The Spirit of Spiritualism

14/10/2025 1h 30min Episodio 25
The Spirit of Spiritualism

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Episode Synopsis

Knock once for yes and two for no? In the age of Spiritualism, seances, mediums and contacting “the other side” were not only commonplace but an everyday source of entertainment. The Spiritualist movement has roots in upstate New York and arose during a time of religious, social, and philosophical exploration. In this episode, Emily and Katie explore the historical context of spiritualism, what kickstarted its existence, mediums, seances, and … Johnny Appleseed spreading the Swedenborg religion? What?
 
What was going on in the US when the Spiritualist movement gained traction?
What was the second great awakening and how did it influence this movement?
How is Johnny Appleseed related to Spiritualism?
Who were some of the famous mediums and what did they do?
What’s the origin of the Ouija board?
 
Johnny Appleseed spreads Swedenborgian ideas
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ouija-7eleven
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-tiny-new-york-town-where-mediums-give-voice-to-the-dead-180987270/ 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table-turning 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-fox-sisters-and-the-rap-on-spiritualism-99663697/ 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_sisters 
https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/mesmerized/ 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Dunglas_Home 
https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hayden-maria-b-ca-1852 
https://msmagazine.com/2019/10/29/waking-the-witch-the-feminist-history-of-spiritualism/