Ectoplasm (paranormal)

Helen Duncan was well known for using dolls and other props in her séances as ectoplasm.

Ectoplasm (from the Greek ektos, meaning "outside", and plasma, meaning "something formed or molded") is a term coined by Charles Richet[1] to denote a substance or spiritual energy "exteriorized" by physical mediums.[2] Ectoplasm is said to be associated with the formation of spirits.[3] Ectoplasm is considered to be a hoax, made from cheesecloth, gauze or other natural substances.[4]

Phenomenon

Ectoplasm is said to be formed by physical mediums when in a trance state. This material is excreted as a gauze-like substance from orifices on the medium's body and spiritual entities are said to drape this substance over their nonphysical body, enabling them to interact in the physical and real universe. Some accounts claim that ectoplasm begins clear and almost invisible, but darkens and becomes visible, as the psychic energy becomes stronger. Still other accounts state that in extreme cases ectoplasm will develop a strong odor. According to some mediums, the ectoplasm can not occur in light conditions as the ectoplasmic substance would disintegrate.[5]

The psychical researcher Gustav Geley defined ectoplasm as being “very variable in appearance, being sometimes vaporous, sometimes a plastic paste, sometimes a bundle of fine threads, or a membrane with swellings or fringes, or a fine fabric-like tissue”.[6] Arthur Conan Doyle described ectoplasm as “a viscous, gelatinous substance which appeared to differ from every known form of matter in that it could solidify and be used for material purposes”.[7]

Although the term is widespread in popular culture, the physical existence of ectoplasm is not accepted by science. Some tested samples purported to be ectoplasm have been found to be various non-paranormal substances.[8][9] Other researchers have duplicated, with non-supernatural materials, the photographic effects sometimes said to prove the existence of ectoplasm.[10]

Ectenic force

Eva Carrière and fake ectoplasm (1912)

The idea of ectoplasm was merged into the notion of an "ectenic force" by some early psychical researchers who were seeking a physical explanation for reports of psychokinesis in séances.[11] Its existence was initially hypothesized by Count Agenor de Gasparin, to explain the phenomena of table turning and tapping during séances. Ectenic force was named by de Gasparin's colleague M. Thury, a professor of natural history at the Academy of Geneva. Between them, de Gasparin and Thury conducted a number of experiments in ectenic force, and claimed some success. Their work was not independently verified.[12][13]

Other psychical researchers who studied mediumship speculated that within the human body an unidentified fluid termed the "psychode", "psychic force" or "ecteneic force" existed and was capable of being released to influence matter.[14][15] This view was held by Camille Flammarion[16] and William Crookes, however a later psychical researcher Hereward Carrington pointed out that the fluid was hypothetical and has never been discovered.[17]

The psychical investigator W. J. Crawford (1881–1920) had claimed that a fluid substance was responsible for levitation of objects after witnessing the medium Kathleen Goligher. Crawford, after witnessing a number of her séances, claimed to have obtained flashlight photographs of the substance; he later described the substance as "plasma". He claimed the substance is not visible to the naked eye but can be felt by the body.[18]

The physicist and psychical researcher Edmund Edward Fournier d'Albe later investigated the medium Kathleen Goligher at many sittings and arrived at the opposite conclusions to Crawford; according to D'Albe, no paranormal phenomena such as levitation had occurred with Goligher and stated he had found evidence of fraud. D'Albe claimed the substance in the photographs of Crawford was ordinary muslin.[19][20] During a séance D'Albe had observed white muslin between Goligher's feet.[21]

Fraud

A photograph of the medium Linda Gazzera with a doll portrayed as ectoplasm
Helen Duncan with fake ectoplasm, analysed by Harry Price to be made of cheesecloth and a rubber glove

Ectoplasm on many occasions has been proven to be fraudulent. Many mediums had used methods of swallowing and regurgitating cheesecloth, textile products smoothed with potato starch and in other cases the ectoplasm was made from paper, cloth and egg white or butter muslin.[22][23][24][25]

The Society for Psychical Research investigations into mediumship exposed many fraudulent mediums which contributed to the decline of interest in physical mediumship.[26] In 1907, Hereward Carrington exposed the tricks of fraudulent mediums such as those used in slate-writing, table-turning, trumpet mediumship, materializations, sealed-letter reading and spirit photography.[27]

In the early 20th century the psychical researcher Albert von Schrenck-Notzing investigated the medium Eva Carrière and claimed her ectoplasm "materializations" were not from spirits but the result of "ideoplasty" in which the medium could form images onto ectoplasm from her mind.[28] Schrenck-Notzing published the book Phenomena of Materialisation (1923) which included photographs of the ectoplasm. Critics pointed out the photographs of the ectoplasm revealed marks of magazine cut-outs, pins and a piece of string.[29] Schrenck-Notzing admitted that on several occasions Carrière deceptively smuggled pins into the séance room.[29] The magician Carlos María de Heredia replicated the ectoplasm of Carrière using a comb, gauze and a handkerchief.[29]

Donald West wrote that the ectoplasm of Carrière was fake and was made of cut-out paper faces from newspapers and magazines on which fold marks could sometimes be seen from the photographs. A photograph of Carrière taken from the back of the ectoplasm face revealed it to be made from a magazine cut out with the letters "Le Miro". The two-dimensional face had been clipped from the French magazine Le Miroir.[30] Back issues of the magazine also matched some of Carrière's ectoplasm faces.[31] Cut out faces that she used included Woodrow Wilson, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, French president Raymond Poincaré and the actress Mona Delza.[32]

Kathleen Goligher with fake ectoplasm made of muslin

After Schrenck-Notzing discovered Carrière had taken her ectoplasm faces from the magazine he defended her by claiming she had read the magazine but her memory had recalled the images and they had materialized into the ectoplasm.[28] Because of this Schrenck-Notzing was described as credulous.[29] Joseph McCabe wrote "In Germany and Austria, Baron von Schrenck-Notzing is the laughing-stock of his medical colleagues."[33]

The Danish medium Einer Nielsen was investigated by a committee from the Kristiania University in Norway in 1922 and it was discovered in a séance that his ectoplasm was fake.[34] Nielsen was also caught hiding his ectoplasm in his rectum.[35] Mina Crandon was a famous medium known for producing ectoplasm during her séance sittings. She produced a small ectoplasmic hand from her stomach which waved about in the darkness. Her career ended however when biologists examined the hand and found it to be made of a piece of carved animal liver.[36] Walter Franklin Prince described the Crandon case as "the most ingenious, persistent, and fantastic complex of fraud in the history of psychic research."[37]

The psychical researchers Eric Dingwall and Harry Price re-published an anonymous work written by a former medium entitled Revelations of a Spirit Medium (1922) which exposed the tricks of mediumship and the fraudulent methods of producing "spirit hands".[38] Originally all the copies of the book were bought up by spiritualists and deliberately destroyed.[39] On the subject of ectoplasm and fraud John Ryan Haule wrote:

Because ectoplasm was believed susceptible to destruction by light, the possibility that ectoplasm might appear became a reason for making sure that Victorian séances took place in near darkness. Poor lighting conditions also became an opportunity for fraud, particularly as faux ectoplasm was easy to make with a mixture of soap, gelatin and egg white, or perhaps merely well-placed muslin.[40]

Psychical researcher Harry Price exposed medium Helen Duncan's fraudulent techniques by proving, through analysis of a sample of ectoplasm produced by Duncan, that it was cheesecloth that she had swallowed and regurgitated.[41] Duncan had also used dolls' heads and masks as ectoplasm.[42] Mediums would also cut pictures from magazines and stick them to the cheesecloth to pretend they were spirits of the dead.[43] Another researcher, C. D. Broad, wrote that ectoplasm in many cases has proven to be composed of home material such as butter-muslin and that there is no solid evidence that it has anything to do with spirits.[44]

The photographs taken by Thomas Glendenning Hamilton of ectoplasm reveal the substance to be made of tissue paper and magazine cut-outs of people. The famous photograph taken by Hamilton of the medium Mary Ann Marshall (1880–1963) depicts tissue paper with a cut out of Arthur Conan Doyle's head from a newspaper. Skeptics have suspected that Hamilton may have been behind the hoax.[45] The mediums Rita Goold and Alec Harris dressed up in their séances as ectoplasm spirits and were exposed as frauds.[46] The exposures of fraudulent ectoplasm in séances caused a rapid decline in physical mediumship.[47]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Taylor, Troy. "Ectoplasm". The Haunted Museum. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  2. ↑ "Ectoplasm". Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, Parapsychological Association (2006-01-24).
  3. ↑ Rosemary Guiley. (1994). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits. Guinness World Records Limited. p. 104. ISBN 978-0851127484
  4. ↑ Gordon Stein. (1993). Encyclopedia of Hoaxes. Gale Group. p. 205. ISBN 0-8103-8414-0 "One strange phenomena of spiritualism, once popular, was the production of ectoplasm. This was a white substance that appeared to ooze from various openings of the medium's body. It was usually made of gauze, chiffon, or cheesecloth, often soaked or treated with various substances."
  5. ↑ C. E. M. Joad. (2005). Guide to Modern Thought Kessinger Reprint Edition. p. 174
  6. ↑ Guy Christian Barnard. (1933). The Supernormal: A Critical Introduction to Psychic Science. London: Rider & Co., Print
  7. ↑ Arthur Conan Doyle. (1930). The Edge of the Unknown. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Print
  8. ↑ Keene, M. Lamar (1997) [1976]. The Psychic Mafia. New York; Amherst, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press; Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-161-0.
  9. ↑ Baker, Robert A.; Joe Nickell (1992). Missing Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics and Other Mysteries. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-729-9.
  10. ↑ Dawn M. Peterson, "Mysterious Beings or Mere Accidents?", Skeptical Briefs newsletter, June 2004.
  11. ↑ John L. Randall. (1982). Psychokinesis: a study of paranormal forces through the ages. Souvenir Press. p. 83
  12. ↑ Blavatsky H. P. "ISIS UNVEILED: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology", Theosophical University Press
  13. ↑ (Paperback) Randi, James. Clarke, Arthur C. (1997-03-15) An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural, St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 0-312-15119-5
  14. ↑ Hamlin Garland. (1936). Forty years of psychic research: a plain narrative of fact. pp. 127–128
  15. ↑ Lewis Spence. (2003). An Encyclopaedia of Occultism. p. 133
  16. ↑ H. F. Prevost Battersby. (1988). Psychic Certainties. Kessinger Reprint Edition. pp. 125-126
  17. ↑ Hereward Carrington. (2003). Eusapia Palladino and Her Phenomena. Kessinger Reprint Edition. p. 267
  18. ↑ Bernard M. L. Ernst, Hereward Carrington. (2003). Houdini and Conan Doyle: The Story of a Strange Friendship. Kessinger Reprint Edition. p. 67
  19. ↑ Julian Franklyn. (2005). A Survey of the Occult. p. 383
  20. ↑ Martyn Jolly. (2006). Faces of the Living Dead: The Belief in Spirit Photography. Miegunyah Press. pp. 84-86. ISBN 978-0712348997
  21. ↑ Edmund Edward Fournier d'Albe. (1922). The Goligher Circle. J. M. Watkins. p. 37
  22. ↑ John Mulholland. (1975). Beware Familiar Spirits. Scribner. p. 142. ISBN 978-0684161815
  23. ↑ Renée Haynes. (1982). The Society for Psychical Research, 1882-1982: A History. Macdonald. p. 144. ISBN 978-0356078755 "The most usual material for 'ectoplasm' however, seemed to be butter muslin or cheesecloth, probably swallowed and regurgitated."
  24. ↑ Rosemary Guiley. (1994). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits. Guinness World Records Limited. p. 105. ISBN 978-0851127484 "Fraudulent mediums were known to produce ectoplasm composed of nothing more than strips of muslin, or mixtures of soap, gelatin and egg white."
  25. ↑ Brad Clark. (2002). Spiritualism. In Michael Shermer. The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience. ABC-CLIO. pp. 220-226. ISBN 1-57607-654-7
  26. ↑ Rosemary Guiley. (1994). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits. Guinness Publishing. p. 311. ISBN 978-0851127484
  27. ↑ Hereward Carrington. (1907). The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism. Herbert B. Turner & Co.
  28. 1 2 M. Brady Brower. (2010). Unruly Spirits: The Science of Psychic Phenomena in Modern France. University of Illinois Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-0252077517
  29. 1 2 3 4 Carlos María de Heredia. (1922). Spiritism and Common Sense. P. J. Kenedy & Sons. pp. 186-198
  30. ↑ Donald West. (1954). Psychical Research Today. Chapter Séance-Room Phenomena. Duckworth. p. 49
  31. ↑ Georgess McHargue. (1972). Facts, Frauds, and Phantasms: A Survey of the Spiritualist Movement. Doubleday. p. 187
  32. ↑ Gordon Stein. (1996). The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal. Prometheus Books. p. 520. ISBN 978-1573920216
  33. ↑ Frank Harris. (1993). Debates on the Meaning of Life, Evolution, and Spiritualism. Prometheus Books. p. 77. ISBN 978-0879758288
  34. ↑ Universitetskomiteen, Mediet Einer Nielsen, kontrolundersøkelser av universitetskomiteen i Kristiania. (Kristiania 1922). ”Rapport fra den av Norsk Selskab for Psykisk Forskning nedsatte Kontrolkomité”, Norsk Tidsskrift for Psykisk Forskning 1 (1921-22).
  35. ↑ M. Brady Brower. (2010). Unruly Spirits: The Science of Psychic Phenomena in Modern France. University of Illinois Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0252077517
  36. ↑ Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists: An Exploration of the Supernatural through History
  37. ↑ C. E. M. Hansel. (1989). The Search for Psychic Power: ESP and Parapsychology Revisited. Prometheus Books. p. 245. ISBN 978-0879755331
  38. ↑ Eric Dingwall, Harry Price. (1922). Revelations of a Spirit Medium. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.
  39. ↑ Georgess McHargue. (1972). Facts, Frauds, and Phantasms: A Survey of the Spiritualist Movement. Doubleday. p. 158. ISBN 978-0385053051
  40. ↑ John Ryan Haule. (2010). Jung in the 21st Century: Synchronicity and Science. Routledge. pp. 122-123. ISBN 0-203-83360-0
  41. ↑ Marina Warner. (2006). Phantasmagoria: Spirit Visions, Metaphors, and Media into the Twenty-first Century. Oxford University Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0199239238
  42. ↑ Paul Kurtz. (1985). A Skeptic's Handbook of Parapsychology. Prometheus Books. p. 599. ISBN 0-87975-300-5
  43. ↑ Richard Whittington-Egan. (1991). William Roughhead's Chronicles of Murder. Lochar. p. 89. ISBN 978-0948403552
  44. ↑ C. D. Broad. (2011). Lectures on Psychical Research. Reprint Edition. p. 304
  45. ↑ Touching the Dead: Spooky Winnipeg by Tom Jokinen
  46. ↑ Tony Cornell. (2002). Investigating the Paranormal. Helix Press New York. pp. 327-352. ISBN 978-0912328980
  47. ↑ John Melton. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena. Visible Ink Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-1578592098
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