OuijaThe Ouija ( , ), also known as a Ouija board, spirit board, talking board, or witch board, is a flat board marked with the letters of the Latin alphabet, the numbers 0–9, the words "yes", "no", and occasionally "hello" and "goodbye", along with various symbols and graphics. It uses a planchette (a small heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic) as a movable indicator to spell out messages during a séance.
Ideomotor phenomenonThe ideomotor phenomenon is a psychological phenomenon wherein a subject makes motions unconsciously. Also called ideomotor response (or ideomotor reflex) and abbreviated to IMR, it is a concept in hypnosis and psychological research. It is derived from the terms "" (idea, or mental representation) and "" (muscular action).
GenevaCity in SwitzerlandMunicipality in SwitzerlandGeneva ( ; French: Genève) is the second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône leaves Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. Geneva is a global city, an international financial centre, and a worldwide centre for diplomacy, which has led to it being called the "Peace Capital".
Animal magnetismAnimal magnetism, also known as mesmerism, is a pseudoscientific theory promoted by German physician Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. It posits the existence of an invisible natural force (Lebensmagnetismus) possessed by all living things, including humans, animals, and vegetables. He claimed that the force could have physical effects, including healing. The vitalist theory attracted numerous followers in Europe and the United States and was popular into the 19th century.
René ThuryRené Thury (7 August 1860 – 23 April 1938) was a Swiss pioneer in electrical engineering. He was known for his work with high voltage direct currentelectricity transmission and was known in the professional world as the "King of DC." BiographyRené Thury's father, Marc-Antoine Thury, was a teacher of Natural History.
John ElliotsonJohn Elliotson (29 October 1791 – 29 July 1868), M.D. (Edinburgh, 1810), M.D.(Oxford, 1821), F.R.C.P.(London, 1822), F.R.S. (1829), professor of the principles and practice of medicine at University College London (1832), senior physician to University College Hospital (1834) — and, in concert with William Collins Engledue M.D., the co-editor of The Zoist. Elliotson was an author and teacher whose clinical practice and publications were noted by contemporaries.
Table (furniture)A table is a piece of furniture with a raised flat top and is supported most commonly by 1 to 4 legs (although some can have more). It is used as a surface for working, eating or placing things. Some common types of tables are the dining room tables, which are used for seated persons to eat meals; the coffee table, which is a low table used in living rooms to display items or serve refreshments; and the bedside table, which is commonly used to place an alarm clock and a lamp.
Ectoplasm (paranormal)In spiritualism, ectoplasm, also known as simply ecto, is a substance or spiritual energy "exteriorized" by physical mediums. It was coined in 1894 by psychical researcher Charles Richet. The parapsychological term is also found in popular culture; however, there is currently no scientific evidence that ectoplasm exists. Some purported examples have been exposed as hoaxes fashioned from cheesecloth, gauze or other natural substances.
SéanceA séance or seance (; French: [seɑ̃s]) is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word séance comes from the French word for "session", from the Old French seoir, "to sit". In French, the word's meaning is quite general and mundane: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma" (lit. 'a movie session').
Spiritualism (movement)Spiritualism is a social religious movement popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, according to which an individual's awareness persists after death and may be contacted by the living. The afterlife, or the "spirit world", is seen by spiritualists not as a static place, but as one in which spirits continue to interact and evolve.
Agénor de GasparinAgénor Étienne, comte de Gasparin (12 July 1810 – 4 May 1871) was a French statesman and writer. He was also an early psychical researcher known for conducting experiments into table-tipping. BiographyHe was born at Orange, Vaucluse, the son of Adrien de Gasparin.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.