Spirit Medium

Communication Practices of Spirit Mediums

The communication patterns that occur between the spirit medium and the ancestors take place within the confines of the spirit medium's mind body. The ancestor usually overshadows the indwelling spirit of the spirit medium. The spirit medium may appear to be in a trancelike state because her normal personality is no longer visible and her verbal and nonverbal communication patters are distinctly different. Spirit mediums do not become possessed by the spirits of ancestors; they share their mental and physical body with these spiritual entities. There are a number of indications to show that the spirit medium's body is being shared with the ancestors:

• A slowing of the heart rate
• A slow deep and steady breathing pattern
• A lowering of the body temperature
• Greatly reduced reaction to touch or pain
• Various degrees of unconsciousness

In addition to these changes in spirit mediums, their voices may change, they may have broken speech patterns, they may reverse sentence structures, and there may be an overall change in their grammar or language usage. Spirit mediums continue to be an important part of the African religious experience. Today they are being sought out more frequently because of the despondency that people are experiencing with modern Western religious practices.

Oftentimes in ancient and present-day Africa and the diaspora, spirit mediums are consulted when there is no medical or physical explanation for a person's problems or when there is a consistent pattern of calamity in a person's life.