WHAT IS ECTOPLASM

The term "ectoplasm," coined by Charles Richet in 1923 today means a ghostly substance believed by spiritualists to issue from a medium who is communicating with spirits while in a trance.

Charles believed that ectoplasm was produced by physical mediums while in a trance. This gauze-like material is excreted from orifices on the medium's body and spiritual entities, which form over the nonphysical body allowing the nonphysical to interact within our physical universe.

Although the term is widespread in popular culture, the physical existence is not readily accepted by the mainstream scientific community. Tests of purported ectoplasm have been found to be various non paranormal substances such as: chiffon and flakes of human skin.

These signatures can include: white, gray, transparent, viscous material resembling mucus. It oozes from solid objects or mediums' bodies involving mucous membranes and usually takes on a misty form.

Since its inception into the fields of:

Spiritualism

Parapsychology

Ghost Hunting

Mediumship

it has become a staple in popular culture and fictional supernatural lore. In the1984 movie, Ghostbusters, in which ectoplasmic residue slimed people, Bill Murray said, "He slimed me!"

In the movie Ghostbusters 2, the ectoplasm is pinkish causing humans to become aggressive and murderous. It also brings inanimate objects to life. It brings a bathtub to life and forces the Ghostbusters to reunite in order to stop it.

In his 1962 novel, Island, Aldous Huxley alludes to ectoplasm. Will suddenly remembered his favorite worst line of poetry. 'Who prop, thou ask'st, in these bad days my mind? Answer: congealed ectoplasm, Early Dali. Through Huxley's works we see the themes of Vedanta and Parapsychology.

Vedanta- which is a Hindu Philosophy based on the principles of:

Human nature is divine.

The aim of human life is to realize that human nature is divine.

Parapsychology-the discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and cause of psychic abilities, life after death and the scientific method.

In William S. Burroughs Naked Lunch the narrator repeatedly alludes to ectoplasm.

In the video game Castlevania: Symphony of The Night a hovering enemy Ectoplasm is found in the Long Library and curses Alucard when he touches it.

In the computer role-playing game Echelon: Book I, ectoplasm is dropped when Poltergeists are destroyed. It is a regent that can be used in the creation of various potions.

From the above examples, ectoplasm is all through pop culture. Does this mean that we should believe in ghosts or the paranormal happenings?

Resources:

www.wikipedia.org

Learn more about this author, Susan Kersten.
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