About the author
Vieda Skultans is a social anthropologist whose early research, "Intimacy and Ritual: A Study of Spiritualism, Medium and Groups" (first published 1974, reissued by Routledge), is a fieldwork-based study of a Spiritualist group in England. Working as a participant observer among mediums and their circles, Skultans examines Spiritualist meetings less as a set of supernatural claims to be tested and more as a social and therapeutic practice, looking at what the ritual and the community around it offered participants in their ordinary lives. The book is a work of academic anthropology rather than a guide to mediumship or spirit communication, and it has remained a reference point in the sociological literature on Spiritualism since its original publication.
📖 Where to start with Vieda Skultans
💬 What our editors say about Vieda Skultans's books
“Skultans provides a vivid, empathetic portrait of Spiritualist life in Wales, highlighting the therapeutic power of ritual over rigid dogma. The strength lies in its focus on personal struggle and community support, offering a…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Intimacy and Ritual: A Study of Spiritualism, Medium and Groups Skultans, Vieda
“Skultans’ work is a rigorous academic examination that may feel dense to casual readers seeking mystical secrets or practical ritual guides. It lacks the narrative flair of popular occult literature, focusing instead on…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Intimacy and Ritual: A Study of Spiritualism, Medium and Groups Skultans, Vieda
