Mediumship is the psychic ability to communicate with the spirits of those that have passed away, in particular "loved ones". It is a broad subject that overlaps many areas of parapsychological study. There are several different types of mediums, thus:
These are the same as Clairvoyants, who utilize the "powers of sight" alongside the other Clair Senses to communicate with spirits.
These are mediums that enter a trance-like state when channeling into the ethereal planes, trembling uncontrollably, and spirits or entities communicate directly through them.
They deliberately deceive people into thinking that they mediums, falsely proclaiming to give accurate information from the "spirit worlds". Many tools and other rigged apparatus to produce paranormal phenomena - such as the levitation of objects or the production of ectoplasm - are used. This was predominant during the various spiritualist movements, when Victorians became fascinated by paranormal phenomena.
These are mediums who communicate with spirits through both the physical energies and the consciousness of the medium. The production of physical phenomena - lights, sounds, materialization, elongation, levitation, ectoplasm, etc. - is often associated with physical mediums. In most (not all) cases, physical mediumship involves a trance-like state.
These types communicate with spirits or act as a spokespeople for the spirits at séances. The rise in popularity of séances during the Victorian era gave rise to many charlatans, who were eager to cash in on them. It was easy for them to place props - such as invisible wires - before séance proper took place. Not all séance mediums were (or are) charlatans, but the majority of them during this time were, thereby discrediting those genuine ones whose motives were less focused on profit.
These are mediums who enter a deep, trance-like state in order to channel into the spirit world and communicate with spirits. They are usually unaware of anything they said or did during their trance after exiting from it.
