How did New Age channeling resemble earlier Spiritualist mediumship?

New Age channeling and earlier Spiritualist mediumship share fundamental similarities in their core practice: both involve individuals who act as conduits for communication with entities beyond the physical realm.12

In both traditions, the practitioner—whether called a medium or a channeler—claims to establish contact with disembodied beings, either while in a trance state or through conscious communication. These entities are said to speak through the practitioner to provide guidance or information on spiritual, philosophical, and psychological matters.13

Key points of resemblance include:

• Communication with the Deceased: Both movements involve the claim of contacting the spirits of the dead.24
• Trance and Voice: Practitioners in both traditions often utilize a trance state to allow entities to speak through them, sometimes employing an "invisible go-between" or "control" to facilitate the interaction.13
• Role as Teachers: Just as Spiritualist mediums were central figures in sittings, New Age channelers often became popular teachers, with some founding their own organizations based on the messages they received.123

While New Age channeling expanded its scope to include extraterrestrials and "Ascended Masters," the underlying mechanism of acting as a vessel for external intelligence remains rooted in the historical practices of Spiritualism.12