A séance, also spelled seance, is a gathering of people who attempt to communicate with spirits or the dead. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "session" or "sitting". In French, the word is quite general and can refer to any type of session, such as a movie session. However, in English, the word is specifically used to describe a meeting of people who are gathered to receive messages from ghosts or to listen to a spirit medium discourse with or relay messages from spirits.
During a séance, participants may sit around a table, sometimes including a medium who claims to have the ability to communicate with spirits and relay messages to their loved ones. Séances are often associated with the occult and have been practiced throughout history in various cultures. In modern times, séances continue to be a part of the religious services of Spiritualist, Spiritist, and Espiritismo churches, where a greater emphasis is placed on spiritual values versus showmanship.
