How Physical Mediumship Is Said To Connect Us with Spirits

Physical mediumship is a form of mediumship where the medium facilitates direct physical interactions with the spirit world. Unlike mental mediumship, which involves spirits communicating through thoughts or images perceived by the medium, physical mediumship results in observable phenomena. These phenomena can include moving objects, producing sounds, or manifesting physical forms. The medium is believed to act as a conduit for spirit energy, allowing these physical manifestations to occur.

The golden age of physical mediumship was during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when séances and physical manifestations of spirits captured the public's imagination. In modern times, however, mediumship has shifted more towards mental mediumship. Mediums today often claim to communicate with the dead through clairaudience (hearing spirits), clairvoyance (seeing spirits), and clairsentience (feeling spirits).

Physical mediumship is typically conducted as part of a séance, where a group of people gather in a dimly lit room, often in a circle. The medium may enter a trance-like state, sometimes referred to as an altered state of consciousness. In this state, it is believed that spirits can use the medium's energy to create physical effects. One well-known phenomenon is table tipping, where a table tilts or moves without apparent cause. Participants often place their hands lightly on the table, and if conditions are right, it may begin to move, seemingly of its own accord.

Various methods are used to aid interaction with the spirit world and produce observable phenomena. One such method is table tipping, where a table appears to move or tilt autonomously, guided by spirit forces. Participants typically place their hands lightly on the table, feeling it shift and move, sometimes quite dramatically, as the medium channels spirit energy.

Another technique involves the production of ectoplasm, a mysterious substance thought to emanate from the medium’s body. Ectoplasm can take various forms, from a misty vapour to a more tangible, cloth-like material. It is believed that spirits manipulate this substance to create physical forms or move objects within the room. The appearance of ectoplasm is often one of the most striking and controversial aspects of physical mediumship, captivating those who witness it.

Direct voice phenomena are also prominent in physical mediumship. This occurs when spirit voices are heard independently of the medium’s vocal cords. Often, a spirit trumpet or cone-shaped device is used to amplify these voices, making them audible to all present. The spirit voices may provide messages, answer questions, or engage in conversations with the participants. The experience of hearing a disembodied voice in the room can be both unsettling and fascinating, offering a direct form of communication with the spirit world.

Spirit lights are another method used in physical mediumship. These small, glowing lights appear to float and move around the séance room. Varying in colour and intensity, they are seen as visual evidence of spirit presence. The appearance of these lights can add a layer of mystique and wonder to the séance, enhancing the overall experience for those involved.

Since interactions with objects, sounds, lights, and manifestations are physical phenomena, they require an energy source. The energy source behind the phenomena in physical mediums isn't fully understood. One theory is that the medium serves as a conduit, channelling their own energy to facilitate the manifestations. This idea suggests that the medium's spiritual energy is harnessed by spirits, allowing them to produce the physical effects observed during séances. Mediums often report feeling drained or fatigued after a session, which supports the notion that they are supplying significant amounts of their own energy.

Another theory suggests that the energy comes from the collective energy of the participants in the séance. This communal energy, sometimes referred to as "psychic energy" or "group energy," is believed to be amplified when individuals focus their intentions and emotions on a common goal. The heightened emotional state and shared intent of the group are thought to create an environment rich in energy that spirits can tap into. This might explain why séances are often conducted in a circle, a formation that is believed to help concentrate and channel the energy more effectively. Some researchers speculate that spirits themselves are made from or can harness an energy that allows them to interact with the physical world. In this view, spirits are seen as entities that can manipulate their own energy to produce physical phenomena.

One reason for the decline in the prominence of physical mediumship is the increased focus on scientific validation and the exposure of fraudulent mediums in the past. Skeptics found that some mediums were using trickery or sleight of hand to produce these physical effects. This effectively killed off the practice of séances, except for in dedicated physical mediumship circles.