The essay will discuss the concept of mediumship and its effects on people’s mental and emotional health. Mediumship is one of the important topics explored by people of different cultures and living in various environments. From time immemorial, people engaged in the practice of mediumship, attempting to demonstrate to others their capacity to talk to the deceased. My focus for the essay is on exploring the potential effects of engaging in mediumship on people’s psychological state. Specifically, my argument will be that mediumship is grounded in spiritualism and can actually have a therapeutic effect and promote wellness, as evidenced by many traditional practices, including Dang-Ki healing.
First of all, I will define the concepts of mediumship and dissociation and then will present information about Dang-Ki healing. Mediumship, in its essence, constitutes a belief in the possibility of occasional or regular contact with the dead people and individuals’ ability to serve as communication tools for the spirits (de Oliveira Maraldi et al. 170). Dissociation is the essential element of mediumship, and it refers to the experience of being disconnected from one’s identity and conscious awareness (de Oliveira Maraldi et al. 171). I will note that there are many forms of mediumship, for instance, Dang-Ki healing which is Chinese mediumship in Singapore. The practice implies a dang-ki, a medium, becoming possessed by deities to help clients who can interact with the spirits and get support from them (Lee and Kirmayer, “Dang-Ki Healing” 787). I will also discuss how of Dang-Ki healing is a form of spiritualism and a religious belief.
Next, I will present the existing research on mediumship and dissociation, showing that they are not only harmless but also helpful. For instance, according to a study conducted in Norway, spiritualist practices caused the people participating in them to experience a pattern of increased positive emotions, which they reported in an interview (Austad and Ringnes 5). Moreover, the mediums themselves also usually avoid any trauma or detrimental psychological effects when actively using mediumship techniques. I will also provide evidence on how mediums themselves can benefit from mediumship sessions during Dang-Ki healing (Lee and Kirmayer, “Spirit Mediumship” 2). Thus, based on the results of the studies presented, I will be able to conclude that mediumship is a practice that can provide actual benefits for all people involved in it. Finally, I will describe how spiritualism, as a religious belief, forms the foundation for mediumship and its potential to bring positive effects.
My essay will beg the question: Can mediumship positively affect participants’ mental health and promote wellness? At the end of the essay, I will conclude that studies demonstrate that during mediumship sessions, people tend to experience dissociation, which, nevertheless, does not harm their bodies. I will also state that mediumship enables people to experience positive emotions and has a therapeutic effect. I will also highlight the importance of spiritualism for mediumship as its religious core.
Works Cited
Austad, Anne, and Hege Kristin Ringnes. “Emotion Regulation through Experiences of Psychic Mediumship: A Case Study at a Norwegian Hotel.” Nordic Journal of Religion and Society, vol. 34, no. 1, 2021, Web.
de Oliveira Maraldi, et al. “Cultural and Group Differences in Mediumship and Dissociation: Exploring the Varieties of Mediumistic Experiences.” International Journal of Latin American Religions, vol. 3, 2019, Web.
Lee, Boon-Ooi and Laurence J. Kirmayer. “Spirit Mediumship and Mental Health: Therapeutic Self-transformation Among Dang-Kis in Singapore.” Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, vol. 44, 2022, Web.
“Dang-Ki Healing: An Embodied Relational Healing Practice in Singapore.” Transcultural Psychiatry, vo. 57, no. 6, 2020. Web.