The mysterious substance that supposedly allowed spirits to touch our world
In short: In the dimly lit séance rooms of the Victorian era, mediums claimed to excrete a ghostly substance called ectoplasm. This material was said to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual, allowing entities to manifest. However, beneath the veil of the paranormal lay a much more earthly reality of cheesecloth and clever illusions.
Coined in 1894 by researcher Charles Richet, the term 'ectoplasm' derives from the Greek words for 'outside' and 'something formed.' In spiritualist practice, it was believed that mediums in a trance state could exteriorize this spiritual energy. Descriptions of the substance varied wildly: the researcher Gustav Geley noted it could appear as vapor, a plastic paste, or fine threads, while Arthur Conan Doyle described it as a viscous, gelatinous matter that could solidify for material use.
The mechanics of these manifestations were often shrouded in darkness, as many believed light would cause the substance to disintegrate. This provided the perfect cover for elaborate deceptions. Investigators found that 'ectoplasm' was frequently composed of mundane household items. Some mediums, such as Helen Duncan, were caught regurgitating cheesecloth, while others used egg whites, potato starch, or even butter muslin to create the illusion of spiritual matter.
Perhaps the most audacious frauds involved 'materializations' using two-dimensional cut-outs. The medium Eva Carrière was famously investigated by Albert von Schrenck-Notzing; while he initially defended her, critics identified magazine clippings—including faces of Woodrow Wilson and King Ferdinand of Bulgaria—as the source of her 'spirits.' Similarly, the medium Mina Crandon's famous 'ectoplasmic hand' was revealed by biologists to be nothing more than carved animal liver. As these deceptions were exposed by the Society for Psychical Research, interest in physical mediumship underwent a rapid decline.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ectoplasm (paranormal)
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