tableturning

Tableturning, also known as table tilting, refers to a practice associated with the 19th-century spiritualist movement in which a table, or other object, is said to move during a séance without an obvious physical cause. Participants place their hands lightly on the table and seek communication with spirits, with movements ranging from gentle tilts to more vigorous rocking or spinning.

Origins and context: Tableturning emerged in the United States and Britain amid the broader rise of mediumship and paranormal experimentation in the mid to late 1800s. It became a common feature of séances, with reports of messages claimed to be received through the table, knocks, or raps. The phenomenon was widely discussed in popular culture and contributed to the public fascination with spiritualist practices.

Mechanisms and explanations: Modern explanations emphasize nonparanormal factors. The ideomotor effect describes unconscious, involuntary muscle movements driven by suggestion, expectation, or group dynamics, which can produce the appearance of deliberate movement. Additional factors include floor or furniture irregularities, distribution of weight, and hidden supports in theatrical settings. In laboratory or staged demonstrations, magicians and researchers have shown how strings, springs, or other devices can produce similar effects, underscoring the role of psychology and technique.

Perspective: Today, tableturning is typically understood as a historical example of psychophysical influence and social suggestion rather than evidence of supernatural agency. It is studied in the context of parapsychology, cognitive science, and the history of séances.