Materialization is an opportunity for a discarnate being to appear in such a shape and form that it is recognizable in the same physical manner as when on the Earth Plane. Dematerialization is the opposite in that spirit entities that have shown themselves, then disappear. Also objects may both materialize (apport) or dematerialize (asport).
Materialization and dematerialization require a specific environment for best results. For this purpose, a cabinet is used to house a medium behind a curtain while they enter a trance state that allows a spirit entity to work through the medium and produce the manifestations. Some mediums require full darkness, while others do not; however, all agree that sudden flashes of bright light are harmful and could eliminate any manifestation. The process may take many sittings or even years of patience before any actual manifestations take place.
Another important element is something called ectoplasm, which is a luminous substance that emits from the medium’s body and is used by spirit entities to materialize and/or to dematerialize objects and other forms. Ectoplasm is a kind of matter that may take on vaporous, liquid, or solid states and has an odor like ozone. Studies conducted both by scientists and Spiritualists unanimously agree on the characteristics of ectoplasm.
Spiritualism always seeks to show correspondences between Biblical stories and evidence of psychic phenomena, and there are many examples of materialization in the Bible, often within the context of the Christ story. There are also additional references throughout the Old Testament in the materialization of angelic forms, hands of God, and other known spirit entities. Specific references can be found in Acts 1:3, I Corinthians 15:5-8, Matthew 17:2-3, John 21:14, and others.
While the Spiritualist understand the manifestations of materialization and dematerialization to be attributes of physical mediumship, the scientist classifies these phenomena under PK or psychokinesis, which is kind of an umbrella term that encompasses many kinds of phenomena. It’s important to note that science does not classify materialization as part of survival phenomena that includes hauntings, apparitions, poltergeists, spirit photography, possession, and reincarnation. One can see that materialization is an action of psychokinesis, whereas hauntings (and the like) are the results of survival phenomena.
In addition to materialization are the related phenomena of teleportation and apportation. Both terms infer the movement of objects or forms through space, but teleportation is the action and an apport is the object moved. Also, an apport is specifically an object or form that has materialized, versus an asport which is an object or form that has dematerialization. Much thought has been given as to how the action works. Of the various theories, the Disintegration Theory is most recognized as it’s in agreement with the Law of Transmutation of Energy. Under this theory, objects and forms disintegrate into a finer molecular makeup (dematerialize) and then are reintegrated (materialize) at a new location.
In the context of Spiritualism study, one may see how close the Spiritualist and scientist have come in their pursuits to better understand psychic phenomena. Modern science has given the world abundant research to support much of the teachings of the ancients, as well as what had already been learned by the Spiritualist through mediumship. Some of these great insights have included the understanding that the universe is in a constant state of motion manifested in vibrations and frequencies. It’s been verified that both sounds and colors exists outside the spectrum recognizable by human beings, but verifiable in the laboratory. Perhaps in the not too distant future, Spiritualism will become a recognizable aspect of science, just as science is a recognizable and required aspect of Spiritualism.
The discovery process of experimentation, documentation, and new understanding are the same both for Spiritualists and scientists, and each have brought a wealth of knowledge to the study of psychic phenomena. Dr. Thelma Moss stated that “... we stand on the brink of a major scientific breakthrough… In research centers the world over, scientists are pushing forward investigations into psychic realms of human life.”
