship Without Tears – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: Beyond-Spirit communication studies.

Start your study with The Mediums’ Book to understand safe and moral mediumship.

Final Thoughts

Somnambulistic mediums reveal the emancipated soul’s lucidity, perception, and spiritual communication. Safe practice requires study, self-knowledge, and Gospel guidance.

Want to better understand the types of mediumship? Read our article: “The 9 Main Types of Mediumship“