How are Spiritist passes or laying on of hands used in healing practices?

In Spiritism, the application of "passes" or the "laying on of hands" is a healing practice where a practitioner acts as an intermediary between the spirit world and a recipient.1

During this process, the pass-giver hovers their hands around the recipient's body to transfer and balance spiritual energies, a technique often categorized as a biofield therapy. Followers believe that by channeling vital energies from the spirit world, the practitioner can encourage the recipient's physical and mental well-being. These sessions are typically conducted by trained individuals within the environment of a Spiritist center.1

While some scientific experiments in Brazil have suggested that these passes may help reduce symptoms of anxiety, research into such biofield therapies remains inconsistent. It is important to note that Spiritist practices are distinct from the broader history of Spiritualism, which has faced significant scrutiny and allegations of fraud regarding mediumship and physical phenomena throughout its development.12