channelers

A channeler is a person who claims to receive and relay information from non-physical sources by channeling. The term derives from channel, meaning to convey messages or energy from one source to another.

Channeling may occur through trance, deep meditation, or spontaneous mental states. Channelers may produce spoken messages, written texts, or other forms of communication. The sources invoked vary and can include spirits, ancestors, deities, ascended masters, or a purported collective consciousness. In some traditions, channelers act as conduits for guidance, healing, or religious instruction.

In modern times, channeling is commonly associated with the New Age movement and spiritualist circles. Channeled texts and seminars are offered by practitioners who publish writings, teach, or give psychic readings. Channeling is often presented as a service to clients or communities. The practice often emphasizes personal growth and ethical guidelines for channeling.

Scientific evaluation of channeling generally regards it as unverified subjective experience. Explanations emphasize psychological mechanisms such as dissociation, automatic writing, or self-deception, while critics caution against exploitation or deception. Ethical concerns include consent, accuracy, and the potential for manipulation or harm if channeling is presented as authoritative.

In fiction and media, channelers appear as characters who access other dimensions or communicate with spirits, gods, or beings beyond the ordinary. The trope is used to explore themes of authority, belief, and the boundary between mind and world.

See also: Channeling, Medium, Automatic writing.