Seance

During the Victorian age Seances became the ‘fashion’  or ‘entertainment’ for the middle class and a source of hope for the working class in households circa 1820-1914. This happened in Europe and the United States. 

 

During this time period we start to see the Fox Sisters and their seances with the ‘knocking’ answers. Leah – 1814-1890, Margaret 1833-1893, Cate 1837-1892 

 

Their story is the youngest sister, Catherine Fox heard knocking their small house and discovered when they knocked back, they received answers.  Their name for the spirit was Mr. Splitfoot. Word spread the Fox Sisters were communicating with a spirit through knocking. They started to do Seances professionally. P.T. Barnum managed the mediums leading to their success and the birth of Spiritualism. 

 

Years later the Fox Sister’s confessed they were faking the seances.

 Talking to the Dead - Fox Sisters

 

Ouija or Spirit Boards – Elijah Bond July 1 1886 – He filed for a united States patent on 5/28/1890. The patent was granted on February 10.1891. Bond sold the US Distribution rights for the Ouija board to the Kennard Novelty Company. 1907 Bond had relocated to West Virginia where he established the Swastika Novelty Company. The Company produced a knock off of Bond’s original board called Nirvana. Bond died at age 74 and is buried in Baltimore, Maryland Green Mount Cemetary, beneath a marker that resembles a Ouija board. 

 

Victoria Helen McCrea Duncan a famous Medium – 11/25/1897 – 12/6/1956 - 1941 Last person to be imprisoned  under the witchcraft act of 1735 for fraudulent claims in England. 

 

She was famous for producing ectoplasm which was proven to be made from cheesecloth. She was investigated for this from the London Spiritualist Alliance 1931 for the fraudulent ectoplasm escapade. You can see a photograph of the false ectoplasm at Cambridge University Library library.

 

January 6 1933 in Edinburgh, it is alleged that the spirit of a little girl called Peggy emerged in the séance room. A sitter named Essori Maule grabbed her and the lights went on and the spirit was revealed to be made from a stockinette undervest. Helen was convicted and fined 10 pounds for fraud. 5/10/1933

 

1941 -Helen offered Seances and on one of her seances she saw a sailor who told her the HMS Barham had sunk. The sinking of the HMS Barham sinking was not revealed until late January 1942. The Navy started to take an interest in her activities. Two Lieutenant’s went to one of her séance’s, caught her in some lies and reported her to the police. Which was followed up by and undercover policeman who arrested her at another séance as a white shrouded manifestation appeared, Helen was arrested, tried and convicted under the Witchcraft Act of 1735. She was incarcerated for nine months and could no longer hold seances. 

 

Helen was right about the sinking of the HMS Barham and if she could have kept the rest of her seances honest perhaps she wouldn’t have gotten in trouble with the law. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Duncan

 

Ouija or Spirit Boards – Elijah Bond July 1 1886 – He filed for a united States patent on 5/28/1890. The patent was granted on February 10.1891. Bond sold the US Distribution rights for the Ouija board to the Kennard Novelty Company. 1907 Bond had relocated to West Virginia where he established the Swastika Novelty Company. The Company produced a knock off of Bond’s original board called Nirvana. Bond died at age 74 and is buried in Baltimore, Maryland Green Mount Cemetary, beneath a marker that resembles a Ouija board. 

 

Advice on Ouija Boards – you do not know who you are contacting. Not all spirits tell the truth, they are malicious or malevolent.

 

Check out OmarGosh – Queen Mary trip on Youtube they use the Ouija Board the evening they arrive and scare themselves. This is a good example of how and what happens when using a Ouija Board. 

 

Paranormal – out of the normal

Clairvoyance – clear seeing

Telepathy – mind reading 

 

During the Séance the group receives information through a medium from relatives or friends who have passed through the veils. When we receive that information we feel relief they are well or they have the ability to receive information that brings relief and helps with the grieving process. 

 

How to hold a Séance – 

 

Choose like minded people with good intention, open minds, no children. 

Round table, candle and food. Both the candle and food are believed to attract spirits. Recorder to record the session

 

Choose a Medium you feel safe with. 

Assemble participants. 

Use a round or oval table

Place food on the table – its for the spirits, don’t eat it. 

Light candles – at least 3, more if you like

Dim the lights

Hold hands

Allow the medium to do their work by talking to the spirits. 

Wait for the response

Communicate

Remember to thank the spirit while closing. 

This is a link to a great blog to help you create a safe seance - 

https://www.liveabout.com/how-to-conduct-a-seance-2593035

Stay safe! Have a wonderful week! Keep your heart open and aligned with the energy of love!

Auriel Grace