Spiritism emerged in mid-19th-century America and France, combining religious belief with claims of empirical spirit communication. Séances involved a medium entering a trance to channel messages; planchettes and Ouija boards offered a group format. Allan Kardec's Spirits' Book (1857) codified French Spiritism as a spiritual doctrine. The movement attracted scientists and skeptics alike and generated intense controversy. This article is a historical and cultural overview — séances and spirit board sessions are not recommended due to psychological vulnerability and risk of manipulation.
Spirit contact
Spiritism
A 19th-century movement holding that the spirits of the dead communicate with the living through mediums, séances, and spirit boards. Popularized by Allan Kardec and the Fox sisters.
“At the séance table, the living and the dead exchange places in the dark.”
Safety
Approach with care
This practice carries cultural or psychological caution. Approach with awareness.