Special Note
PDN presents this insightful mediumship article in memory of its author Robin Foy, ‘Ambassador for the Spirit World’, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 10, 2022, aged 78. It was originally published in The Afterlife Magazine which is now part of Paranormal Daily News.
Robin was a co-founder of ASSMPI (American Society for Scientific Mediumship and Parapsychological Investigation) and co-founder of the infamous ‘Scole Experiment’, a five-year scientific investigation from 1993-1998 seeking evidence for Consciousness in the Afterlife and Hyperlife. The Scole group reported experiencing paranormal phenomena including unexplained lights, voices from mid-air, and the appearance of objects that seemed to teleport.
In 2018, Robin headed a campaign to establish a physical mediumship research center, ‘The Spiritual Science Foundation in Spain, believed to be a world first. He also published two books about his psychical research and experiences: In Pursuit of Physical Mediumship and Witnessing the Impossible, based on his meticulously recorded events of the Scole Experiment.
The Scole Experiment review excerpt
The Scole Group investigation by psychical researchers set several firsts. It was:
– the first study of persons acting together as a mediumistic team;
– the first to link alleged oral communications through trance mediums with photographic, visual, auditory, tactile and tangible phenomena;
– the first to investigate a range of tangible physical phenomena not associated with ectoplasm and which could be examined outside of the seance room.
When the investigation results were publicized, the case immediately became controversial.
Rosemary Ellen Guiley - Visionary Living
Why mediumship and the spirit world are heaven-sent
A medium is not simply ‘born’ with this ability
Mediumship in its various forms has taken place since the beginning of time. Most people assume that it only began with the launch of the official religion of ‘Spiritualism’ in 1848 through the Fox sisters at Hydesville in the New York State of the USA.
Mediumship can be traced right back to the time of ancient civilizations. In ancient Greece, mediums were referred to as Oracles. Those who consulted the famous Oracle at Delphi in Greece for example, gazed into a large mirror or the highly polished surface of a large metal vessel to enjoy a personal interaction (of a physical nature) with the spirit world. This method is still used today with mirror-based equipment called a ‘Psychomanteum’.
In Atlantis, communication with the spirit world and other dimensions was conducted through the use of a massive crystal that hung in a special room. Knowledge of communication through crystals was lost over the millennia but is resurfacing once again, as we witnessed from 1993 to 1998 during our 5-year-long experiments in the village of Scole, situated in the county of Norfolk, eastern England.
Mediumship in its proper forms is a serious business. The specific job of a medium is to bring real evidence to the public of the reality of life after death, by delivering evidential messages to those seeking connection with deceased friends and relatives. A medium is not simply ‘born’ with this ability. They work hard for many years to develop and hone their mediumistic talents. Some mediums tend to specialize in aspects of mediumship that suit them best, and, after years of careful development, determine where they can best use their gifts and talents for the benefit of mankind.
Believe me – mediumship is not an easy life, but one of constant service to others. In my case, I have been intimately involved in the rare field of physical mediumship for almost 42 years and gathered vast experience and knowledge of this specific form of mediumship.
How different forms of mediumship work
As stated in the title of this article, mediumship is a natural communication process with the Spirit World and other dimensions in several different ways.
Mental Mediumship:
Mental Mediumship is the most common of the two types of mediumship practiced today. There are literally hundreds of thousands of ‘mental’ mediums throughout the world. Most people (if they have the desire and patience to do so) can develop one or more of the three main forms of mental mediumship to some degree if they regularly sit in a development circle under a good teacher.
It is possible to learn and develop the basics of mental mediumship in a relatively short space of time; sometimes within weeks of starting to train as a medium. A much longer period of development is, however, necessary for the ‘fledgling medium’ to achieve a good standard in their mediumistic work.
Three main forms of mental mediumship
1) Clairvoyance 2) Clairaudience 3) Clairsentience
Clairvoyance: The ability of the medium to ‘see’ spirit personalities. Sometimes the medium sees spirit people as though they are real people, moving about in a normal and natural way. At other times, the medium might ‘see’ them on the ‘mirror of their mind’ within their head. What distinguishes this as mental mediumship however, is the fact that only the medium sees these spirit people. Anybody else who is present does not. The medium can pass on to his or her ‘sitter’ what they are seeing, by way of evidence.
Clairaudience: The ability of the medium to hear what the spirit personalities are saying. This gift often goes together with clairvoyance. Sometimes the medium hears spirit voices as though they are real and coming from another real person in the room. At other times, the medium ‘hears’ the voices within their head again ‘on the mirror of their mind’. The medium is the only person who hears these voices, and can pass on to their sitter (client) what the spirit person is telling them, by way of evidence of the existence of life after death. Such a message can provide great comfort for a bereaved friend, relative or loved one.
Clairsentience: The ability of the medium to sense the presence of spirit people, and to sense what they are saying. Again, the medium is the only person who can (through their training) sense the presence of spirit personalities, and sense the message from a specific spirit person that they can then pass on to their sitter who during a private reading, or who might receive such a message in a spiritualist church.
Trance mediumship is an altered state
Trance Mediumship is a bit of a grey area. There are indeed many different ‘levels’ and depths of trance. When a medium is in a state of being ‘overshadowed’ and in a ‘deep trance’, they are fully unconscious and unaware of anything that is happening within themselves and around them. I believe that it is more accurate to describe any level of trance as an ‘altered state’.
In most cases, it can be logically argued that even if an entranced medium is aware of every word that is spoken through them, the medium has no physical control over the content of what is said. Apart from when a medium is in a very light trance (overshadowed), this is essentially an accurate statement.
It can be further argued that since the medium has no physical control over the content of what is spoken through their own larynx whilst in an altered state, the process of a spirit person speaking through them in this way is an aspect of physical mediumship.
Whilst I can personally see the logic of this argument, I do not regard trance mediumship as an aspect of physical mediumship but – simply – in some cases (not all) a tool to enable the production of physical phenomena when properly managed by a team of spirit personalities who work with a particular medium.
Direct voice vs trance communication
We have to be careful not to mix up the terms used for a type of physical phenomenon with trance communication through the human larynx of a medium. I know of several experienced psychic researchers, for instance, who have gone for a private sitting with a trance medium that advertised ‘direct voice’, only to discover that instead of physical phenomena, they have simply been treated to trance communication through a medium. It might be an honest mistake on the part of the medium, but it can be very misleading and, hopefully, we can help set the record straight.
When sitting specifically for physical phenomena in the more traditional ectoplasmic-based way, the physical medium is usually in a deep trance state. There are exceptions to this; the famous Independent Direct Voice medium Leslie Flint comes to mind, as he was fully awake during his sittings and able to join in the conversations with the spirit voices that occurred through his mediumship.
When a medium is capable of producing full ectoplasm-based materialization, however, it does seem essential for them to be in a deep trance throughout this process.
Energy-based physical phenomena groups
Experienced experimental physical phenomena groups choose to work in the modern energy-based way, where no ectoplasm is involved. We were told by our spirit helpers that trance is not always necessary for phenomena to be produced. In fact, Sandra and I sat for some time in an experimental group in South London, and witnessed amazing physical phenomena with nobody in an altered state. The group did not even know who the medium of the circle was at the time, although we did eventually discover his identity. The gentleman had no idea himself!
However, when an experimental group first starts sitting to develop physical phenomena, having one or more of the group in trance is particularly helpful, as communications and instructions to help the group with their development can then be received. Throughout the history of the Scole Experiment in the 1990’s (where the energy-based method was pioneered) we had two of the group members in deep trance throughout the sittings, but the Scole Group was unique at that time.
A more likely scenario today is that one or more of the sitters might be used in an altered state to bring through communications from the spirit team who work with the group in an energy-based format, but when this happens, the trance state will not be as deep as when the circle is developing in the more traditional ectoplasm-based format.
I must stress here, however, that neither way of working is better than the other. They are just different ways of working. And both require equal amounts of dedication, love, patience, harmony, and determination to develop positive results. It is also true that the energy-based format has certain advantages, which I will explain soon.
Two Types of Physical Mediumship
So far, we have covered a few of the basic properties of the mental and physical mediumship that are practiced today amongst spiritual and psychic research communities. Now we will explore the different types of physical phenomena that can happen under controlled conditions when an experimental group or physical circle sits specifically to witness or demonstrate phenomena.
The main difference between mental and physical mediumship is that during demonstrations of physical mediumship, everybody present can see, hear, feel, and experience physically, everything that is going on in the room and/or interact physically with the spirit personalities who are present.
Not everyone is aware that physical mediumship is practiced in two different ways. The traditional view within the Spiritualist Movement is that physical phenomena can only be presented by spirit helpers using the controversial substance known as ectoplasm. This method has been used by physical mediums and their guides and helpers since 1848.
Generally, it involves just one physical medium, who is usually in deep trance throughout the proceedings. The medium often sits in a cabinet throughout to concentrate the power. Most physical mediums operate in total darkness, or use a dim red light for illumination, but a number of developing physical mediums and scientifically-minded researchers are now experimenting with various other forms of lighting (including spirit lights brought by the spirit teams of the mediums concerned).
Ectoplasmic-based physical mediumship
The ectoplasmic-based physical medium often takes many years to fully develop their mediumship. The ‘ectoplasm’ is exuded from the physical medium’s body (from any or all of the body’s natural orifices). It can be molded by the spirit guides and helpers to form a solid ‘materialization’ of a spirit person, which is often positively identified by friends and relatives of the spirit person.
For the manipulation and levitation of objects such as a trumpet (a megaphone-like object used for amplification of direct-voice communication from spirit) in the seance room, an ectoplasmic rod with a pseudopod for gripping is used by the spirit people. In every case, the ectoplasm remains connected by an umbilical cord-like structure to the medium whilst phenomena takes place. The ectoplasmic connection also makes proceedings potentially physically dangerous for the medium.
If a sitter does something silly, like switching on an electric light in the middle of a seance, the ectoplasm shoots back into the body of the medium at an alarmingly fast rate; causing (at best) burns to the medium’s body and (at worst) occasional internal damage that has, on occasion, led directly to the death or serious injury of the medium. Such was the case with Helen Duncan and Alec Harris, both famous materialization mediums. Consequently, in all sittings where physical mediumship is conducted through an ectoplasmic-based system, stringent precautions have to be observed for the safety of the medium.
Energy-based physical mediumship
The second, and more modern method of producing physical phenomena is by way of an energy-based procedure. This form of physical phenomena was largely pioneered by the spirit team working with us during the Scole Experimental Group in the 1990’s. There may indeed be one or more mediums in a group where this method is being used and they may, or may not necessarily be used in deep trance; sometimes, the group are not even aware of who the medium or mediums might be!
The spiritual energies of all the group members are blended and involved in the energy-based process. Whilst groups of this sort should start out in total darkness, the spirit team working with a particular group often provides their own spirit-lighting during the early stages of the development of the phenomena to provide adequate illumination.
Three types of blended energy used by the spirit team
The energy used by the spirit team is a blend of three different types of energy which can provide one creative energy that can be used by the spirit team or individual spirits in a physical way to produce the phenomena:
1) Spiritual energy taken from all the sitters in the group.
2) Spirit energy brought by the spirit team from the spirit world, especially for the purpose of producing the ‘creative energy’ needed at a particular sitting.
3) Columns or ‘pillars’ of natural earth energy that exist in certain geographical locations around the world. Groups sitting for physical phenomena can attract one of these columns of energy to them or even create a new column in the place where the sittings take place.
There are several advantages to working with energy, although neither method is better than, nor superior to the other. These advantages include:
a) Phenomena can develop quicker with energy. Sometimes, within in months rather than years.
b) There is absolutely no danger whatsoever to mediums or sitters if somebody does something stupid during an energy-based sitting. The phenomena will simply stop.
c) The energy-based method is more versatile in that more types of phenomena can be developed in this way. At Scole, we counted around 180 different types of phenomena that were developed during the 5-year history of the Scole Experimental Group.
Types of physical phenomena produced by spirit helpers
Next, we will be looking at the actual types of physical phenomena that can be produced by the spirit helpers using these two methods. The list below describes some of the phenomena that can be witnessed when the medium, group or circle works in either an ectoplasmic-based way or an energy-based way.
I will first describe the types of phenomenal that are typical of ectoplasm-based. EVERYTHING that happens in an ectoplasm-based way can be duplicated in an energy-based way. It is important to realize, however, that although the same effects can be reproduced in either way, the method of production is definitely different. Consequently, there are sometimes different names for a similar effect produced through the creative energy method and where this is the case, I include the new energy-based names in brackets.
Physical phenomena that can be witnessed
1) DROP IN TEMPERATURE: Self-explanatory; one of the first signs in a physical circle, around knees and below.
2) PSYCHIC BREEZES: Can be felt around the experimental room, particularly when a spirit person is very close.
3) PSYCHIC SMELLS AND AROMAS: Can be scents, the smell of tobacco or something associated with a spirit person.
4) RAPS AND TAPS: Of various strengths and intensities can be heard around the room coming from any surface.
5) RINGING OF BELLS: That are present in the room; perhaps hanging from the ceiling or placed on the floor.
6) SITTERS BEING SPLASHED WITH WATER DROPLETS: In a playful way occasionally by members of the spirit team.
7) ELECTROSTATIC CRACKLING IN THE AIR: The noise of ectoplasm/energy being moved about and manipulated.
8) LEVITATION: Of small objects; then large ones such as heavy tables, chairs, or people, sometimes to the ceiling.
9) DIRECT SPIRIT WRITING: On a piece of paper or pad that has been left in the room, specially for the purpose.
10) APPORTS: Objects brought into the seance room from elsewhere during a sitting – sometimes little presents.
11) ASPORTS: Opposite to apports; objects in seance room at the start, removed by spirit team during a seance.
12) SPIRIT LIGHTS: Usually are more limited in type, variety, size and duration than those produced by energy.
13) TRANSFIGURATION: Mask of ectoplasm covering medium’s face molded by spirit into face of communicator.
14) PLAYING OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: By spirit musicians, (or less well by enthusiastic child spirit guides!)
15) DIRECT VOICE: This refers to spirit voices speaking through a ‘trumpet’ (aluminum cone like a megaphone -specially for the purpose) which is usually levitated in mid-air at the time.
16) INDEPENDENT VOICE (Energy voices in new way produced without ectoplasm): A superb type of phenomena where the spirit team build a replica of a human voice-box in mid-air out of ectoplasm. Spirit voices can speak through this, sometimes in their own exact voice whilst on earth. The two way conversation between sitters and spirit communicators sounds just as though two earthly physical people are talking.
17) MATERIALISATION (Teleportation in new way of actual spirit person without ectoplasm): This is an amazing phenomenon to witness. An animated replica of a spirit person is created by the spirit team from a substance called ectoplasm, appearing totally solid and fully recognizable; able to interact with relatives, friends and loved ones. These materializations are generally unable to stay for long, and return to the ‘cabinet’ to dematerialize in order to make way for more materializations.
18) MATTER THROUGH MATTER: Spirit team can dematerialize any matter (such as part of the medium’s own body or chair) and re-materialize this in the same place or elsewhere.
19) MANY AND VARIED DIFFERENT TYPES/COLOURS OF SPIRIT LIGHTS/LUMINOSITY: These are self-explanatory.
20) HEALING AS SPIRIT LIGHT ENTERS A SITTER’S BODY: This is fully visible. The light has weight and substance and can move freely around the patient’s body (always felt physically by patient) till it emerges visibly again from patient. Healing given in this way was always extremely effective. It happened to me many times.
21) ANY SOUND CAN BE DUPLICATED IN CIRCLE: This includes the sound of any musical instrument that is not in the room at the time; a spirit team can also, for instance, pretend to give a ‘haircut’ to a sitter. The scissors can be heard opening and closing; the comb can be heard being drawn across a chair, when none of these instruments or objects are in the room in reality!
22) EXTENDED VOICE: this occurs when the trance communication from a medium (through his or her larynx in the normal way) suddenly seems to come from a different place in the room, although the medium is still sitting in the same place. What happens here is that by using energy, the spirit team is able to make the source of the medium’s voice appear to move anywhere in that room within a split second, without the medium moving. The voice can even, on occasion, seem to come from within the walls of the room.
23) TELEPORTED SPIRIT BEINGS AND (in some groups) STELLAR FRIENDS FROM OTHER DIMENSIONS: Can move freely around the room in solid form and interact constantly with sitters. There seems to be no time limit on their presence and they are able to undertake many normal tasks whilst they are present, which would seem to be beyond the ability of ectoplasmic-based materialization; we have personally experienced the presence of eight or more of these teleported beings in an experimental room at the same time!
24) PSYCHIC PHOTOGRAPHY: Many different types. Sometimes appearing on a 35mm film in a camera which is levitated by a spirit team and proceeds to take pictures in total darkness; at other times, a complete 35mm film still in its shop wrapping and locked into a security box can be covered from end to end with pictures and writing produced by a spirit team. We had pictures and portraits also captured on a video camera as we sat.
25) SVO’S – SOLID VISIBLE OBJECTS: These were self-illuminated objects that had no name on our earth but were common in the spirit world. They were brought by our spirit team for us to see and examine in a solid form before they were again taken back to the spirit world.
26) VSB’S – VISIBLE SPIRIT BEINGS: Not spirit people but ANGELIC BEINGS. Self-luminous; they would build up on a table in front of our eyes to a height of about two to three feet (resembling a Madonna-type figure), before floating around the room in front of our eyes, allowing their robes to trail over our hands. The wonderful love that emanated from these beings was amazing! The room was ‘charged’ with energy when they were present.
27) VOICE-TO-VOICE COMMUNICATION WITH SPIRIT BEINGS: Of excellent clarity and volume through the simple amplifier of a cheap tape recorder.
28) TELEPORTED PRESENCE OF MINIATURE UFO: Which flew around the room on a number of occasions, pausing in front of each sitter so they could examine it closely, with its illuminated portholes.
29) VOICE-TO-VOICE COMMUNICATION WITH ‘STELLAR FRIENDS’ AND OTHER WORLD BEINGS: Through the amplifier of a cheap tape recorder attached to the simple TRANS-DIMENSIONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE that was designed by our spirit team. A blueprint of this device was received by us on an unopened film when we were asked to build it. An IDOLIS (Inter-Dimensional Oral Language Interpretation System) was incorporated into this device by the spirit team for use during our communications so we could hear the communications in ENGLISH through a ‘robotic’ voice.
Spontaneous, natural occurrences of physical phenomena
Finally, it is important to recognize that not all physical phenomena occur within experimental groups and physical circles that sit under strictly controlled conditions. Here are a few examples of natural, spontaneous phenomena that occur during our everyday lives:
A) SPIRIT ‘ORBS’ OCCURRING IN EVERYDAY PHOTOGRAPHY
B) CROP CIRCLES
C) DOWSING
D) DRV (DIRECT RADIO VOICES): On a one-to-one basis through a functioning radio (as in the case of Italian medium Marcello Bacci)
E) PSYCHIC SURGERY
F) EVP (ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENA)
G) PHONE CALLS FROM SPIRIT PEOPLE
H) SPIRIT MESSAGES LEFT ON ANSWERPHONES
I) ITC (INSTRUMENTAL TRANS-COMMUNICATION): A whole sub-category by itself. Includes: IMAGES OF SPIRIT PEOPLE AND OTHER DIMENSIONAL PEOPLE ON TELEVISION SCREENS. Also communication received through any other technical devices such as COMPUTERS. Strictly speaking, communications on answer phones and EVP loosely fit into this category, too.
The types of phenomena I have mentioned here – both ectoplasmic-based and energy-based – are the main types you are likely to come into contact with if you research this exciting subject thoroughly. However, the list is by no means comprehensive. There is much more to discover as you delve deeper into the topic.
Further Reading
The Scole Experiment - https://www.thescoleexperiment.com/
The Scole Group Physical Mediumship Experiments - Rosemary Ellen Guiley https://www.visionaryliving.com/the-scole-group/
Eastern Daily Press: Strange case of Norfolk life after death experiment that could become a Hollywood film (2018)
