André Luiz, a Spiritist Hero? Exploring the Collection ‘Life in the Spiritual World’ by Chico Xavier

Abstract

This study analyzes the spiritist collection "Life in the Spiritual World," psychographed by the Brazilian medium Chico Xavier and attributed to the spirit André Luiz, in light of Joseph Campbell's theoretical framework, The Hero's Journey (1949). It aims to answer the research question: Is the impact and influence of the collection "Life in the Spiritual World," psychographed by Chico Xavier and attributed to the spirit André Luiz, on Brazilian culture due to its narrative structure in accordance with the stages of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey? The study seeks to map the key elements of the hero's journey in the thirteen works signed by the spiritual author, highlighting the convergence between the spiritist narrative structure and Campbell's mythological patterns. The central hypothesis explored here revolves around the possibility that the narrative structure is the causal factor of the cultural and religious impact of this mediumistic literature on Brazilian and spiritist culture. The discussion resulting from this triangulated analysis emphasizes recurring central points in the works, identifying episodic similarities between the protagonist André Luiz and the stages of the hero's journey, suggesting his characterization as an “(disincarnated) hero” in Campbell's perspective. This undertaking is considered fruitful and seminal, as it sheds new light on the Brazilian spiritist phenomenon, opening new horizons for research and studies on Brazilian spiritist literature.