Allan Kardec

Allan Kardec was the pseudonym of the French educator and philosopher, Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail. He was educated at the Pestalozzi Institute in Yverdon, Switzerland, where he graduated in Letters and Science, and also received a Doctorate in Medicine.

His education was based on the principles of the Enlightenment, and since a very young age Rivail developed an inquisitive, open-minded attitude, as well as demonstrating freedom of thought. These qualities, in addition to his rectitude of character, would provide him with the necessary traits he would use later to research, study and codify the Spiritist Doctrine.

Rivail was a much respected and well-known educator in his time. He spoke several languages and taught Mathematics, Astronomy, Physiology, French, Physics, Chemistry as well as Comparative Anatomy. He founded two schools, had his books and textbooks published, and translated many others.

In 1834, he married Amelie Gabrielle Boudet, who was also a teacher and writer; they had no children. Amelie was very supportive of her husband’s work throughout her life. Together they wrote and submitted a proposal for the reform of the educational system to the French Legislative Chamber. Her participation and involvement in the process of the codification of the new doctrine is undeniable. After her husband’s death, she continued her work at the Spiritist Society and helped guarantee the publication of the Spiritist magazine. Due to her efforts to consolidate and disseminate the Spiritist Doctrine, she became known as the First Great Lady of Spiritism.

This is how it all began…

In 1854, Rivail started investigating the strange and mysterious phenomena of spirit-tapping, which was said to occur during séances and spirit invocations as evidence of spirits contact or communications. Despite his initial skepticism, he was determined to understand what was causing these physical effects attributed to spirits. He almost immediately realized the significance and the serious aspects of those phenomena.

As part of his investigation, Kardec systematically and analytically posed questions to different mediums that channeled to these invisible intelligences; questions regarding all aspects of life. Other researchers of the phenomena, who respected and appreciated Kardec very much, asked him to organize, arrange and compile the innumerous communications that they also collected with the spiritual entities.

For two years, Kardec scrutinized all communications, and then he remarked to Madame Rivail:
“It is a most curious thing! My conversations with the invisible intelligences have completely revolutionized my ideas and convictions. The instructions thus transmitted constitute an entirely new theory of human life, duty, and destiny, that appears to me to be perfectly rational and coherent, admirably lucid and consoling, and intensely interesting. I have a great mind to publish these conversations in a book; for it seems to me that what interests me so deeply might very likely prove interesting to others." The Spirits’ Book, pages 20-21, ISC edition

When the idea of publishing this material was submitted to the spirit communicators they replied:

"To the book...You will give, as being our work rather than yours, the title Le Livre des Esprits (THE SPIRITS’ BOOK). You shall not publish it under your own name, but under the pseudonym ALLAN KARDEC. (His spiritual guide Zéfiro revealed to him that this used to be his name in a previous incarnation in the Gaul) Keep your own name Rivail for your own books already published, but take and keep the name we have now given you for the book you are about to publish under our orders, and, in general, for all the work that you will have to do to fulfill the mission, which as we have already told you, has been confided to you by Providence, and which will gradually open before you as you proceed in it under our guidance.” The Spirits’ Book, pages 20-21, ISC edition

The Spirits’ Book was first published in April 1857. As foretold by the communicating spirits, other books followed. This collection contains the foundation of the Spiritist Doctrine. These are: The Spirits’ Book (The Principles of the Spiritist Doctrine), The Mediums' Book (A practical dissertation on Spirit manifestation and evocations), The Gospel (The Good News explained by the Spiritist Doctrine), Heaven and Hell (Proof of the Divine justice in the Plurality of Existences), and Genesis (Miracles and Prophecies explained through Science).

In 1858, Allan Kardec founded the first Spiritist Society, under the name of “Société Parisienne d'Etudes Spirites” (The Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies). He also founded and edited until he died a monthly magazine entitled “La Revue Spirite” (The Spiritist Review).

Allan Kardec died due to an aneurysm on March 31st, 1869. His passing was instantaneous, painless, and peaceful. He is buried at the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, in Paris. Visitors from all over the world visit his tombstone, which is reputed to be one of the most flowered at the cemetery. His wife Amelie is also buried there.

At the top part of his burial chamber this sentence is written: “Naitre, mourir, renaitre encore et progresser sans cesse, telle est la loi.” ("To be born, to die, to reborn yet again and constantly progress; that is the law.”)