Psychography
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In Spiritism, Spiritualism and similar religions, Psychography is a technique for "channeling" written messages from what is believed to be a disembodied spirit. The usual approach to Psychography is to relate it to a special ability, inate or developed, called medianimity, which not everyone possesses at a useful degree.
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[edit] Types of psychography
The most extensive treatise on Psychography is Allan Kardec's Mediums' Book, one of the works comprised in the Spiritist Codification. Kardec recognises two basic types of psychography: indirect and direct.
[edit] Indirect psychography
This type of Psychography depends on a material device, like an Ouija board, operated by one or more persons. Despite being less dependent on medianimity, this type is cumbersome and not useful for large communications, frequently producing gibberish.
[edit] Direct psychography
Direct psychography is the most conventional type, in which a person, the medium, writes under the alleged influence of the spirit. It is called "direct" because the relationship between the medium(s) and the spirit is not by means of any mechanical device.
This type depends on medianimity alone and is subdivided into five subtypes, depending on how the spirit's message is committed to paper:
- Mechanical psychography
- In which the spirit takes control of the medium's arm and writes independently from his awareness (the medium may pass the time paying attention to something else while his arm writes autonomously). Considered to be the most reliable and extraordinary type. Communications thus obtained are thought to be completely free from the interference of the medium's conscience.
- Semi-mechanical psychography
- In which the medium writes keeps relative control of his limb, but still feels a foreign influence on its movement. Unlike mechanical psychography, the medium knows all that is being written and can stop to rest or to turn the page whenever he sees fit. Reliability is almost as high as in mechanical psychography. Chico Xavier was this type of medium.
- Intuitive psychography
- In which the spirit communicates with the inner self of the medium (subconscious), resulting in him writing what is on his mind, though it is something different from what the medium would normally think. Sentences come formed, but the medium can amend them with richer vocabulary or a better syntax before writing them down. This is the most common type, but is less reliable and is usually marred by the interference of the medium's conscience.
- Inspirational psychography
- In which the medium receives vague notions in his mind, which he will write in his own words. This type of psychography is very difficult to tell apart from the regular thinking process, especially in people with a literary talent (a careless analysis would have most writers fall into this category).
- Presentient psychography
- In which the medium receives a communication before he is able to understand it. Not really a type of psychography, but an important category because, if proved, can be a strong evidence for Spiritism.
[edit] Literary merit
Even considering the authorship as really belonging to a spirit, psychography does not guarantee the literary merit of the works produce, which can range from good to atrocious depending on many circumstances. Mediums who produce good works are likely to keep a high tone throughout their lives.
[edit] Books alleged written by this method
- The Spirits' Book contains large sections obtained by psychography.
- The Urantia Book
- The Book of the Law channelled by Aleister Crowley's wife.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- A Brazilian site with several free PDFe-books in English, including Kardec's works and Leon Dénis.
- Psychic News list of psychographed books (for sale online).
- Spirit Library's list of psychographed books (for sale online).
