Ectoplasm : What is it?
The word ectoplasm was coined by a French scientists named Charles Richet in 1894, to explain a third arm that appeared from a psychic named Eusapia Palladino, "ectoplasm" came from the Greek words of "ekto" and "plasma", meaning "exteriorized substance".
Ectoplasm is an odd and elusive substance that is reported to be totally repulsive. It is a seemingly life like substance, solid or vaporous in nature, that exudes from the body of the psychic and can be transformed into materialized limbs, faces and even the entire bodies of spirits. Ectoplasm often appears to be milky white in color and smells like ozone. These emanations are warm to the touch and are reported as thick, clotted, mucus like substances, rubbery and dough like. The structure of the ectoplasm varies from clouds and veils, to thin rods, membranes and heavy masses. Ectoplasm also disappears when exposed to light and will often snap back violently. Touching the ectoplasm, or exposing it to light, is said to be able to cause injury to the psychic.
Historic Reports.
"We have very often been able to establish that by an unknown biological process there comes from the body of the medium a material, at first semi fluid, which possesses some of the properties of a living substance, notably that of the power of change, of movement, and of the assumption of definite forms. One might doubt the truth of these facts if they had not been verified hundreds of times in the course of laborious tests under varied and strict conditions." Schrenck Notzing
Shrenck Notzing analyzed the hair cut from a materialized ectoplasmic form and found it to be of a different structure to the hair of the medium. He burned ectoplasm to ash noting that it left the smell of burning horn. He analyzed the ash and found it to contain calcium phosphate and sodium chloride. Psychics were weighed during séances when ectoplasm had been formed and were found to have lost pounds in weight which they later regained. The results of the experiments were testified to by numerous competent witnesses and confirmed by photographs.
"The results are among the most notable of any series of investigations of which we have record."
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)
"Mr. Eglinton paced about the room between the sitters in a state of trance for five minutes, and then he began gently to draw from his side and pay out at right angles a dingy, white looking substance, which fell down at his left side. The mass of white material on the floor increased in breadth, commenced to pulsate and move up and down, also swaying from side to side, the motor power being from underneath. The height of this substance increased to about three feet, and shortly afterwards the "form" quickly and quietly grew to its full stature. By a quick movement of his hand Mr. Eglinton drew away the white material which covered the head of the "form" and it fell back over the shoulders and became part of the clothing of the visitor. The connecting link (the white appearance issuing from the side of the medium) was severed or became invisible, and the "form" advanced to Mr. Everitt, shook hands with him, and passed round the circle treating nearly everyone in the same manner."
Edmund Damson Roger, "History of Spiritualism", London, 1885.
In the case of Florence Cook it is reported that her hair was nailed to the floor. Florence was able to produce ectoplasm which built up into the figure of a young woman, Katie King, who walked about fully clothed and independent of the medium and was able to converse with the sitters. She was photographed by Crookes 44 times. He also cut off a lock of her hair, took her pulse rate, noted her height, weight, skin color, etc. These were all totally different to the physical appearance and measurements of Florence Cook.
In full light ectoplasmic manifestations melt away "like a wax doll melting before a fire." On one occasion and with her full agreement, a strong light was shone on Katie King as an experiment and this is exactly what happened.
In addition to the Katie King manifestation, raps were produced, objects moved through the air, appeared and disappeared, changed their size and weight, and musical instruments were played.
In the Palladium rule system, Ectoplasm is available as either a vapor or a solid substance, formed as either an extended limb/tentacle or as an ectoplasmic disguise..
But.. there is much more potential open to psychic plasm than just external manifestations.
Stay tuned...
