Defining a Medium

Parapsychology – Mediumship

In this course, Professor Ciarán O’Keeffe (Buckinghamshire New University) explores mediumship. In the first lecture, we think about how to define a medium and the act of mediumship. In the second lecture, we think about the history of mediumship and its origins in Ancient Greece. In the third lecture, we think about some theories behind how mediumship can occur, with a focus on the paranormal. Next, we think about the role of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the research and popularity around mediumship. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about taking a sceptical perspective towards research into mediumship.

Defining a Medium

In this lecture, we think about how to define a medium, focusing in particular on: i) reviewing the focus areas of parapsychology, comprising of extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, and after death communication; (ii) dividing mediumship into physical and mental, the former rendering the medium as the facilitator for physical phenomena, while the latter relates to communicating with spirits; (iii) the different ways in which mediums can operate, including clairvoyantly, clairaudiently and clairsentiently; (iv) spiritualist mediumship and the spiritualism religion.