THE CROSS-CORRESPONDENCES
In parapsychology, the term ‘cross-correspondences’ describes a phenomenon that emerged in the early twentieth century in the study of ‘automatic writing’, a practice in which a person writing in a state of semi-trance may obtain scripts apparently originating in the unconscious mind, but seemingly also on occasion from an external source. Investigators of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) noticed that statements in a script produced by one person sometimes seemed connected with similar statements in scripts produced by one or more persons elsewhere, at about the same time, without any communication having occurred among these people. They concluded that such ‘correspondences’ were being deliberately created by certain recently-deceased colleagues to convince them of their having survived death, and in such a way as to exclude other possible explanations.
By 1936, over 3000 scripts were available for assessment. The phenomenon was closely analysed by senior SPR figures, and for decades was considered by many in the psychical research community to have provided convincing proof of survival of death. This is less the case today, as the extreme complexity of some of the claimed correspondences, and the obscurity of the literary references on which they are often based, make them hard to evaluate with any certainty. Some continue to find them convincing, while others argue their persuasiveness has been overstated.
The Scole Experiment (1990s) was some 60 years after the end of the original cross-correspondences. During The Scole Experiment, some of the researchers thought it was possible that some of the spirits of SPR founders thought to be involved in the original cross-correspondences were transmitting cryptic puzzles and complicated messages in a similar way to those transmitted in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Were the SPR founders trying again?
An introductory article on Psi Encyclopedia outlines the background and basic principles of the cross-correspondences.
By 1936, over 3000 scripts were available for assessment. The phenomenon was closely analysed by senior SPR figures, and for decades was considered by many in the psychical research community to have provided convincing proof of survival of death. This is less the case today, as the extreme complexity of some of the claimed correspondences, and the obscurity of the literary references on which they are often based, make them hard to evaluate with any certainty. Some continue to find them convincing, while others argue their persuasiveness has been overstated.
The Scole Experiment (1990s) was some 60 years after the end of the original cross-correspondences. During The Scole Experiment, some of the researchers thought it was possible that some of the spirits of SPR founders thought to be involved in the original cross-correspondences were transmitting cryptic puzzles and complicated messages in a similar way to those transmitted in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Were the SPR founders trying again?
An introductory article on Psi Encyclopedia outlines the background and basic principles of the cross-correspondences.
Also see...
Helen Salter
Helen Salter (née Verrall) (1883-1959) was a British psychologist and psychical researcher, who played a leading role in the production and analysis of the body of survival evidence known as the Cross-Correspondences.
Helen Salter (née Verrall) (1883-1959) was a British psychologist and psychical researcher, who played a leading role in the production and analysis of the body of survival evidence known as the Cross-Correspondences.
Psi Researchers I
To find all the results, search on the Edit > Find function on the page for 'cross-correspondences' and 'cross correspondences' (without the quote marks).
To find all the results, search on the Edit > Find function on the page for 'cross-correspondences' and 'cross correspondences' (without the quote marks).
Eleanor Sidgwick
Eleanor Sidgwick (1845-1936) was the wife of Cambridge philosopher Henry Sidgwick, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research and its first president. A mathematician and prominent educationalist, Sidgwick made a major contribution to the Society in its early years, in both administration and research.
Eleanor Sidgwick (1845-1936) was the wife of Cambridge philosopher Henry Sidgwick, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research and its first president. A mathematician and prominent educationalist, Sidgwick made a major contribution to the Society in its early years, in both administration and research.
Geraldine Cummins
Geraldine Cummins (1890–1969) was an Irish medium who practised automatic writing. She published scripts said to originate with the deceased FWH Myers, Arthur Balfour, Franklin D Roosevelt, Winifred Coombe-Tennant and other discarnates, noteworthy for their accurate depiction of the individuals’ style and personality. Other scripts claiming to describe the time of Christ and the Apostles were popular at the time but are seen as less impressive today.
Geraldine Cummins (1890–1969) was an Irish medium who practised automatic writing. She published scripts said to originate with the deceased FWH Myers, Arthur Balfour, Franklin D Roosevelt, Winifred Coombe-Tennant and other discarnates, noteworthy for their accurate depiction of the individuals’ style and personality. Other scripts claiming to describe the time of Christ and the Apostles were popular at the time but are seen as less impressive today.
Archie Roy
Archie Roy (1924-2012) was a Scottish astronomer who devoted most of his life to scientific discovery and psychical research. He was a president of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) and the founder and president of the Scottish Society for Psychical Research (SSPR). His psi interests mainly centred on hauntings and mediumship.
Archie Roy (1924-2012) was a Scottish astronomer who devoted most of his life to scientific discovery and psychical research. He was a president of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) and the founder and president of the Scottish Society for Psychical Research (SSPR). His psi interests mainly centred on hauntings and mediumship.
J G Piddington
John George Piddington (1869-1952) was a successful British businessman who played a leading role in the Society for Psychical Research, notably in the investigation of mental mediumship. Piddington played a large part in the investigation of the so-called ‘cross-correspondences’. This was the phenomenon, first noticed after the death of Frederic Myers in 1901, of apparent links between trance statements made by one medium or automatist and those made by another, giving the appearance that Myers, and later other deceased researchers, were trying to demonstrate their survival of death. Together with Eleanor Sidgwick, Oliver Lodge and Alice Johnson, Piddington spent much time analysing well-over three thousand scripts, undertaking the work of indexing them, as well as uncovering new specimens. ARCHIVE: A large quantity of original documents and correspondence by Piddington is held in the SPR archive in Cambridge University Library.
John George Piddington (1869-1952) was a successful British businessman who played a leading role in the Society for Psychical Research, notably in the investigation of mental mediumship. Piddington played a large part in the investigation of the so-called ‘cross-correspondences’. This was the phenomenon, first noticed after the death of Frederic Myers in 1901, of apparent links between trance statements made by one medium or automatist and those made by another, giving the appearance that Myers, and later other deceased researchers, were trying to demonstrate their survival of death. Together with Eleanor Sidgwick, Oliver Lodge and Alice Johnson, Piddington spent much time analysing well-over three thousand scripts, undertaking the work of indexing them, as well as uncovering new specimens. ARCHIVE: A large quantity of original documents and correspondence by Piddington is held in the SPR archive in Cambridge University Library.
Gladys Osborne Leonard
Gladys Leonard (1882-1968) was a British trance medium who collaborated extensively with investigators of the Society for Psychical Research in the 1920s and 1930s. Several books and articles discuss aspects of her mediumship, notably ‘proxy’ sittings and the book and newspaper tests, also the processes involved in spirit communication. She was never discovered to be engaging in fraud, nor were substantive accusations of trickery ever made against her.
Gladys Leonard (1882-1968) was a British trance medium who collaborated extensively with investigators of the Society for Psychical Research in the 1920s and 1930s. Several books and articles discuss aspects of her mediumship, notably ‘proxy’ sittings and the book and newspaper tests, also the processes involved in spirit communication. She was never discovered to be engaging in fraud, nor were substantive accusations of trickery ever made against her.
