Psychomanteum

In parapsychology and spiritualism, a psychomanteum is a small, enclosed area set up with a comfortable chair, dim lighting, and a mirror angled so as not to reflect anything but darkness intended to communicate with spirits of the dead.[1][2][3]

History

The psychomanteum was popularized by Raymond Moody, originator of the term near-death experience,[4] in his 1993 book, Reunions: Visionary Encounters with Departed Loved Ones. Raymond Moody believed the psychomanteum was useful as a tool to resolve grief. The chamber was kept darkened and illuminated only by a candle or a dim light bulb. Subjects gaze into the reflected darkness hoping to see and make contact with spirits of the dead. Moody compared the psychomanteum to the Greek Necromanteion, and said its function was a form of scrying.[5][6]

See also
  • Catoptromancy – divination using a mirror

References
  1. James R. Lewis. (1995). Encyclopedia of Death and the Afterlife. Visible Ink. p. 294. ISBN 978-1578591077
  2. Harvey Irwin; Caroline Watt. (2007). An Introduction to Parapsychology. McFarland. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-7864-3059-8
  3. Christopher M. Moreman. (2008). Beyond the Threshold. p. 201.
  4. Raymond Moody. 1975. Life After Life. Mockingbird.
  5. Joe Nickell (3 July 2012), The Science of Ghosts: Searching for Spirits of the Dead, Prometheus Books, pp. 129–, ISBN 978-1-61614-586-6
  6. Christopher M. Moreman (18 September 2008), Beyond the Threshold: Afterlife Beliefs and Experiences in World Religions, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, pp. 201–, ISBN 978-0-7425-6552-4
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