seance

A seance, or séance, is a meeting in which people try to communicate with spirits, especially the spirits of the dead. The word is strongly connected with the Spiritualist movement of the 19th century, when such gatherings became widely known in Europe and the United States. A typical scene includes a small group of people sitting together, often in a quiet or darkened room, sometimes around a table, while a medium is believed to receive or pass on messages.

Historically, these meetings were used by people who were grieving, looking for guidance, or curious about life after death. During a session, participants might listen for knocks, watch for objects to move, or wait for spoken or written messages that are said to come from the spirit world. Supporters have treated such events as serious spiritual practice, while critics have often seen them as tricks, suggestion, or wishful thinking.

Today, the word often appears in ghost stories, horror films, discussions of the paranormal, and writing about Victorian culture. It can describe an actual attempt to contact the dead, or it can simply set a mood of mystery and the supernatural in a story.

Whether someone believes in it or not, the idea carries strong associations with mourning, belief, fear, and curiosity about what happens after death. In everyday use, the word usually suggests more than an ordinary meeting: it points to a gathering centered on trying to reach the unseen world.