Automatic Writing in 19th-Century Mediumship: Techniques and Teachings from Historical Texts
Automatic writing, or psychography, emerged as a significant practice within 19th-century Spiritualism. This method involved mediums entering trance-like states to produce writings believed to be dictated by spirits. The practice gained prominence due to its perceived efficiency over other forms of spirit communication, such as table rapping or spirit boards.
What Is Automatic Writing?
Automatic writing is a process where individuals write without conscious intent, attributing the content to spiritual or supernatural sources. Practitioners would allow their hands to move freely across the page, supposedly guided by spirits. The resulting texts varied from simple messages to elaborate philosophical discourses.
Notable Practitioners of Automatic Writing
William Stainton Moses
An English cleric turned medium, William Stainton Moses (1839–1892) was a prominent figure in Spiritualism. He produced extensive automatic writings compiled into works such as Spirit Teachings and Psychography. Moses claimed these writings were dictated by advanced spirits, providing insights into moral and spiritual matters.
Charles Linton
Charles Linton, a 22-year-old blacksmith, authored The Healing of the Nations (1855), a 340-page religious text written in the style of the King James Bible. Linton claimed the work was produced through automatic writing, serving merely as a medium for the spirits. The book was published by the Society for the Diffusion of Spiritual Knowledge and received endorsements from prominent figures of the time.
Hélène Smith
Hélène Smith (real name Catherine-Elise Müller, 1861–1929) was a renowned French medium known for her automatic writings. She claimed to communicate with various entities, including Martians, and produced writings in what she believed were extraterrestrial languages. Her experiences were documented by psychologist Théodore Flournoy in From India to the Planet Mars.
Techniques and Practices
Practitioners of automatic writing often employed specific techniques to facilitate the process:
Trance Induction: Entering altered states of consciousness through meditation or focused breathing to allow spirits to communicate.
Use of Tools: Utilizing instruments like planchettes or simply pen and paper to record messages.
Setting Intentions: Establishing clear intentions before sessions to invite specific spirits or messages.
Protection Rituals: Engaging in practices to ensure spiritual safety and grounding during sessions.
These methods aimed to create an environment conducive to spiritual communication, allowing mediums to serve as conduits for messages from the beyond.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Automatic writing not only fascinated the public but also influenced literature and the arts. The Surrealist movement, for instance, embraced automatic writing as a means to tap into the unconscious mind and unleash creativity. Moreover, the practice raised questions about authorship, consciousness, and the boundaries between the self and the other.
In some cases, automatic writing led to controversial claims. For example, T. P. James published a continuation of Charles Dickens' unfinished novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood, asserting that it was dictated to him by Dickens' spirit. While many viewed this as a hoax, it nonetheless garnered significant attention and sparked debates about the authenticity of spirit communications.
Conclusion
Automatic writing served as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms for many in the Victorian era. Through the pens of mediums, it offered a tangible connection to the beyond, captivating believers and skeptics alike. Today, it remains a topic of interest for those exploring the intersections of consciousness, creativity, and the possibility of life after death.
For further exploration, consider reading the original works of William Stainton Moses and Charles Linton