Seances

A séance is a gathering at which participants attempt to communicate with spirits, typically those of deceased individuals. It is usually conducted with the help of a medium or through devices such as a planchette, a talking board, or table movements. Seances have long been associated with the spiritualist movement and are often framed as a ritual or social event where messages from the dead are received by attendees.

Historically, séance practices emerged in the 19th century in North America and Britain as part of organized spiritualism. The term séance comes from the French word for “a sitting.” Early sessions featured mediums who claimed to convey information from the dead, sometimes under controlled procedures. Investigations by scientists and paranormal researchers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries produced mixed results, and several cases of fraud were revealed, contributing to ongoing skepticism. Notable figures include researchers such as Michael Faraday and Sir William Crookes, who examined mediums and reported both supportive and questionable outcomes. The movement spurred the establishment of spiritualist churches, journals, and societies.

Typical practices include inviting a spirit into the session, sometimes through a trance, automatic writing, or messages delivered by a medium. Some séances involve table tilting, rapping sounds, or messages spelled out with a planchette or on a talking board. Modern séances often emphasize ethical considerations, informed consent, and participant safety, and they may occur in private homes, dedicated spiritual centers, or informal group settings.

In contemporary culture, séances remain a topic of debate between believers and skeptics, and they continue to appear in folklore, media, and organized spiritualist communities.