Paranormal record / 1972

The Philip Experiment: Toronto Sitters Conjure an Invented Ghost

September 1972 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

40Partially documented Paranormal Other 21 sources 2 real photos 5 videos

Toronto. September 1972. Eight members of a psychical research group sat down to invent a ghost. They called him Philip Aylesford, a 17th-century English aristocrat with a tragic love story and a biography full of deliberate historical errors. Then they tried to contact him. For a year, nothing. So they changed the mood. They sang, told jokes and kept things light. Within a few sittings, a faint vibration crept into the table-top. The raps grew louder. They answered questions in character. Then the card table began to tilt, slide and dance. Eventually it lifted off the floor. In 1974, the cameras were rolling.

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Key facts

When	September 1972 to 1975
Time of day	not recorded
Where	Toronto, Ontario,Canada
Duration	weekly sittings over roughly two years
Witnesses	11
Witness roles	scientist
Found	,
Evidence	none confirmed
Investigations	none recorded
Status	undisputed

The phenomenon

No figure was ever seen. Sitters heard raps from inside a card table, first a faint vibration, later loud enough for all to hear, answering one for yes and two for no. The table tilted on one or two legs, slid toward newcomers, revolved as if waltzing and lifted off the floor. Lights flickered and cool breezes passed.

Lights	multicoloured, blinking
Sound	other sound
Motion	erratic

The 1981 Sky Spiral over Western China (related)
The 1566 Celestial Phenomenon over Basel (the Basel Broadsheet) (followup)

Context

In 1972, eight members of the Toronto Society for Psychical Research set out to make a ghost. Not to find one. To make one.

Sources (21, most influential first)

Philip Psychokinesis Experiments · Society for Psychical Research, Psi Encyclopedia · Research organisation · org report
Philip experiment · Wikipedia · Wiki, blog, podcast · wiki
The Quiet Ones vs the true story · History vs Hollywood · Wiki, blog, podcast · blog
Philip · Futility Closet· 2013-06-11 · Wiki, blog, podcast · blog
The Philip Experiment · Stranger Dimensions (Rob Schwarz)· 2012-03-20 · Wiki, blog, podcast · blog

Reputability

40/100Partially documented

Editorial note: the sources for this case come from research organisations and retellings; no press, book or official record is cited.

Keywords

People

Iris M. OwenLeader of the sittings and main author of Conjuring Up Philip
A. R. G. OwenMathematician and poltergeist specialist, director of the New Horizons Research Foundation, observer
Margaret SparrowSitter, former chair of MENSA Canada, co-author of the book
Joel WhittonPsychiatrist who observed the group and offered a Jungian interpretation
Alan GauldSociety for Psychical Research investigator who recorded and analysed the raps
K. J. BatcheldorBritish psychologist whose table-tilting work changed the group's method
Andy HenwoodSitter who drew the portrait of Philip
Al PeacockSitter, heating engineer

Names

Society for Psychical Research Alan Gauld Toronto