Not long ago, psychic abilities (psi) and mediumship were shrouded in mystery and taboo. Fear certainly played a part – we tend to fear that which is unknown. That said, societal attitudes are gradually shifting, and people are getting increasingly open to exploring the psi phenomena and the noetic realm (that is, knowledge and information beyond our five senses).
Cultural, religious, and scientific influences have shaped a complex perception of mediumship and psi abilities. Mediums and those with remarkable psi abilities have caused either hatred and persecution or been revered spiritual leaders.
Nowadays, TV shows and personal experiences shared on social media have contributed to a more inclusive atmosphere. The desire to connect with deceased loved ones and to seek answers to life’s profound questions has contributed to a rising interest in these topics.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of stereotypes around mediumship and psi abilities. We’ll also have a look at some common myths around mediumship and popular TV shows on the topic. Let’s dive in!
History of stereotypes
How are mediumship and psychic abilities viewed in different traditions? In ancient cultures like those of Egypt and Greece, and Native American traditions, communities had spiritual leaders possessing mediumship or psi abilities. They were revered for their abilities to receive and share noetic information.
With the rise of Christianity, people risked being punished for communing with the divine outside of controlled religion. The noetic gifts we all possess were considered witchcraft. Psychic abilities needed to be performed underground.
During the 19th century, Spiritualism and seances with physical mediums were on the rise. This wave contributed to mediums gaining visibility in a polarizing way: they were seen as either scams or genuinely gifted people.
The 20th century contributed to a commercialization of mediums that further helped them go mainstream. TV shows, either reality shows or fictional, put mediums and their capabilities in the spotlight. At the same time, the development of psychology regarded mediums as delusional.
The 21st century has further brought mediums into the mainstream through social media. Esoteric topics are widely discussed. Tarot card readers get millions of views on platforms like TikTok, highlighting the enduring fascination with the unknown and the human desire to connect with what lies beyond.
Common myths around mediumship
While it’s important to form your own opinion around mediumship, there are a lot of myths on the topic that can cause bias. Let’s debunk some of them!
Mediums are frauds
Due to the nature of psi phenomena, it’s challenging to get absolute proof. A common opinion is that mediums are frauds faking their abilities by inventing messages or looking up relevant information beforehand. However, there are many anecdotes of mediums delivering highly specific information that can’t possibly be made up.
Mediums can talk to all spirits
Different types of spirits can be thought of as living on different frequencies. While mediums possess the ability to communicate with deceased humans, they aren’t necessarily able to connect with other types of non-physical beings.
You need to be born with your gifts
Another common misconception is that mediums need to have known about their capacities since the day they were born. “Not every medium is born knowing. Most are born wondering,” says Heather Hildebrand, a psychic medium and intuitive spiritual advisor. With that, she means that many mediums are wondering why they feel so different and get misunderstood by others.
Mediumship is for entertainment purposes only
Many people are fascinated by mediumship and the information it can reveal. But can it be of any real value? Yes. Mediumship can give us the solace of knowing that there’s something more after this life and that our loved ones on the other side are doing well. Thus, the value of mediumship goes beyond entertainment purposes.
Mediumship and beliefs on communicating with the dead: Statistics
A 2023 study showed that 53% of Americans have been visited by a deceased loved one – either in a dream or in some other form. Arguably, that’s a number that’s hard to dismiss. 35% reported they had felt the presence of a deceased loved one during the last 12 months. These occurrences seem more common among women than men (53% vs. 35%, respectively). The outcome of this study reveals that it’s perfectly normal to communicate with or sense the presence of a deceased loved one.
In an IONS survey, 422 scientists and scholars were asked what types of experiments – if having a positive outcome – would influence them the most regarding their beliefs in the survival of consciousness. Out of the ten proposed experiments, mental mediumship took second place, and physical mediumship took fourth place. The result can be interpreted as the acceptance of mediumship is on the rise, even in the academic world. It should be mentioned that the participants ranged from people who did not believe in the survival of consciousness to those who already believed.
How wisdom traditions view mediumship
There’s a clear distinction between how the five big world religions and indigenous traditions view after-death communication and mediumship. The former hold various degrees of skepticism, with the exception of Hinduism, while Indigenous traditions often take a more liberal stance on the topic.
- Hinduism – Of the five big religions, Hinduism is the one that’s most open to after-death communication. Ancestor worship is a significant part of the tradition. Communication with deceased loved ones is often sought through rituals and prayers.
- Buddhism – The focus is on the here and now and understanding of reality, so communication with deceased loved ones is not encouraged. That said, some Tibetan Buddhist practices involve invoking the wisdom of enlightened beings on the other side.
- Christianity – Christianity is characterized by skepticism against both mediumship and after-death communication. Communication with dead people can be seen as witchcraft. That said, some branches of Christianity are more open toward Spiritualism and mediumship.
- Islam – According to Islam, knowledge of the unseen world, including the afterlife, is exclusive to Allah. If a Muslim reports dreaming of a deceased relative, it’s considered a dream or spiritual experience rather than communication.
- Judaism – Judaism generally prohibits communication with the dead. After-death communication is seen as a form of idolatry and is forbidden in the Torah. Historical figures like King Saul’s consultation with the Witch of Endor are often cited as examples of this prohibited behavior.
- Indigenous traditions – Many indigenous traditions worldwide believe in and practice different forms of spirit communication. This is partly because of the concept of animism. Animism means that animals, natural phenomena, and objects are regarded as having spiritual qualities. This creates a deeper relationship with everything around us where it’s natural to feel a connection to deceased loved ones.
Mediums on reality TV
Reality TV and fictional shows have put mediumship and psi abilities in the spotlight. Some popular shows are:
- The Long Island Medium: A TV show starring Theresa Caputo who used to walk up to strangers delivering messages from departed loved ones. The show aired on TLC for 14 seasons beginning in 2011. The spontaneity with which she delivered the messages contributed to its popularity and credibility. Raising Spirits currently, airing on Lifetime, follows Theresa’s 10th year of touring for live shows as well as her intimate sessions.
- Hollywood Medium: The show stars Tyler Henry, who was 10 years old when he discovered his gifts and only 19 years old during his first appearance on the show. It received attention since he gave readings to celebrities including the Kardashians and Megan Fox.
- Seatbelt Psychic: The show featured medium Thomas John picking up strangers as a rideshare driver and delivering messages from their deceased loved ones. The unscripted format made viewers open up to the potential validity of the messages delivered.
- Pet Psychic: This show ran from 2002 to 2004 on Animal Planet. Medium Sonya Fitzpatrick spoke to all kinds of animals – horses, cats, dogs, and birds – who had passed and delivered the messages to their owners. What was unique to this show is that she also communicated with live animals to help them with behavioral problems and emotional trauma.
- America’s Psychic Challenge: This was a game show that ran for one season on Lifetime. In the show, four contestants were tested on their psi abilities. One of the tasks was to find a man hidden in the trunk of one car out of 50 – another one to pair brides and grooms. The unique game show format added to the intrigue.
Fictional TV shows, such as Ghost Whisperer and Medium, have also contributed to popularizing the topic of mediums.
Noetic Signature characteristics
Everyone’s way of exchanging noetic information is unique. The Noetic Signature™ consists of 12 characteristics through which we engage with the unseen world.
Two of them are particularly relevant to the topic of mediumship and communicating with passed loved ones:
- Apparent communication with non-physical beings
- Knowing through dreams
Apparent communication with non-physical beings is described like this:
Your noetic information comes from apparent communications with non-physical beings, such as deceased people, spirit guides, and other entities. These experiences have been called mediumship, and channeling. This phenomenon has also been studied in the context of mental mediumship.
Knowing through dreams is described as follows:
You access noetic information in dreams. Numerous laboratory studies, many called “dream ESP” experiments, have shown that people can access noetic information while they are asleep.
Check out the Noetic Signature™ and its 12 characteristics in our guide. Did you know that 87% of people have experienced intuitive or psychic phenomena? Take our Noetic Signature™ test to determine what characteristics are the strongest ones for you!
Decreased taboo on psychic abilities and mediumship: What the future holds
So, what does the future hold? As society continues to evolve, so too does our understanding of the unseen world. The future of mediumship and psi abilities may offer even greater acceptance and integration into mainstream culture.
While everyone is free to believe or not in these unseen capacities, believing that there’s something beyond our physical world could lead to more peace and joy in this sometimes intense world we’re living in.
