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==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:Witch of Endor.jpg|400px|thumb|The Witch of Endor summoning Samuel]] | |||
Attempts to communicate with the dead and other living human beings, aka spirits, have been documented back to early human history, such as the [[Bible|Biblical]] account of the [[Witch of Endor]]. | Attempts to communicate with the dead and other living human beings, aka spirits, have been documented back to early human history, such as the [[Bible|Biblical]] account of the [[Witch of Endor]]. | ||
Throughout Antiquity, [[ | Throughout Antiquity, [[oracle]] were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. In this sense, they were different from seers (manteis, μάντεις) who interpreted signs sent by the gods through bird signs, animal entrails, and other various methods. | ||
At the [[Oracle of Amun]] at the Siwa Oasis, Alexander the Great spoke with a priest who directly channeled the [[Egyptian religion|Egyptian god]] [[Amun-Ra]] to ask if he was the son of Zeus. | At the [[Oracle of Amun]] at the Siwa Oasis, Alexander the Great spoke with a priest who directly channeled the [[Egyptian religion|Egyptian god]] [[Amun-Ra]] to ask if he was the son of Zeus. | ||
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==The channeler== | ==The channeler== | ||
A person who channels is known as a "trance medium" or a "conduit." Depending on the individual, this person is able to access any number of unseen portals, including the spiritual realm, [[metaphysical]] energy, or spiritual entity, or vice versa. | A person who channels is known as a "trance medium" or a "conduit." Depending on the individual, this person is able to access any number of unseen portals, including the spiritual realm, [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] energy, or spiritual entity, or vice versa. | ||
A central, but often overlooked, element of the phenomenon was an emphasis on "spirit," and in particular participants' desire for a relationship with spirit. Many practitioners of channeling describe themselves as "workers for spirit," expressing a desire to help people learn about spirit. Channelers often call upon this spirit to assist them in everyday situations, for instance, to ease the traffic flow on their way to work. | A central, but often overlooked, element of the phenomenon was an emphasis on "spirit," and in particular participants' desire for a relationship with spirit. Many practitioners of channeling describe themselves as "workers for spirit," expressing a desire to help people learn about spirit. Channelers often call upon this spirit to assist them in everyday situations, for instance, to ease the traffic flow on their way to work. | ||
==Ascended Masters== | ==Ascended Masters== | ||
New Age literature often refers to benevolent non-human spirit-beings who are interested in humanity's spiritual development; these are variously referred to as [[angel]]s, [[Ascended Masters]], guardian angels, personal guides, teachers, and contacts. | [[New Age]] literature often refers to benevolent non-human spirit-beings who are interested in humanity's spiritual development; these are variously referred to as [[angel]]s, [[Ascended Masters]], guardian angels, personal guides, teachers, and contacts. | ||
The figure of [[Jesus Christ]] is often mentioned within esoteric literature as a mediating principle between divinity and humanity, as well as an exemplar of a spiritually advanced human being. | The figure of [[Jesus Christ]] is often mentioned within esoteric literature as a mediating principle between divinity and humanity, as well as an exemplar of a spiritually advanced human being. | ||
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===Shamanism=== | ===Shamanism=== | ||
[[File:Oxira 1.jpg|400px|thumb|Candomblé participant possessed by the ''orixá'' of Oxóssi]] | |||
In many cultures, [[shaman]]s enter a trance through the use of [[recreational drug|psychoactive substances]] called "entheogens." These are drugs such as [[peyote]], [[psilocybin]], uncured tobacco, cannabis, ayahuasca, or [[LSD]] used in a ritualized context. | In many cultures, [[shaman]]s enter a trance through the use of [[recreational drug|psychoactive substances]] called "entheogens." These are drugs such as [[peyote]], [[psilocybin]], uncured tobacco, cannabis, ayahuasca, or [[LSD]] used in a ritualized context. | ||
Practitioners of the [[African diaspora religion|Afro-Brazilian religion]] [[Candomblé]] channel various spirits during their rituals, deliberately becoming possessed by specific [[saint]]-like entities called ''orixá''. | |||
==Types== | ==Types== | ||
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For many New Agers, these channeled messages rival the scriptures of the main world religions as sources of spiritual authority, although often New Agers describe historical religious revelations as forms of "channeling" as well, thus attempting to legitimate and authenticate their own contemporary practices. | For many New Agers, these channeled messages rival the scriptures of the main world religions as sources of spiritual authority, although often New Agers describe historical religious revelations as forms of "channeling" as well, thus attempting to legitimate and authenticate their own contemporary practices. | ||
Although the concept of channeling from discarnate spirit entities has links to Spiritualism and psychical research, the New Age does not feature Spiritualism's emphasis on proving the existence of life after death, nor psychical research's focus of testing mediums for consistency. | Although the concept of channeling from discarnate spirit entities has links to [[Spiritualism]] and psychical research, the [[New Age]] does not feature Spiritualism's emphasis on proving the existence of life after death, nor psychical research's focus of testing mediums for consistency. | ||
==Academic examination= | ==Academic examination== | ||
The academic Suzanne Riordan examined a variety of these New Age channeled messages, noting that they typically "echoed each other in tone and content," offering an analysis of the human condition and giving instructions or advice for how humanity can discover its true destiny. | The academic Suzanne Riordan examined a variety of these New Age channeled messages, noting that they typically "echoed each other in tone and content," offering an analysis of the human condition and giving instructions or advice for how humanity can discover its true destiny. | ||