Circles, Spiritualist
A group of persons who meet at intervals to hold séances for
spirit communication. It is essential that at least one among
them be a medium, and there may be several mediums in one
circle. However, all the members of a circle must be chosen with
care if the séances are to induce phenomena. The Baron von
Guldenstubbé, in his book Practical Experimental Pneumatology,
or the Reality of Spirits and the Marvellous Phenomenon of their Direct
Writing, originally published early in the history of Spiritualism
in French in 1857, gave directions for forming a circle
after the American fashion.
Setting aside the moral conditions, which are equally requisite,
it is known that American Circles are based on the distinction
of positive and electric or negative magnetic currents.
The circles consist of twelve persons, representing in equal
proportions the positive and negative or sensitive elements.
This distinction does not follow the sex of the members, though
generally women are negative and sensitive, while men are positive
and magnetic. The mental and physical constitution of
each individual must be studied before forming the circles, for
some delicate women have masculine qualities, while some
strong men are, morally speaking, women. A table is placed in
a clear and ventilated spot; the medium is seated at one end
and entirely isolated; by his calm and contemplative quietude
he serves as a conductor for the electricity and it may be noted
that a good somnambulist is usually an excellent medium. The
six electrical or negative dispositions, which are generally recognized
by their emotional qualities and their sensibility, are
placed at the right of the medium, the most sensitive of all
being next to him. The same rule is followed with the positive
personalities, who are at the left of the medium, with the most
positive among them next to him. In order to form a chain, the
twelve persons each place their right hand on the table, and
their left hand on that of the neighbour, thus making a circle
round the table. Observe that the medium or mediums, if there
be more than one, are entirely isolated from those who form
the chain.
Camille Flammarion stated that the sexes are alternated to
reinforce the fluids. It has also been asserted that the séance
may be as productive when the circle is composed of only a few
investigators, following no rules but their own.
Although the presence of a medium is traditionally regarded
as indispensable, a group of experimenters composed of
members of the Toronto Society for Psychical Research in Canada
obtained interesting phenomena by concentrating on
Philip, an artificial personality deliberately created by the
group. (See also psychic force)
Sources
Post, Eric. Communication with the Beyond A Practical Handbook
of Spiritualism. New York Atlantic Publishing, 1946.Circles, Spiritualist
A group of persons who meet at intervals to hold séances for
spirit communication. It is essential that at least one among
them be a medium, and there may be several mediums in one
circle. However, all the members of a circle must be chosen with
care if the séances are to induce phenomena. The Baron von
Guldenstubbé, in his book Practical Experimental Pneumatology,
or the Reality of Spirits and the Marvellous Phenomenon of their Direct
Writing, originally published early in the history of Spiritualism
in French in 1857, gave directions for forming a circle
after the American fashion.
Setting aside the moral conditions, which are equally requisite,
it is known that American Circles are based on the distinction
of positive and electric or negative magnetic currents.
The circles consist of twelve persons, representing in equal
proportions the positive and negative or sensitive elements.
This distinction does not follow the sex of the members, though
generally women are negative and sensitive, while men are positive
and magnetic. The mental and physical constitution of
each individual must be studied before forming the circles, for
some delicate women have masculine qualities, while some
strong men are, morally speaking, women. A table is placed in
a clear and ventilated spot; the medium is seated at one end
and entirely isolated; by his calm and contemplative quietude
he serves as a conductor for the electricity and it may be noted
that a good somnambulist is usually an excellent medium. The
six electrical or negative dispositions, which are generally recognized
by their emotional qualities and their sensibility, are
placed at the right of the medium, the most sensitive of all
being next to him. The same rule is followed with the positive
personalities, who are at the left of the medium, with the most
positive among them next to him. In order to form a chain, the
twelve persons each place their right hand on the table, and
their left hand on that of the neighbour, thus making a circle
round the table. Observe that the medium or mediums, if there
be more than one, are entirely isolated from those who form
the chain.
Camille Flammarion stated that the sexes are alternated to
reinforce the fluids. It has also been asserted that the séance
may be as productive when the circle is composed of only a few
investigators, following no rules but their own.
Although the presence of a medium is traditionally regarded
as indispensable, a group of experimenters composed of
members of the Toronto Society for Psychical Research in Canada
obtained interesting phenomena by concentrating on
Philip, an artificial personality deliberately created by the
group. (See also psychic force)
Sources
Post, Eric. Communication with the Beyond A Practical Handbook
of Spiritualism. New York Atlantic Publishing, 1946.
