Trance Communication and D. D. Home

Daniel Dunglas Home (1833-1886)

Viscount Adare's book Experiences in Spiritualism with Mr. D. D. Home (1869) is a compendium of Adare's letters written to  his father, the Earl of Dunraven, who commented in his Introductory Remarks that "the manifestations were so remarkable that they deserved to be duly chronicled and preserved."

In addition to the variety of physical manifestations, Dunraven found six classifications for seance communications: "those which come through the alphabet; through the planchette; writing by the influenced hand; direct spirit-writing; audible spirit-voices; and, lastly by the medium in a trance."

Dunraven considered different hypotheses of the period concerning the "spiritualistic phenomena" and decided that "only two . . . need occupy the reader's attention, namely, that by which the manifestations are supposed to be caused by deceased human beings, or that which affirms them to be entirely due to the agency of lying spirits or devils."  He concluded:

The probability of the latter of the two theories being the correct one, extravagant and repulsive as this must appear to so many in the present day, results from the difficulty of reconciling the announcements of Spiritualism with the belief in certain doctrines hitherto uniformly maintained by all portions of Christendom.

In the New Testament, submission to authority and child-like obedience are inculcated as qualities peculiarly appertaining to the Christian believer, whereas the teaching of the spirits, as here recorded, seems rather to bring everything to the test of our reason.

Dunraven admitted, "It must, however, be evident to a thoughtful peruser of these pages . . . that the evil-spirit or devil hypothesis is surrounded by such formidable difficulties, that hasty judgments and rash conclusions cannot be too strongly deprecated."

Adare explained in his Preface that he was personally acquainted with Home as they had resided together in London during the autumns of 1867 and 1868; and traveled together in Germany during the summer of 1868.  Adare wrote, ". . . I have had considerable opportunity of witnessing the phenomena of Spiritualism, not only at regular séances, but also at times when we were quite alone, and without any premeditation on our part."

He commented: "I myself make no attempt here to offer any explanation of the following phenomena, or to build up any theory upon them, I only say that they occurred as I have stated them." 

One essential message was given through the alphabet at "No. 11 Séance" in 1868.  The message began "We wish to give you the —" and then there was a pause.  Adare saw his pocket handkerchief drop through the air into his lap.  After he found knotted into one corner his latch key, the message concluded with "Key to the mystery" being spelled out.  Adare explained:   

Mr. Jones had been telling me that the spirits were anxious to prove to me that there was an actual intelligence at work, and that the phenomena were not the result of mere animal magnetism.

After this, "Good night" was spelled out.  The last sound I heard was that of the jingling of the money while being picked up about the room.

When considering the transcripts of Home's commentary while in a trance and the variety of channeled perspectives documented in different published sources, the reader should keep in mind that extradimensional aspects of life are a factor and also that each communicator offers a particular vocabulary and opinion in self-expression.  Many unexpected comments were heard during Home's trance communications—and Adare attempted to recall them as precisely as he could—such as in the following excerpt from "Séance 41" of December 16, 1868 when Charlie Wynne and the Master of Lindsay were sitters.

Home then got up, being in a trance, and spoke something in a language that none of us understood; it may have been nonsense, but it sounded like a sentence in a foreign tongue.  Lindsay thought he recognized some words of Russian.  He then quoted the text about the different gifts of the spirit, and gave us a translation in English of what he had said in the unknown tongue.  He told us that Charlie had that day been discussing the miracles that took place at Pentecost; and that the spirits made the sound of the wind; of the bird descending; of the unknown tongue, and interpretation thereof, and the tongues of fire: to show that the same phenomena could occur again.  He spoke at length on the folly of supposing that God had long ago written, as it were, one little page of revelation, and then for ever shut the book, and turned away his face from mankind.  Charlie asked questions relative to the nature of God; the doctrine of the Trinity; and God's having once been on earth.  Home spoke at great length, and with much eloquence.  I cannot remember the exact words; but the substance of it was, that it was impossible for us to comprehend it; that nearly every man had really in his mind a different idea of God; that whether our conception of him was as a unity, duality, or a trinity, it could not be of much consequence, provided that we recognized Him and obeyed His laws.  He spoke much of the immensity of God, and our almost utter ignorance of Him and His works.  He described the geometrical forms and attributes of a grain of sand, and asked us if we understood anything of that; and then pointing to a star, he asked us what we knew of that.  He commented upon the very slight knowledge that the most scientific men had; mentioning that not long ago the spots on the sun had been considered to be mountains; then water; then faculæ: but that now they knew them to be great chasms.  "But what they do not know," he said, "is that the sun is covered with a beautiful vegetation, and full of organic life."

Adare: "Is not the sun hot?"

Home: "No, the sun is cold; the heat is produced and transmitted to the earth by the rays of light passing through various atmospheres.  As to God's having been once on the earth, He has never left it, but is everywhere."

Charlie also asked about the divinity of Christ, and said he wanted to know the truth about all those matters.

Home spoke to the effect that even if he could tell us the whole truth, our minds could not understand or bear it.  He said that spirits had different views on these subjects, and that they could not and might not unfold the truth.  "You are taught," he continued, "as much as you can bear.  A common theory, speaking figuratively, is that the heavens and earth are two cones; and that Christ is, as it were, the two apexes, joining and connecting both."

The interactions identified numerically in the book were not always formal seances.  For example, the following passage is from Adare's account of "No. 45."

Last night I slept in Home's room at Ashley House.  I did  not go to bed till past three.  Soon after I was in bed, there were evidences of a very strong influence in the room; and we saw lights and heard sounds, as if some one was endeavouring to make their voice audible to us; and we heard a sound like footsteps.  We then had a very beautiful manifestation.  There is a plaster of Paris crucifix, about one foot in length, hanging on the wall over Home's bed.  We heard something being moved on the wall, and presently saw this crucifix waving in the air between us and the window.  I could see nothing holding it; it appeared to move of itself.  A spirit then said, by raps on the cross, "It is to shew you that we do not fear the symbol of the cross; we should like you to kiss it."  The crucifix was then brought, or, as it appeared to me, moved of itself, close to my face and was placed upon my lips.  I kissed it, and it was then taken away to Home's bed and placed upon his lips.  He did the same.  They then said, "We also will now kiss it."  The crucifix was moved away some distance, and we heard a sound of some one kissing it three times, but saw nothing.

The following passages are excerpts from the descriptions featuring communication channeled through Home when he was in a trance.

From "No. 6 Séance" as noted by Henry Jencken.

We, children of God, linger near you, the spirits, guardian angels, hover around you, and guard and aid you in your hour of trial and suffering.  To us the spirit-land of higher spheres is like a beautiful planet, luminous, shining forth as our goal—and spheres higher and higher still, brighten as we advance in the vista of everlasting progress.  We cannot tell you all we know, for it is the desire of more and more knowledge that impels you onward and upward.  As men see a star and desire to know about it, and know that others are beyond it, and invent instruments, and spend their lives in scientific research and in seeking after truth, so it is with you; it would not be good for you to know all, for there would be no object for improvement and research.  We know all your sufferings and shortcomings, and what you have to contend with, for have we not too been mortals, have we not wearied on the roadside, and had our times of agony and doubt; but God, at the evening of our day, brought us home, and called in the weary travellers.  God called us into his fold and brought us home, that we may be nearer to thee, O God.  Our Father in creating beautiful things on earth, created them for ever and ever, for all eternity, though they may fade to our sight; so beauty, poetry, sunlight, and all that is harmonious are garnered up for ever.  Even sound having left the influence of this earth, goes on for ever down the everlasting corridors of space.  Thus summer is again and again refined into autumn, toned and softened down, softening down the wintry sky of the future, so too, purer impulses, nobler aspirations, leave their impress for ever upon the waves of eternity—like a wave of sound, the impulse moves on for ever.  

From the eternal source goes forth the eternal light to which we aspire.  From this great source emanates the small particle of light called our soul, dwelling in this body we live in—The great God who is light itself, for ever light us through all eternity.

From "No. 9 Séance—July 26th, 1868."

Spiritual truth must come; truth is a lighthouse, a beacon, a speck, a point, leading onward to realms of love.  We have no power, we can do so little, that we often wonder that we are able to do anything for you.  Language is too imperfect, we cannot convey to you our meaning; you cannot understand us; our state is so different from your material state, that is it with great difficulty that we can work upon it to make our presence known; not that it is  painful to us—no, no, it is a labour of love.  But still it is an actual labour to us.  The earth is still so imperfect—so undeveloped—that we have much difficulty in dealing with material objects.  Why, even such a little thing as the silk cushion that Dan was sitting on, prevented us from making physical manifestations to-night . . .

From "No. 14 Séance—August 6th, 1868."

Question (Henry Jencken).—How do you make us see spirit forms?

Answer.—At times we make passes over the individual to cause him to see us, sometimes we make the actual resemblance of our former clothing, and of what we were, so that we appear exactly as we were known to you on earth; sometimes we project an image that you see, sometimes we cause it to be produced upon your brain, sometimes you see us as we are, with a cloudlike aura of light around us.

Question (H.J.)—Do you use actual garments?

Answer.—Purity is our clothing.  We have no need of garments; but are enveloped in a sort of aura, or cloud of light.  Other spirits, more impure and gross, dwelling nearer earth, have need of garments.

From "No. 25—Séance at Ashley House, October 20th."

. . . spiritual influence has much more to do with the affairs of the world than what you dream of.  All inspiration, poetry, improvising as in the case of the old Troubadours,—all that is owing to it—everything in fact, is set in motion by spiritual interference.  To those who pray earnestly for and seek for light and truth, light will certainly be given; our greatest difficulty is the folly of men's hearts, and their blindness.

From "No. 29—Séance, November 3rd, 1868."

We would often like to tell you who we are, but our opportunities of communicating are so rare and so short, that we cannot generally do so.  There are many difficulties in the way, it is like sending messages along wires that are continually breaking and getting out of order.  We could scarcely do anything to-night.  Dan ought not to have drank a second cup of tea, or that second glass of sherry at dinner; the slightest thing is sufficient to prevent anything occurring.  Ah, A—— has just come in; he has come bustling into the room; you heard him.

He is standing close to you now, looking straight at you.  He does not quite understand his position yet, poor fellow.  He cannot disabuse himself of the idea that he is going to be punished.  He does not think that according to the life he led on earth he ought to be in the company of those who are here in the same room.

The following excerpt is from the first portion of Adare's notes describing the occurrences witnessed during "No. 68" on April 10, 1868.

Last night Mr. J—— and I walked to Ashley House with Home from Fitzroy Square.  Home complained of feeling nervous, as is usually the case after an unsuccessful séance.  He sat down at the piano, and commenced playing; while so engaged he went into a trance.  I extinguished one of the candles, and placed the other on the floor.  We heard sounds as of some one walking up and down the passage, and raps upon the door and walls.  Mr.J—— felt, during the whole evening, a strong current of very cold air blowing about him.  Home walked about the room apparently in great distress; he moaned and sat down on the floor and seemed to mourn over something.  Suddenly the character of the influence changed.  Home came over to where I was sitting on the sofa, and made me lie at full length upon it; by the attitude he assumed I recognized the spirit he calls "the nameless doctor."  He stood beside me apparently lost in thought for a minute or two, then kneeling down, made me unbutton my waistcoat, began sounding my chest as doctors do; he then rubbed and patted over the chest, loins, and legs, occasionally turning round as if to ask advice from some one; his efforts were principally directed to my right side, he frequently pointed to it and turned his head as if to call some one's attention to that particular spot.  He placed his mouth to my right side and exhaled a deep breath; the heat I felt was something extraordinary.  When he had finished, Home seemed pleased with what he had done, smiled and rubbed his hands as if delighted.  The first influence now seemed to return; he sat down on the floor evidently in great distress; then lay flat on his back and extended his arms in the form of a cross.  His body became rigid and he was palpably elongated, and was almost raised off the ground; he may have been completely off, but I think not; it was evident, however, by the swaying vibratory motion of his body that it was not resting naturally on the ground.  While this was taking place two chairs moved slightly of themselves.  Home got up, knelt upon one knee, and simulated a man endeavouring to raise a heavy body.  He appeared to fail once or twice; at last he raised it, and supporting it on his knee, carried it with great difficulty to a chair near at hand, where he placed it and sat down on the floor, apparently much exhausted.  He beckoned to me, and when I approached told me in French to bring a chair, and sit near him; I did so, and he spoke in French somewhat to the following effect.  "What we have been trying to represent to you by acting, is the condition of Allan Kardec.  The body that was extended on the ground in the form of a cross, and that was elongated, was his; he suffered a good deal for truth; and in symbolism as you know, the cross signifies truth; but then he was not enlightened; he refused the light, he was obstinate, and would not enlighten himself upon it, and that makes him unhappy now; it seems to weigh upon him, he cannot raise himself above his former ideas and prejudices.  We tried to represent that by the difficulty of raising the heavy body.  He is sitting here in this chair; he does not move; he would not come into the room at first, you heard him walking in the passage . . ."

At times, specific Individuals were mentioned as having been recognized from what was said by the entranced Home.  The following paragraph is an example.  This passage refers to the burial of Home's godson.  Adare's transcript is far from exact; in particular, the commentary about "no spiritual presence inside the building" and about the "combination of circumstances" seem to have been paraphrased incorrectly.

"No. 28—Séance."

The same evening we had a séance, and Home was entranced—Mr. Cox speaking through him.  He turned to Mrs. Cox and said, "I was there with little Dannie to-day, but I did not like to take him into the church; we waited outside.  The reason why the service did not impress any of you is, that there was no spiritual presence inside the building—nothing but the bare rafters.  We magnetized you to prevent your hearing the words—dust to dust, ashes to ashes, earth to earth.  Now, if you had been consigning to the earth this day the body of some celebrated mediæval ecclesiastic or great saint, those circumstances of the shower of rain, the bright gleam of sun, and the rainbow, would have been considered miraculous.  Of course they were not so; it is unreasonable to think that God's great laws should be interfered with to give you a rainbow.  Yet was it the result of interference in this way.  We knew by our superior knowledge of meteorology, and the laws that govern those things, that at that hour on Thursday, there would probably be a combination of circumstances that would produce those effects.  We therefore very strongly impressed Dan to insist upon having the funeral on Thursday instead of Friday, which was the day you had fixed upon; and we impressed him to make you all hurry.  You remember how he did hurry you all on your way to church.  As it happened, you arrived at the right time, and everything occurred just as we expected.  That is all the interference there was."  He then spoke for some time to Mrs. Cox, exhorting her to have patience and courage, and to trust in God.  The "Nameless Doctor" then took possession of Home; who after walking about the room thinking, took little Ada's hand in his, and said to Mrs. Cox, "This child's stomach is of more importance now than her brain; do not push her too much in her studies."  Dr. Elliotson then took possession of him, and he spoke for some time to Mrs. Cox.  Then turning to me he said, "I suppose you have found out, if not you will—I know I did when on earth—that if you try and climb up one rung higher on the ladder of knowledge than others, the world will scream and say you are going to tumble down and break your neck; but when they find you stick there pretty safely, they will try and scramble up after you, and endeavour to get ahead of you.  Provided your own conscience does not reprove you, never mind what the world says.  As my friend, Mr. Cox said to you yesterday, 'Be constant in a prayerful and earnest search for truth; seek truth, and you will find it.'"  He went on speaking for some time, describing different phases of worldly ambition, and warning us against them.