Voices Beyond the Veil: Maurice Barbanell, Racialized Spirits, and the Colonial Unconscious

This paper explores the complex and problematic nature of spirit guides in Modern Spiritualism, focusing on the frequent racialized portrayals and the psychological theories that challenge their autonomy. The study delves into the historical and cultural implications of these spirit manifestations, examining the roles they play and the perceptions they evoke. It discusses the dual nature of spirit guides as both potential subliminal creations of the medium and as entities with their own individuality, as described by notable figure Maurice Barbanell and his spirit guide, Silver Birch. The paper addresses the broader implications of these  phenomena, including the intersection of colonialism, cultural appropriation, and the spiritualist movement’s evolving cosmology. By analyzing the works of various scholars and historical accounts, this paper provides a nuanced introduction and understanding of the racial and cultural dynamics at play in the spiritualist practices of the 19th and 20th centuries.