In my last article, I discussed the dangers of divination.  It is one of three main practices which falls under the umbrella of the occult. In this article, we move on to an examination of Mediums with a view to understanding why God gives such a clear warning against the use of them. Given that the US psychic services industry alone is valued at $2.3 billion, it is a warning that seems to be falling on deaf ears.

A Medium is a person who communicates with the spirit world.  In Leviticus 19:31, God says very clearly: “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD.”  This was no mere suggestion.  God took this matter very seriously, evidenced by the severity of the punishment – death.  Leviticus 20:27: “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones.  Their blood shall be upon them.”

Despite the warning, two kings consulted Mediums.  The evil king Manasseh did so as recorded in 2 Kings 21:6: “Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums.  He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.”  The second was Saul.  After Samuel’s death, the Scriptures record that Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land.  Although this was one of the more positive actions he took during his reign, terrible irony was to come.  In fear and desperation, he sought for that which he removed, proving that he was not only a sinner but also a hypocrite.  1 Samuel 28:7 reads: “Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’  And his servants said to him, ‘In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.'”        

According to the website operated by California Psychics, “Most Mediums begin their process of accessing spirits on the Other Side by using meditation.  They also employ some form of psychic self-defense to protect them from dark entities. This protection involves varying techniques, such as prayer and affirmations, surrounding themselves with white light, and stepping into an envisioned bubble shield. Some tap into subtle energies using tools such as Tarot or through scrying using a crystal ball.” 

In my last article, I pointed out that divination relies on the use of Tarot cards and scrying and therefore we see here a clear connection between divination and Mediumship since practitioners openly admit that divination is a gateway to the spirit world.

Within the framework of Mediumship, there are also two subcategories: Mental Mediumship and Physical Mediumship.  Mental Mediumship involves the practitioner connecting their consciousness directly with a spirit in a telepathic bond and speaking what the spirit is saying through them.  This practice includes:

• Clairvoyance, which means “clear seeing”.  Practitioners claim they see disembodied spirits and/or spirit messages through their mind’s eye. Some describe it as similar to a movie playing in their mind. 
• Clairaudience, which means “clear hearing.”  It is the supposed ability to hear in a paranormal manner by tuning into the frequences of the spirit world.  Through this practice, Mediums claim they can hear spirit voices communicating with them, which includes spoken thought, music, and singing.
• Clairsentience, which means “clear feeling.” It is the supposed ability to perceive emotional or psychic energy that is imperceptible to the standard human senses.
• Clairalience, which means “clear smelling.”  This is considered an intuitive, extra-sensory ability that utilises the perception of scents, even those not physically present, to interpret information.
• Clairgustance, which means “clear tasting.”  It supposedly comes when a Medium is given a literal taste of something, such as a once-favoured food of a person in the spirit world.
• Claircognisance, which means “clear knowing.”  Practitioners claim they have clear and sudden knowledge or insights about a situation or information without any logical explanation.

Most Mediums would tell you they practice “Mental Mediumship.”  But, as mentioned earlier, some also practice “Physical Mediumship.”  This is classified as the spirit world manipulating the Medium and creating physical evidence of their presence through some of the following means:

• Levitation, in which inanimate objects lift into the air on their own, or the Medium’s body levitates.
• Automatic Writing, where the Medium holds a writing instrument on paper and relinquishes conscious control to allow a spirit to write its messages through them. Ouija boards are another form used in this way.
• Raps, used by spirits to make audible rapping noises to answer “yes” or “no” questions or acknowledge alphabet letters to slowly spell out messages.
• Ectoplasm, where the Medium’s bodily substance is mixed with an etheric substance which enables a spirit to affect physical matter seen by the naked eye.
• Materialisations, in which the materialisation of a spirit can be seen (eg. ghosts and orbs).
• Channeling involves allowing a spirit to inhabit the Medium’s physical body to speak through them. The Medium’s expression and voice may change significantly to resemble the spirit inside them.

Occultism is a powerful tool of deception, partly because it is so widespread and readily accepted in the modern day.  Anyone in the habit of thoughtlessly absorbing modern culture into their lives will absorb occult influence.  That is why believers need to exercise a significant amount of discernment when interacting with the world system.  The cultural landscape is flooded with occult-friendly beliefs which permeate music, books, magazines, movies, and television shows.  In other words, occultism is paraded as entertainment.  But it is not entertainment – it is demonic and it is dangerous. 

Many people are intrigued by occult practices, and it is that curiosity which draws them into the demonic.  But this is not just a problem for the unsaved – believers can be easily ensnared in occult practices through their curiosity with the supernatural.  The answer is simple: walking daily with Christ demystifies occult intrigue.  Be alert and be armed with the truth of what the occult is.  Our walk of holiness depends on it.

Dean Dwyer serves as a Senior Columnist at Harbinger’s Daily, where his thought-provoking articles engage a global audience of millions. With more than two decades of leadership as Pastor and President of Eiser Street Baptist Church in Toowoomba, Australia, Dwyer brings sophisticated Biblical discernment and analysis to examine world events and issues through the lens of God’s Word.