This month on Eerie Dispatches, we’ve read about ghosts, we’ve watched them haunt the silver screen, and now… it’s time to speak with them. Welcome to the third chapter of our ghostly exploration, where stories and movies give way to one of the most iconic rituals of the supernatural world: the séance. From dimly lit parlors to flickering candles and the hush of anticipation, séances have captivated imaginations for centuries. In this post, we’ll dive into their history and guide you through hosting your own.
A Brief History of the Séance
The modern séance took shape in the mid-1800s during the rise of Spiritualism. It began with the famous Fox Sisters in upstate New York, who claimed a spirit was communicating with them through mysterious taps and knocks. Their story spread rapidly, and soon parlors across America and Europe were hosting séances of their own.
At the time, loss was a constant presence in daily life — epidemics, childhood illness, war, and limited medical care meant many families lived with fresh grief. A séance offered something powerful and deeply human: the chance to speak to a loved one who had died, even if only for a moment.
Mediums became celebrity figures. Some were sincere believers. Others relied on clever illusions—hidden assistants, trapdoors, phosphorescent paint, muslin “spirit hands,” and bells tied to invisible threads. Harry Houdini later exposed many of these performances, but even his debunking couldn’t undo the séance’s hold on the public imagination.
At its heart, the séance was always about longing: the desire to hear from someone who had crossed over. Today, that same quiet pull remains — the impulse to reach into the dark and ask a question you hope might be answered by someone on the other side.
🕯️ Love exploring the eerie? Join the Eerie Dispatches newsletter for new stories, dark travel inspiration, and behind-the-scenes adventures.
How to Hold Your Own Séance
Hosting your own séance is surprisingly simple. For more than a century, people have created these intimate, eerie settings to reach out to the beyond, listen carefully, and see what the night might reveal.
Here’s how to hold your own séance at home — one that captures the classic mood, mystery, and charged stillness that has surrounded this ritual for generations.
1. Set the scene
Create a space that feels mysterious, intimate, and a little otherworldly. Dim the lights and use candles, lanterns, or a fireplace to produce a soft, flickering glow. Consider adding subtle background elements: a faint incense scent, a gentle wind chime, or soft ambient music to heighten the senses. Clear the table and surrounding area of clutter, and perhaps add small objects with personal or mystical significance such as, crystals, antique items, or a single vase of flower, to give the space a sense of ritual.
2. Form a circle
Arrange chairs or cushions around a table so all participants can see one another comfortably. The circle encourages connection and creates a shared energy, making the séance feel collaborative and focused. Make sure everyone has enough space to relax, breathe, and rest their hands if using a spirit board or other tools.
3. Choose a guide
Select someone calm and confident to open the séance and keep the group centered. This doesn’t need to be a professional medium, just someone comfortable speaking slowly, maintaining quiet, and gently guiding participants through each step. The guide sets the tone, asks questions, and helps the group interpret or reflect on any experiences that arise. A simple opening might be:
“We gather tonight with respect and curiosity, hoping to connect with those who wish to speak. Let us remain patient, attentive, and open.”
4. Ask atmospheric questions
Prepare questions that invite attention, reflection, and quiet anticipation. These prompts can be personal, historical, or playful:
“Is anyone here with us tonight?”
“Is there a presence that wishes to speak?”
“Who are you hoping to reach?”
“What message should we be listening for?”
Encourage participants to listen closely and remain silent after each question, sometimes the stillness itself is the most revealing.
5. Add a quiet listening moment
Pause for ten to twenty seconds after each question to let the room settle. Silence heightens awareness, sharpens senses, and allows participants to fully experience the tension and energy of the space. Encourage deep breathing and stillness; anticipation is part of the ritual.
6. Choose a “spirit communication” method
These classic techniques add structure and tension, giving the circle a way for responses to come through:
• Knocks or taps
One knock for yes, two for no.
• A bowl of answers
Slip simple responses like “yes,” “no,” “maybe,” “ask again,” and “listen” into a small bowl. The guide draws one whenever a question is posed.
• Candle flicker cue
Light a candle and ask the spirits to flicker the flame for “yes” answers and do nothing for “no.” Then pose your questions and watch the candle for subtle responses.
• A homemade or classic spirit board
A traditional Ouija-style board — purchased or crafted from paper or wood — can serve as the evening’s focal point. Participants rest their fingertips on a planchette or small object while the guide moves it gently to reveal letters or answers. This method brings in a tangible, old-world séance atmosphere and remains one of the most iconic tools associated with spirit communication.
7. Close the circle together
End intentionally and respectfully. Blow out the candles, restore normal lighting, and thank everyone for participating. Some groups like to reflect briefly on the experience, journaling impressions or sharing insights. A thoughtful close honors the ritual and reinforces the quiet reverence that makes a séance meaningful.
Curated Eerie Essentials
If you’d like to bring a little of this blog’s séance-night magic home with you, here are a few curated treasures to set the mood. Think of them as your own candlelit ritual: read a Gothic novel steeped in Spiritualism, add a beautiful Victorian-inspired print to your walls, and keep a conversation piece close at hand for movie-night séances, party props, or purely atmospheric décor. Together, they turn an ordinary evening into something hushed and electric, the kind where the room feels darker around the edges and every creak sounds like a reply.
The Seance by John Harwood
A modern Gothic novel that leans hard into Victorian Spiritualism, grief, and the seductive pull of the séance table, perfect for reading by lamplight
Victorian Seance Art Print
A moody, old-world piece that instantly sets the scene, like a still frame from a candlelit parlor where someone swears the table just moved.
Ouija Board with Planchette
Dramatic, display-worthy, and delightfully theatrical, ideal as eerie décor or a séance-night prop that looks like it came from an antique cabinet.
Why We Keep Trying to Talk to Ghosts
We may never know whether anyone is truly listening on the other side, but the desire to reach out has shaped centuries of human curiosity and ritual. There’s something timeless about gathering in quiet candlelight, asking a question into the dark, and pausing—just for a breath—to see what answers might come.
📖 If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Eerie Escapes — the book that inspired it all. Learn more here.