Hector Salva - Espiritismo: Puerto Rican Mediumship & Magic

Hector Salva brings the luz (light) to a proud and beautiful tradition in his newest book, Espiritismo: Puerto Rican Mediumship and Magic. He intertwines his personal experiences as an espiritisto with a compelling narrative of the history and practices of this longstanding, yet often misunderstood, practice. Techniques, traditions, and praise for the blessings one can achieve through spiritual evolution can be found in this book, alongside blunt warnings about the dangers one may find in the spirit world via direct examples illustrating the power and tremendous responsibility that a medium bears. Just as the espiritisto elevates their ancestors and spirits in search of Universal Light, so Hector elevates readers through this book which honors his Boriquen ancestors and their evolving Espiritismo traditions.

Mambo Chita Tann, author of Haitian Vodou

Papa Hector Salva has outdone himself with Espiritismo. This is a one-of-a-kind book and a must-read. So much knowledge and information are shared within these pages. I love the stories of his youth. Papa Hector explains things in a way that even a novice can understand.

Starr Casas, author of Old Time Conjure and Hoodoo Your Love

Hector Salva's Espiritismo combines cultural, historical, and personal experiences to bring readers into the world of Puerto Rican Espiritismo. Salva's narratives take you into the reading rooms of mediums where you swear you can smell the incense and feel the presence of the sacred. Espiritismo introduces readers to the spirits of the Gitanas, Santos, and Indios, as it demonstrates the fascinating diversity of the tradition. An insightful contribution to the field of cultural understanding.

Tony Kail, cultural anthropologist and author of A Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo

In Espiritismo, Hector Salva recounts with sentiment and love the spiritualism he grew up with in Puerto Rico. I certainly can relate to a lot of similarities with the spiritual praxis of my own roots from my native Cuba. As Salva speaks of working with the ALL and the spirits, I am reminded of the primordial force that binds us all. I admire Salva's writings about the Science of the Spiritknowledge being a key component of consciousness, which is spirit and soul. An exceptional read filled with informative material and wisdom, Espiritismo is truly a worthy addition to anyone's spiritual library.

Reverend Alexander Cabot, author of Touched by the Goddess

Espiritismo compiles folk history and the author's stories of his personal experiences with the magic and folklore of Puerto Rico. Espiritismo is another magnificent work of traditional spiritism from Papa Hector, written from the point of view of a true expert with the heart of a warrior who is here to teach you and guide you to work your own powerful sorcery in a new and different direction

Elhoim Leafar, author of The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags and Manifestation Magic

This edition first published in 2022 by Weiser Books, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

65 Parker Street, Suite 7

Newburyport, MA 01950

www.redwheelweiser.com

www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter

Copyright 2022 by Hector Salva

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-757-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

Cover design by Kathryn Sky-Peck

Cover photograph iStock

Interior by Debby Dutton

Typeset in Adobe Garamond and Frutiger LT,

Printed in the United States of America

IBI

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Dedicated to God, the good spirits, Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rican people. May God and the good spirits bring you life everlasting.

Thank you to Mama Juana and everyone and everything that has healed, guided, and assisted me throughout this beautiful journey called Life. I also want to thank everyone who has supported me and the Great Work. Without you, there would be no me.

The principles of faith, hope, and charity form the foundation of the guiding values that Espiritistas strive to channel. Their purpose is to live in faith of the Divine, to act as a fountain of hope for others and for themselves, and to be generous, kind, and compassionate toward all.

Faith in what we know to be true confers strength and, where strength exists, weakness cannot. True faith burns like a fire in the heart of those who know what they know and move forward in strength on that knowledge. Where faith exists, fear cannot enter.

Hope is the driving force of life. It is what keeps us pushing, alive, growing, and wanting more. Without hope, humanity would have become extinct long ago. Many have been saved by the power of hope alone. Many have been lifted by her gentle hand from the deepest of ditches. Many have found their way out of the depths illuminated by just a glimpse of her strength-giving light.

Through charity, we help others progress on their spiritual paths and develop their connection to the Divine. Through charity, we encourage both faith and hope. Through charity, we manifest love.

Message from the enlightened spirits via Papa Hector

Everywhere truth, you just have to find it.

Doa Juana, Espiritista

You are about to start an incredible journey into the spiritual worlda journey of wisdom and empowerment, a journey into a deep part of yourself, a journey that will unlock and open doors into a world of beauty and mystery that consists of much more than just what the eye can see. In fact, Puerto Rican Espiritismo is a spiritual practice that is designed to open the many realms of existence to you. Its practices can help you grow on all levels and encourage you to experience life in ways that will strengthen and clarify your connection to the Divine. Its wisdom nurtures you and gives you understanding of life and beyond that can help you find wholeness. Its principles form a complete philosophy of balance, wellness, and health.

The teachings of Espiritismo are the same as those found in all teachings of Truth. This same wisdom can be found in all traditions, religions, and sects. Espiritismo merely distills this wisdom into its purest form. That is why I often refer to it as the Science of the Spirit.

My own spiritual journey down this path began at birth. I was born and raised in a family of espiritistas. At one time, almost every member of my family was a practitioner of Espiritismo or some related form of spirituality. In fact, my entire family history weaves together a story of struggle, beauty, life, and magic.

Espiritismo has always been and still is part of my daily life. Its truths have guided me spiritually from the very beginning and continue to do so now. The wisdom that I gained from growing up in Espiritismo has helped me throughout my entire life journey and granted me understanding where others found only confusion. It has been the foundational vehicle through which I was able to reach total awakening and enlightenment.