Exercises for Developing Mediumship: Techniques from 19th Century Spiritualist Manuals
Introduction
In the golden age of Spiritualism—spanning the mid to late 1800s—mediumship was not merely a gift, but a discipline. Manuals published during this period offered aspiring mediums detailed techniques for developing their abilities through ethical, mental, and spiritual training. These texts laid a foundational framework for what is today called mediumship development. In this guide, we explore actual exercises and principles preserved in historical sources, including “A Brief Course in Mediumship” by George Winslow Plummer (1920), “Mediumship: Its Laws and Conditions” by Brittan and Richmond (1880), and “Development of Mediumship” by E.W. Wallis and J.J. Morse (circa 1900s).
The Spiritualist Framework for Mediumship Development
Spiritualist educators viewed mediumship as a scientific process guided by spiritual laws. Development began with the refinement of the physical and mental instrument—the medium—and proceeded through moral preparation, mental discipline, and psychic sensitivity.
According to Plummer:
"No man becomes a medium in a day. The nervous system must be sensitized; the aura purified; the subconscious trained to receive, interpret, and relay."
(A Brief Course in Mediumship, 1920)
Core Development Techniques from the 1800s
🧘 Meditation and Passive Receptivity
A common thread across all manuals is the call for mental quietude. Judd (1900) and Plummer both advocate:
Setting aside daily periods of silence.
Sitting alone or in a group in complete stillness, focusing on spiritual alignment.
Avoiding strong emotions or excitement before sessions.
“Sit passively with a devotional frame of mind. The spirit world operates in silence.” – Development of Mediumship, E.W. Wallis
🌬️ Breath and Magnetism
Brittan and Richmond emphasize vital magnetism as key to spirit connection. Development included:
Rhythmic breathing to harmonize energy currents.
Exercises in “willing vitality” into one’s hands or breath to project healing or attract spirit power.
“The breath is the spirit’s tether. Control it, and the psychic body becomes light and vibrant.”
(Mediumship: Its Laws and Conditions, 1880)
🔮 Circle Practice and Spirit Bands
Plummer recommended development circles consisting of:
One developing medium and 4–6 harmonious sitters.
Regular sessions, ideally the same time each evening.
A darkened or dimly lit room.
Starting with prayers, hymns, or silence to invite high vibrations.
These circles allowed the spirit “band” to attune to the medium’s energy and gradually introduce phenomena. Learn more about physical phenomena here.
Daily Exercises from 19th Century Mediumship Manuals
Here are adapted daily practices from Spiritualist sources:
Aura Purification - Visualize a white light enveloping your body each morning.
Spirit Communication Journal - After meditation, write down any impressions, images, or phrases that arise.
Hand Magnetism Practice - Rub palms together and slowly separate; sense the energy field between them. Project energy toward a plant or object.
Trance Training - Allow yourself to slip into deeper meditation while a trusted friend asks gentle questions. Record what comes.
Warnings Against Overdevelopment and Fraud
Many 19th-century guides warned about pushing too quickly into trance states, or mistaking imagination for inspiration.
Wallis advised:
"Do not strain to receive. Let it come. The higher intelligences will not be forced, nor can they be mimicked without moral consequence."
The Ethical Foundation of Mediumship
Every manual stressed spiritual integrity. Development was not for performance, but for service:
Healing
Teaching
Uplifting the bereaved
Plummer emphasizes the medium’s role as servant of Light and warns against using mediumship for ego or material gain.
Conclusion: Begin Where They Began
If you're seeking to deepen your mediumship practice today, the Spiritualists of the 1800s offer profound tools: silence, discipline, reverence, and genuine purpose. These exercises—still effective—are a gateway to refined spiritual communication rooted in ethics and history.
Begin your journey not with guesswork, but with the exact same practices used by mediums of the past.