About this episode
We think we know what Victorian mysticism looked like.A crystal ball glowing in candlelight. A veiled medium seated at a round table. Ectoplasm drifting through a darkened parlor.But what was Victorian Spiritualism really?In this episode of Big Crystal Energy, I’m joined by historian, author, and cultural scholar Steele Alexandra Douris, who holds a PhD in English from Stanford University. Her research explores 19th-century literature, gender, folklore, and the cultural history of the supernatural.Drawing from her book Spirits, Seers and Séances, Steele walks us through:The origins of Victorian Spiritualism and the rise of the Fox SistersTrance lectures vs. private spirit circlesRappings, table-tilting, and the rise of material séance phenomenaSpirit photography and the mystery of ectoplasmAutomatic writing, planchettes, and the evolution of the Ouija boardCartomancy, crystal gazing, palmistry, and astrology in the 19th centuryThe transformation of fairy lore and the Cottingley fairiesGothic literature’s resurgence — from Dracula to FrankensteinThe Pre-Raphaelites and the complicated image of the mystical womanWe explore how Victorian Spiritualism wasn’t originally meant to be frightening. For many, it was grassroots, communal, and deeply tied to grief, creativity, and cultural change.And perhaps most fascinating of all — so many of the tools we still use today carry Victorian fingerprints.If you’ve ever felt drawn to the liminal space of a crystal ball, the mystery of automatic writing, or the romance of a Gothic heroine, this episode offers the deeper historical context behind the aesthetic.Connect with Steele:Instagram: @steelearcana; Instagram Website: Steele Alexandra DourisBook: https://a.co/d/08opPfllIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review Big Crystal Energy — it helps more curious, liminal souls find the show.Stay curious. Stay liminal. 🕯️Send me any questions or comments you may have and I will answer them on upcoming podcast episodes!! Looking forward to hearing from you!Please message me with any questions or comments. bigcrystalenergypodcast @gmail.com
