Observations placeholder
The experiences of Sir William Crookes and the medium
Identifier
022718
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Flammarion, C., Carroll, L, - Death and its mystery: before death
198 Death and its mystery
Let us recall, in this connection the experiences of Sir William Crookes, consisting in the reading of sentences unknown to him and to the medium. This medium, a lady, gave communications by means of a little board to which a pencil was attached and which, conducted by her hand, slipped over a paper.
I hoped to discover the means of proving that what she wrote was not due to the unconscious action of her brain. The planchette, as it always does, affirmed that although it was put in action by the brain and arm of this lady, the intelligence which directed it belonged to an invisible being, who played upon the brain of the lady as on a musical instrument and in this way moved her muscles.
Therefore, I said to this intelligence: "Do you see what there is in this room?" "Yes,” wrote planchette. "Do you see that newspaper and can you read?" I added, putting my finger on a number of “The Times” which was on the table behind me, but without looking at it. “Yes, ” answered planchette. “Well" I went on, write me out the word which is now covered by my finger and I will believe you."
Planchette began to move slowly and, -not without great difficulty, wrote the word, "however." I turned about and saw that this word was covered by the tip of my finger.
When I made this experiment I had carefully avoided looking at the paper and it would have been impossible for the lady, even if she had tried, to see a single one of the printed words, for she was seated, at a table, the paper was on another table behind me, and my body hid it from her sight.