Table-Tilting: The Psychology Behind the Spiritualist Craze
Table-Tilting: A Psychological and Historical Analysis The Core Definition of Table-Tilting Table-tilting, sometimes referred to as table-turning, is a specific form of mediumistic practice associated primarily with the rise of Spiritualism in the mid-19th century. This phenomenon involves participants gathering around a light table, typically placing their hands lightly upon its surface, and patiently waiting […]
The Occult: Unveiling the Hidden Psychology of Belief
The Occult: An Encyclopedia Entry The Core Definition The term “occult” refers to a diverse array of practices, beliefs, and phenomena that are generally considered to be hidden or secret, often involving knowledge of the supernatural or esoteric. Derived from the Latin word “occultus,” meaning “hidden, secret, or clandestine,” it fundamentally denotes that which is […]
NECROMANIA (literally, mania for the dead)
Necromania: Etymology and Definitional Scope The term Necromania, derived from the Ancient Greek components nekrós (meaning ‘dead body’ or ‘corpse’) and manía (meaning ‘madness,’ ‘frenzy,’ or ‘excessive preoccupation’), literally translates to a ‘mania for the dead.’ In common historical and anthropological usage, this term denotes an intense, often ritualistic, fascination or obsession with death, corpses, […]