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 Journal of Anthropological Approaches to the Paranormal
ISSN: 2044-9216
 Vol. 2 No. 1
January 2011
Mediumship & Spirit Possession
Clairvoyance, Class & Convention-Sophie Louise DrennanIn Possession of My Senses? Reflections fromSocial Science on Engaging with the Otherworldly.-Sara MackianThe Science and Struggle of Psi Research-Callum E. CooperThe Autonomy and Morphology of theFelix Experimental Group’s Ectoplasm-Jochen SoederlingThe History of Survival Research-Michael E. TymnTowards a Social History of Spiritualism in Bristol-Jack HunterCandomblé, Umbanda, and KardecismoMediums in Recife, Brazil-Stanley KrippnerPragmatics and Intention in Automatic WritingCompositions: the Chico Xavier case- Ademir Xavier And much more...
The Importance ofMediumshipResearch
Dr. Julie BeischelDr. David LukeProf. Patric GieslerRobin P. FoyRosemarie Pilkington, PhD. Yves Marton, PhD.Michael RollDr. Hannah GilbertProf. Etzel CardenaDr. Fiona BowiePaul D. Biscop, PhD.Dr. Carlos AlvaradoZeljko Jokic, PhD.Dr. Ciaran O’KeefeProf. Charles F. Emmons
Images of a South Indian Theyyam PerformanceDavid Luke A Trance Mediumship Demonstration in SingaporeFabian GrahamThe Art of the Medium: Encounters with the Past in theBoundless Unknown - Alysa BraceauThe Disparity of a “Standards of Care” for SpiritMediumship as a Permissible Behavioral Health CareProfession - August Goforth
 
PARANTHROPOLOGY 2
 Vol. 2 No. 1
Contents
Survival Research Timeline -
MichaelTymn
Towards a Social History ofSpiritualism in Bristol -
Jack Hunter
Learning from the Spirits: InvestigatingCandomblé, Umbanda, and KardecismoMediums in Recife, Brazil -
StanleyKrippner
Report of a Physical MediumshipSeance -
Jon Mees
 A Trance Mediumship Demonstration inSingapore -
Fabian Graham
The Importance of MediumshipResearch
- Various
In Possession of My Senses?Reflections from Social Science onEngaging with the Otherworldly-
SaraMackian
Clairvoyance, Class and Convention -
Sophie Louise Drennan
Experiences with Mediumship -
 Michael Evans
The Science and Struggle of PsiResearch -
Callum E. Cooper
The Autonomy and Morphology of theFelix Experimental Group’s Ectoplasm -
Dr. Jochen Soederling
EventsReviews
Mediumship is a rich and varied social phenomenonthat exists in one form or another on everycontinent. As such it cannot be understood from asingle perspective. The aim of this issue of 
Paranthropology 
is to examine mediumship from avariety of perspectives, academic and experiential.To this end we present anthropological,parapsychological, historical and spiritualisticperspectives alongside each other, which makes fora fairly holistic approach to the subject.In this issue Michael Tymn gives us an insightinto the history of survival research, StanleyKrippner introduces us to Brazilian spiritist practices(Candomble, Umbanda and Kardecismo), Jon Meesdescribes a recent physical mediumshipdemonstration at Jenny’s Sanctuary, FabianGraham describes an unusual encounter withmediumship in Singapore, Sara Mackian discussesmethods for engaging with the otherworldy, SophieLouise Drennan explores the sociological aspects of Victorian Spiritualism, Michael Evans gives aninsight into his life’s experiences with Spiritualism,Callum E. Cooper discusses the “science andstruggle of psi research”, Dr Jochen Soederlinggives a detailed phenomenological account of theectoplasm purportedly being produced by the FelixExperimental Group in Germany, and KristenGallerneaux Brooks introduces us to themediumship investigation equipment on display atthe American Society for Psychical Research.In addition to all of this we have a fascinatingfeature with contributions from a wide range of mediumship researchers explaining why they feelthe investigation of mediumship is a worthy causethat will benefit our understanding of bothourselves as human beings and the world we livein. And much more besides...We hope you enjoy.
Jack Hunter
 
PARANTHROPOLOGY Paranthropology: Journal of Anthropological Approaches to the Paranormal
3
11
th
Century A.D. –
CatholicChurch sets down formal guidelinesfor the investigation of miraclesnecessary for sainthood.
1741
– Swedish scientist EmanuelSwedenborg begins personalinvestigation of afterlife realms bymeans of clairvoyance and out-of-body travel, writes numerousessays on his explorations.
1778 –
Mesmerism is introducedby Franz Anton Mesmer, anAustrian physician. While slow tocatch on. it was an importantprecursor of psychical research andparapsychology.
March 31, 1848 –
This day marksthe beginning of paranormalphenomena at the home of the Foxfamily in Hydesville, New York.This leads to a mediumship “epidemic” in the United States andEurope.
January 1851 –
John W.Edmonds, Chief Justice of the NewYork State Supreme Court, beginsa two-year personal investigationof mediumship. Intending todebunk the phenomena, he insteadbecomes a dedicated Spiritualist.
1851
– The “New York Circle,” anassociation of prominent men andwomen, including Judge Edmonds,is formed to observe and report onspiritualistic phenomena. Thegroup’s first official meeting takesplace on November 14, 1851.
1851
– The Ghost Society isformed at Cambridge in England.One of the founders is EdwardWhite Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1853, HenrySidgwick, Benson’s cousin andlater a founder of the Society forPsychical Research (SPR), joins thegroup. Seven years later,Professor Sidgwick becomes atutor at Cambridge to Frederic W.H. Myers, a co-founder of the SPR.
1852
– A Harvard Universitydelegation, including poet WilliamCullen Bryant and Messrs. B.K.Bliss, William Edwards, and DavidWells studies the physicalmediumship of Daniel DunglasHome, concluding that he is “amodern wonder.” 
1853
– Dr. Robert Hare, a retiredUniversity of PennsylvaniaChemistry professor and renownedinventor, begins investigatingmediumship intent on showing it isall fraud. He comes to accept itas real and then becomes amedium himself. In 1855, hewrites a book, “ExperimentalInvestigation of the SpiritManifestations.” 
1853
– French author Victor Hugois exiled to the island of Jersey andbegins an informal investigation of mediumship.
1854
– French educator HippolyteLeon Denizarth Rivail (AllanKardec) begins an investigation of mediumship. In 1857, he publishes “The Spirits’ Book,” which setsforth profound messages from thespirit world.
1860
– American editor andstatesman Robert Dale Owenwrites “Footfalls on the Boundaryof Another World,” discussingvarious psychic phenomena.Psychical researchers in thedecades following would say thatthis book significantly influencedthem in their decisions toinvestigate similar phenomena.
1866
– Alfred Russell Wallace, co-originator with Charles Darwin of the natural selection theory of evolution, issues his first writing onSpiritualism, “The Scientific Aspectof the Supernatural.” 
1869
– The Dialectical Society of London appoints a committee,including biologist Alfred RusselWallace, to investigatemediumship. The committeereturns a report that thephenomena exist.
The History of Survival Research
Michael Tymn
The Society for Psychical Research was formed in London in 1882, butsurvival research of one kind or another had been going on well beforethen. Below is a timeline of key events and/or turning points in survivalresearch and influences. Although much more could be added in theareas of ESP/PSI research, this list is limited to the events more directlyinfluencing the survival hypothesis.
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