Ectoplasm

It often shapes itself into human faces, hands or even bodies. Many mediums produce ectoplasm from their nose or mouth (occasionally also from the navels, nipples, eyes or ears) when they are in a trance. Some mediums use the ectoplasm that is produced to mould the face and body of the spirit that has communicated with them. Ectoplasm can also appear spontaneously, in this case, it is a productive of psychic energy which usually forms as a fog-like mist, solid white mass or vortex.

The term "Ectoplasm" was first coined by French physiologist Charles Richet i  1894, & since then many studies have been undertaken to analyse this substance. The structure varies from formless clouds to spider web-like tendrils. It disappears in white light, & is evident only in red incandescent light & darkness. If a bright light appears, it snaps back into the mediums body.

Truth or Illusion?

In experiments in the early 1900's, medium Marthe Beraud produced a large amount of ectoplasm. She was thoroughly examined before & after the sittings, often wearing tight clothing. No evidence of anything concealing could be found. When the ectoplasm was touched by someone else's hands, it writhed back into Berauds body. After forming, the ectoplasm took on the faces or shapes of historical figures.

Gustave Geley, head of the Institute of Metapsychique in Paris, described ectoplasm as an externalisation of decentralised energy in solid, liquid or vapour form. Medium Robert Chaney's description was that ectoplasm is the spiritual counterpart of protoplasm. He believed that the ectoplasmic body exisits in the inter-cellular spaces of a mediums physical body, halfway between spiritual & physical forms.

However, sceptics say that ectoplasm does not exist & is produced through tricks of the light or that it is really fabric, such as cheese cloth.