A seance, also spelled séance, is a gathering of people who attempt to communicate with spirits of the dead. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "session," from the Old French seoir, "to sit". The term "séance" is used in a few different ways, and can refer to any of four different activities, each with its own social norms and conventions, its own favored tools, and its own range of expected outcomes.
Some seances are conducted within a religious context, such as in Spiritualist, Spiritist, and Espiritismo churches, where a greater emphasis is placed on spiritual values versus showmanship. Others are conducted outside of any religious context and without a leader, often by young people who are using the seance as a way to test their understanding of the boundaries between reality and the paranormal.
During a seance, a medium seeks to communicate with spirits of the dead, often using tools such as automatic writing, trance speaking, or a ouija board or planchette. Many of the seemingly mysterious phenomena manifested during seances are effected by the medium to validate his or her claim to supernatural powers.
While some people find comfort and mystery in mediums and seances, others view them as fraudsters or unwitting fakes, exploiting the vulnerable and bereaved. Psychologists have studied the rituals of the seance and the medium to gain insights into the mind, shedding light on the power of suggestion and even questioning the nature of free will.
