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{{Other uses|Ectoplasm (disambiguation){{!}}Ectoplasm}}
{{Other uses|Ectoplasm (disambiguation){{!}}Ectoplasm}}

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{{Infobox paranormal term
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'''''Ectoplasm''''' (from the Greek ''ektos'', meaning "outside", and ''plasma'', meaning "something formed or molded") is a term coined by [[Charles Richet]] to denote a substance or [[spiritual energy]] "exteriorized" by physical [[mediumship|mediums]].<ref>[http://parapsych.org/glossary_e_k.html#e "Ectoplasm"]. Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, [[Parapsychological Association]] (2006-01-24).</ref> Ectoplasm is said to be associated with the formation of [[spirit]]s,{{By whom|date=September 2010}} and asserted to be an enabling factor in [[psychokinesis]].{{By whom|date=September 2010}}
'''''Ectoplasm''''' (from the Greek ''ektos'', meaning "outside", and ''plasma'', meaning "something formed or molded") is a term coined by [[Charles Richet]] to denote a substance or [[spiritual energy]] "exteriorized" by physical [[mediumship|mediums]].<ref>[http://parapsych.org/glossary_e_k.html#e "Ectoplasm"]. Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, [[Parapsychological Association]] (2006-01-24).</ref> Ectoplasm is said to be associated with the formation of [[spirit]]s, however since World War II reports of ectoplasmic phenomena have declined and many [[psychical researchers]] doubt whether genuine cases ever existed.<ref>Jan Dirk Blom ''A Dictionary of Hallucinations'' 2009, p. 168</ref>


==Phenomenon==
==Phenomenon==
Ectoplasm is said to be formed by [[Mediumship#Physical mediumship|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 our physical and real universe.
Ectoplasm is said to be formed by [[Mediumship#Physical mediumship|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 our physical and real universe. According to mediums the ectoplasm can not occur in light conditions as the ectoplasmic substance would disintegrate.<ref>C. E. M. Joad ''Guide to Modern Thought'' Kessinger Reprint Edition, 2005,p. 174</ref>

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”.<ref>Barnard, Guy Christian. The Supernormal: A Critical Introduction to Psychic Science. London: Rider & Co., 1933. Print.</ref> [[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”.<ref>Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Edge of the Unknown. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1930. Print</ref>


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.<ref>{{cite book| last = Keene
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.<ref>{{cite book| last = Keene
Line 34: Line 36:
|coauthors = Joe Nickell| title = Missing Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics and Other Mysteries| year = 1992
|coauthors = Joe Nickell| title = Missing Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics and Other Mysteries| year = 1992
|publisher = Prometheus Books| location = Buffalo, N.Y.| isbn = 0879757299}}</ref> Other researchers have duplicated, with non-supernatural materials, the photographic effects sometimes said to prove the existence of ectoplasm.<ref>Dawn M. Peterson, [http://www.csicop.org/sb/2004-06/mysteries.html "Mysterious Beings or Mere Accidents?"], ''Skeptical Briefs'' newsletter, June 2004.</ref>
|publisher = Prometheus Books| location = Buffalo, N.Y.| isbn = 0879757299}}</ref> Other researchers have duplicated, with non-supernatural materials, the photographic effects sometimes said to prove the existence of ectoplasm.<ref>Dawn M. Peterson, [http://www.csicop.org/sb/2004-06/mysteries.html "Mysterious Beings or Mere Accidents?"], ''Skeptical Briefs'' newsletter, June 2004.</ref>

==Ectenic force==

The idea of ectoplasm was merged into the theory of an "ectenic force" by some early psychical researchers who were seeking a physical explanation for reports of [[psychokinesis]] in seances.<ref>John L. Randall ''Psychokinesis: a study of paranormal forces through the ages'' Souvenir Press, 1982, p.83</ref> Its existence was initially hypothesized by Count Agenor de Gasparin, to explain the phenomena of [[Table-turning|table turning]] and tapping during [[séance]]s. 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.<ref name=Blavatsky1>[[Madame Blavatsky|Blavatsky H. P.]] "ISIS UNVEILED: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology", Theosophical University Press</ref><ref name=randi1>(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 0312151195</ref>

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 cable of being released to influence matter.<ref>[[Hamlin Garland]] ''Forty years of psychic research: a plain narrative of fact'' 1936, pp. 127-128</ref><ref>Lewis Spence ''An Encyclopaedia of Occultism'' 2003, p. 133</ref> This view was held by [[Camille Flammarion]]<ref>H. F. Prevost Battersby ''Psychic Certainties'' Kessinger Reprint Edition, 1988, pp. 125-126</ref> and [[William Crookes]], however a later psychical researcher [[Hereward Carrington]] pointed out that the fluid was hypothetical and has never been discovered.<ref>[[Hereward Carrington]] ''Eusapia Palladino and Her Phenomena'' Kessinger Reprint Edition, 2003, p. 267</ref>

The psychical investigator W. J. Crawford (1881–1920) had claimed that a fluid substance was responsible for [[levitation (paranormal)|levitation]] of objects after witnessing the medium Kathleen Goligher. Crawford after witnessing a number of her [[seances]] claimed to of 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.<ref>Bernard M. L. Ernst, Hereward Carrington ''Houdini and Conan Doyle: The Story of a Strange Friendship'' Kessinger Reprint Edition, 2003, p. 67</ref><ref>Daniel Benor, Daniel J. Benor ''Personal Spirituality'' 2006, p. 110-111</ref><ref>''The Green book magazine, Volume 28'' The Story-press association, 1920, p. 20</ref><ref>[http://www.aspsi.org/feat/life_after/tymn/a093mt-d-Dr_William_Crawford.php An Interview with Dr. William J. Crawford Concerning the Mediumship of Kathleen Goligher by Michael E. Tymn ]</ref>

Dr. [[Edmund 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 had claimed that the substance in the photographs of Crawford was ordinary [[muslin]].<ref>George Nugent Merle Tyrrell ''Science and psychical phenomena'' 1938, p. 331</ref><ref>Julian Franklyn Ed ''A Survey of the Occult'' 2005, p. 383</ref>

==Fraud==

Ectoplasm on many occasions has been proven to be based on fraud. Many mediums had used methods of swallowing and regurgitating textile products smoothed with potato starch<ref>John Mulholland ''Beware familiar spirits'' 1975, p. 142</ref> and in other cases the ectoplasm was made of paper, cloth and egg white<ref>''Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, Volume 66'' Society for Psychical Research., 2002, p. 117</ref> or butter muslin.<ref>Renée Haynes ''The Society for Psychical Research, 1882-1982: a history'' 1982, p. 144</ref>

John Ryan Haule wrote:

<blockquote>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.<ref>John Ryan Haule ''Jung in the 21st Century: Synchronicity and science'' 2010, pp. 122-123</ref></blockquote>
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 cheese-cloth that she had swallowed and regurgitated.<ref>Marina Warner ''Phantasmagoria'' 2006, p. 299</ref> Mediums would also cut pictures from magazines and stick them to the cheese-cloth to pretend they were spirits of the dead.<ref>Richard Whittington-Egan ''William Roughead's chronicles of murder'' Lochar, 1991, p. 89</ref> 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 for its claimed existence.<ref>C. D. Broad ''Lectures on Psychical Research'' Reprint Edition, 2011, p. 304</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ectoplasm (Paranormal)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ectoplasm (Paranormal)}}
[[Category:Paranormal terminology]]
[[Category:Paranormal terminology]]
[[Category:Paranormal hoaxes]]


[[da:Ektoplasma (parapsykologi)]]
[[da:Ektoplasma (parapsykologi)]]

Revision as of 13:03, 14 March 2012

For other uses, see Ectoplasm.

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Ectoplasm (from the Greek ektos, meaning "outside", and plasma, meaning "something formed or molded") is a term coined by Charles Richet to denote a substance or spiritual energy "exteriorized" by physical mediums.[1] Ectoplasm is said to be associated with the formation of spirits, however since World War II reports of ectoplasmic phenomena have declined and many psychical researchers doubt whether genuine cases ever existed.[2]

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 our physical and real universe. According to mediums the ectoplasm can not occur in light conditions as the ectoplasmic substance would disintegrate.[3]

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”.[4] 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”.[5]

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.[6][7] Other researchers have duplicated, with non-supernatural materials, the photographic effects sometimes said to prove the existence of ectoplasm.[8]

Ectenic force

The idea of ectoplasm was merged into the theory of an "ectenic force" by some early psychical researchers who were seeking a physical explanation for reports of psychokinesis in seances.[9] 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.[10][11]

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 cable of being released to influence matter.[12][13] This view was held by Camille Flammarion[14] and William Crookes, however a later psychical researcher Hereward Carrington pointed out that the fluid was hypothetical and has never been discovered.[15]

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 seances claimed to of 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.[16][17][18][19]

Dr. Edmund 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 had claimed that the substance in the photographs of Crawford was ordinary muslin.[20][21]

Fraud

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

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.[25]

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 cheese-cloth that she had swallowed and regurgitated.[26] Mediums would also cut pictures from magazines and stick them to the cheese-cloth to pretend they were spirits of the dead.[27] 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 for its claimed existence.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ectoplasm". Glossary of Key Words Frequently Used in Parapsychology, Parapsychological Association (2006-01-24).
  2. ^ Jan Dirk Blom A Dictionary of Hallucinations 2009, p. 168
  3. ^ C. E. M. Joad Guide to Modern Thought Kessinger Reprint Edition, 2005,p. 174
  4. ^ Barnard, Guy Christian. The Supernormal: A Critical Introduction to Psychic Science. London: Rider & Co., 1933. Print.
  5. ^ Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Edge of the Unknown. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1930. Print
  6. ^ Keene, M. Lamar (1997) [1976]. The Psychic Mafia. New York; Amherst, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press; Prometheus Books. ISBN 1573921610 (reprint). {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  7. ^ Baker, Robert A. (1992). Missing Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics and Other Mysteries. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0879757299. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Dawn M. Peterson, "Mysterious Beings or Mere Accidents?", Skeptical Briefs newsletter, June 2004.
  9. ^ John L. Randall Psychokinesis: a study of paranormal forces through the ages Souvenir Press, 1982, p.83
  10. ^ Blavatsky H. P. "ISIS UNVEILED: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology", Theosophical University Press
  11. ^ (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 0312151195
  12. ^ Hamlin Garland Forty years of psychic research: a plain narrative of fact 1936, pp. 127-128
  13. ^ Lewis Spence An Encyclopaedia of Occultism 2003, p. 133
  14. ^ H. F. Prevost Battersby Psychic Certainties Kessinger Reprint Edition, 1988, pp. 125-126
  15. ^ Hereward Carrington Eusapia Palladino and Her Phenomena Kessinger Reprint Edition, 2003, p. 267
  16. ^ Bernard M. L. Ernst, Hereward Carrington Houdini and Conan Doyle: The Story of a Strange Friendship Kessinger Reprint Edition, 2003, p. 67
  17. ^ Daniel Benor, Daniel J. Benor Personal Spirituality 2006, p. 110-111
  18. ^ The Green book magazine, Volume 28 The Story-press association, 1920, p. 20
  19. ^ An Interview with Dr. William J. Crawford Concerning the Mediumship of Kathleen Goligher by Michael E. Tymn
  20. ^ George Nugent Merle Tyrrell Science and psychical phenomena 1938, p. 331
  21. ^ Julian Franklyn Ed A Survey of the Occult 2005, p. 383
  22. ^ John Mulholland Beware familiar spirits 1975, p. 142
  23. ^ Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, Volume 66 Society for Psychical Research., 2002, p. 117
  24. ^ Renée Haynes The Society for Psychical Research, 1882-1982: a history 1982, p. 144
  25. ^ John Ryan Haule Jung in the 21st Century: Synchronicity and science 2010, pp. 122-123
  26. ^ Marina Warner Phantasmagoria 2006, p. 299
  27. ^ Richard Whittington-Egan William Roughead's chronicles of murder Lochar, 1991, p. 89
  28. ^ C. D. Broad Lectures on Psychical Research Reprint Edition, 2011, p. 304
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