mediumship

Mediumship is the purported communication between a living person and spirits or other non-physical entities. A medium is said to convey messages, impressions, or information from the deceased. Forms include mental or trance mediumship, clairvoyant reception of information, and physical phenomena such as table turning or direct-voice communication. Automatic writing, or psychography, is another reported method.

Modern spiritualist movements emerged in the 19th century in North America and Britain and expanded worldwide. In Brazil, Spiritism, codified by Allan Kardec, combines moral philosophy with spirit communications and remains influential. Various cultures retain ancestral or devotional practices that resemble or use elements of mediumship.

Scientific evaluation of mediumship is mixed. Many investigations find no reliable evidence under controlled conditions, and fraud or deception has been documented. Proponents argue that some findings justify further study; skeptics emphasize methodological issues and explainable alternatives such as guesswork, cold reading, and sensory cues.

Ethical concerns include the vulnerability of clients, potential exploitation, and the risk of fraud. Transparent practices, informed consent, and safeguarding against manipulation are recommended when laypersons engage in or hire mediumship services. In many communities, mediumship remains a religious or cultural practice rather than a proven phenomenon.