How To Conduct A Séance & Master The Basics Of Spirit Communication
April 08, 2024 1:00 AM ‐ Paranormal
Photo: © Pavel Danilyuk
A séance might sound like something out of a horror movie, but it's a practice that has been part of human culture for centuries, evolving over time with various methods and beliefs around the world. The word "séance" itself originates from the French word for "session" or "sitting," reflecting the practice of sitting together in a quiet, often dimly lit room to reach out to the spirit world.
Historically, séances have been associated with mediums, individuals who claim to have the ability to communicate with the dead. In many séances, especially those rooted in spiritualist traditions, a medium is seen as a crucial link between the living and the dead. However, in more modern settings, a medium is not strictly essential for a séance. In these settings, tools like Ouija boards, automatic writing, or ghost hunting devices are used collectively by the group to allow spirits to communicate.
In this respect, a modern séance isn't really very different from what is referred to as a "vigil" in paranormal investigations, especially in their objectives of making contact with the spirit world and observing paranormal phenomena. Both involve calling out to spirits and looking for signs of communication.
In traditional séances, there was no requirement for them to be held in a haunted location or any place where spirits were already present, active, or had a strong connection due to past events. It was believed that spirits could come through anywhere, this could be spirits associated with the participants at the séances, something that was believed to be aided by a medium. A séance could also involve entities unknown to the participants coming through from any place or any time.
One of the most iconic tools used in séances is the Ouija board, a flat board marked with letters, numbers, and other symbols. Participants place their fingers lightly on a planchette, a small heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic, which then moves across the board to spell out messages from the spirit world. Despite being originally sold in toy stores, the Ouija board was taken quite seriously in the past as a means of spirit communication.
Another common practice in séances is table tipping or table turning, where participants place their hands on a table and wait for it to move or tip, supposedly under the influence of spirits. These movements are then interpreted as messages from beyond. Participants might also use glass divination, a form of spirit communication where participants lightly touch a glass placed on a table. It is believed that spirits can move the glass to answer questions or convey messages.
Séances have often been surrounded by controversy and skepticism. Critics argue that many of the phenomena observed during séances can be explained by psychological factors, such as the ideomotor effect, where people make movements unconsciously, or outright fraud by mediums seeking to take advantage of the bereaved.
Despite this, the séance remains a popular part of paranormal investigations, where the practices have evolved from a private ritual into a more open and experimental activity. Depending on your beliefs, a séance can be an interesting demonstration of communication with the dead or an eye-opening insight into some fascinating psychological principles that fraudulent mediums have been exploiting for decades.
How To Conduct A Séance
Curious about trying a séance for yourself? Here's a basic step-by-step guide to get you started.
Prepare The Space
Choose a quiet, comfortable room where you won't be disturbed. It doesn't need to be a haunted location, but for beginners, somewhere with a history of ghostly goings-on may yield better results. Arrange seating in a circle, dim the lights, or use candles for a soft, natural light source.
Open The Séance
Start the séance by holding hands or placing them on the table with fingertips touching to create a complete circle. You'll then need to call upon any spirits who wish to communicate to come forward. You don't need a medium to do this, just make a simple, heartfelt invitation and welcome any spirits.
Listen & Interpret
Encourage participants to close their eyes and focus on their senses. Listen for any sounds that seem out of place, feel for changes in temperature, or note any emotional sensations that wash over you. It's essential to remain open and not dismiss subtle experiences. Even if something seems insignificant to you, it could be that others are experiencing the same thing at the same time, making it interesting potential evidence.
Ask Questions
You can ask questions aloud, leaving a silence after to give the spirits sufficient time to respond. During this gap, pay attention to how the environment responds to your queries. This could be through physical sensations, emotional shifts, or sounds that seem to answer your questions.
Close The Séance
When you feel the session has come to a natural end, or at a predetermined time, thank any spirits that may have communicated and express gratitude for their presence. Formally close the séance by stating your intention to end the communication and imagining the circle of energy being gently dissolved.
Discuss
Share your experiences and feelings with the group to help process the session. Discussing the séance can be an essential part of the process, allowing participants to validate their experiences.
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