Definition

Noun: - A form of psychokinesis attributed to spirits: "table tilting" refers to the phenomenon where a table moves, often by rocking or rotating, during a spiritualist séance. The movement is traditionally attributed to the influence of spirits or unseen forces communicating with the participants.

Usage

"Table tilting" is used as a compound noun to describe the specific event or practice within a séance. - The medium claimed the messages from the deceased were conveyed through table tilting. - Skeptics argue that table tilting is a result of unconscious muscle movements by the participants, not spiritual forces.

Advanced Usage

• As a gerund/noun phrase in a sentence: The act itself can be the subject or object of discussion.
  • Table tilting was a common feature of Victorian-era séances.
• In historical or parapsychological contexts: The term is primarily used when discussing spiritualism, the occult, or the history of paranormal investigation.

Variants and Related Words

• Table-turning: A synonymous term for the same phenomenon.
• Séance: A meeting at which people attempt to make contact with the spirits of the dead, often the setting for table tilting.
• Psychokinesis: The supposed ability to move objects by mental effort, a broader concept under which table tilting is sometimes categorized.

Synonyms

• Table-turning
• Table movement (in a spiritualist context)

Related Phrases

• Spirit communication: The overarching purpose often associated with table tilting.
• Séance phenomenon: A general term for occurrences like table tilting during a séance.

Noun

1. manipulation of a table during a seance; attributed to spirits