The word Ectoplasm is derived from the Greek words ‘Ektos’ and ‘Plasm’ – “Exteriorised Substance”, and was coined by Professor Charles Richet, the eminent French Physiologist who, in 1905, was the President of the Society for Psychical Research. The substance is recognised as an actual life force, and is omnipresent in existing and potential physical mediums. In its visible form, it can appear initially like a cloud, varying in colour from dull grey to creamy white, or as a grey mist when at the beginning of a full or partial materialisation. In its condensed form it has been referred to as psychoplasm by James Burns, as an indication of a Soul or Mind behind the phenomenon. Other names for the substance were used in the past  -  ‘Psychic Force’ (by Sergeant Cox), ‘Ectenic Force’ (by professor Thury), ‘Teleplasma’ (by Baron von Schrenck-Notzing), ‘Teleplasm’ (by Myers), ‘Cryptoplasm’ (by Crawford), and many others besides.

So what, then, is it actually? This amazing emanation from the physical organism, when its very nature assumes so many different varieties  -  according to the kind of phenomenon desired by the unseen operators? This mysterious substance s usually exuded from the natural orifices of the medium’s body, although it can also appear from almost any area. It its primary state, it is invisible and intangible, and it assumes vaporous, liquid or solid states as it condenses. It has a musty, earthy smell somewhat reminiscent of Ozone, which can be unpleasant in its nature, but is a wonderful sight to watch a small initial amount build, and grow into a living being! Sudden light, especially white light in a séance rom is dangerous, and can be extremely harmful to the medium, as it causes the ectoplasm to flash back immediately into the medium’s body, causing, at best, friction burns, and in some cases, internal haemorrhages, or even death

Touching of the ectoplasm, or the medium can have the same effect (unless, of course, permission has been given by the Spirit Operators). The substance is often seen in conjunction with physical phenomena, and it has been viewed in its many forms over the years, having also been handled, photographed by the infra red method, and occasionally analysed by scientists.

In my own physical home circle we could see a grey mist hovering over the circle in the dark, which was an indication that some phenomena might start at any moment. On occasions, sitters would feel themselves to be gently touched by spirit entities  -  when this happened to me, I would ask permission to feel further, and once felt a fully materialised hand, complete with finger nails, quite warm and natural, but terminating at the wrist, and tapering into a narrow fringe attached to a psychic rod. Amazing! At a Gordon Higginson séance at Stansted Hall, I saw it billowing like waves across the floor from the cabinet, until it reared up and tried to form into a proper structure. These fully formed materialised figures really appear to be living flesh and blood, and when they de-materialise, they seem to melt and sink into the floor. The garments they wear can feel like silk, or often a more coarse material. In 1916, W J Crawford discovered by his own experiments that ectoplasmic formations could become as solid and as strong as steel!

In the case of the direct voice phenomenon, it would appear that three kinds of ectoplasmic formations come into play; a solid rod to grip and move the trumpet; an ectoplasmic replica of the human voice box, and a flexible expansive conduit from the voice box to the trumpet. (Although photos of Jack Webber sometimes show no supporting rod.) Other methods can be used when voices are heard in two or more places at once, one opinion being that the spirit communicators sometimes partially materialise their head and lungs to enable them to speak independently of the trumpet.

We also know that imprints can be made in putty or clay, using gripping terminals (pseudopods) with psychic rods. Spirit entities have been able to materialise their hands, plunging them into warm paraffin wax in liquid form – dematerialising them again once the wax had set  -  thus leaving perfect moulds of their hands, shaped live gloves  -  and quite impossible for any human agency to escape from without destroying the moulds. I have a number of photographs at home of these wax moulds.

It is important to realise that ectoplasm on its own cannot build structures, create voice boxes or pseudopods  -  unless it is blended with other substances by the Spirit Chemists, and then directed by Spirit intelligence. Physical mediums are not always entranced during the phenomena  -  in my own circle I was able to speak to the medium at the same time as the trumpet was hovering, and moving from sitter to sitter. “Can you see that?” I asked. “Yes”, said the medium, before slipping once again into trance.

Dr Dombrowski of the Polish S.P.R. had a sample of ectoplasm analysed in 1916, and I quote a summary of the bacteriological report:  “The substance is albumenoid matter, accompanied by fatty matter, and cells found in the human organism. Starch and sugar, discoverable by Fehlings test, are absent.”

It is generally admitted by the Spirit Operators that in order to “economise the power”, and to prevent the sensitive from being drained of too much vitality, full form materialisations are rare. So often, only partial forms are likely, perhaps the forehead, eyes and nose only with no speech  -  or perhaps the head and neck complete with vocal chords. Often the head, neck and shoulders, arms and hands, with nothing more. Rarer is the whole person complete down to the waist, and only very occasionally will the materialisations show themselves ad totally complete, from head to feet.

During the four years 1909-1913, carefully conducted experiments were carried out under test conditions in France and Germany by several scientists, headed by Baron von Schrenck Notzing of Munich. Two young women sensitives  -  Marthe Beraud (known as Eva C), aged 23, and Stanislawa P. (whose mediumship was not so well developed), aged 19  -  agreed in the cause of science, both voluntarily and without payment, to submit themselves to many tests; 200 photographs (including a cinematograph record) were taken by flashlight, and one occasion, no less than 9 photographic cameras, set t various angles around Mlle. Beraud were triggered simultaneously.

Those who have investigated the phenomena termed materialisation must be aware that the constituents of the ‘ectoplasm’ which is mixed and moulded by the Spirit Operators, must be procured from both the sensitive and the sitters, and it is used for the following purposes:

1. the formation of bones, skull, teeth and nails, etc.
2. forming flesh, heart, lungs, etc., and outer skin, which can be white, yellow, brown or black according to the nationality of the entity
3. creating hair, dark, red, fair or grey
4. the production of clothing, in various colours, and with differing materials.

 Chemical analysis of ectoplasm showed: a colourless, slightly cloudy fluid, with no smell, showing traces of cell detritus and sputum, giving a whitish deposit, and slightly alkaline reaction. Microscopic examination revealed numerous skin discs and some sputum-like bodies; many granulates of the mucous membrane, and traces of potash. The dried residues weighed 8.6 grammes per litre, with 3 grammes of ash.

Members may be interested to learn that I regulated my own séance room temperature to between 63 and 64 degrees F., which could be the ideal temperature for manifestations to take place. My information from spirit on the subject was: “We prefer to work in temperatures not below 60 degrees Farenheit, or not higher than 70 degrees, and it is also a good policy for the sitters to encourage the medium to choose the type and kind of music played.” Naturally, however, where the medium is not initially known within the group, such choices should be on the agreement of the majority. With respect to my own circle, it was discovered that Shirley Bassey songs were perfect. When Shirley hit the high notes, so the two trumpets beat rapid time close to the ceiling! I must, however, stress that no two circles are exactly alike, or can work in exactly the same way. Whilst these things worked for us, others can only use them as general guidelines, that might or might not work for them, whilst establishing by a process of trial and error  -  the ideal conditions for their own circle.

Finally, we can ask ourselves, was this remarkable ectoplasmic substance inherent in man’s physical body created by a divine intelligence during the process of evolution for the very purpose of communication with a Spirit world? And if the answer to that is yes, then was the uncomplicated and simple mind of Neanderthal Man aware of the function of this substance? Isn’t it an interesting thought that communication may go way back beyond our own limited horizons!!