SPIRIT DRAWING, 1864

This was the first flower form which was finished. It belongs to no known order, though it is of a beautiful and complex shape, and looks as if it might well have existence in nature, and be no small addition to the floral world.

(M. Wilkinson, Spirit Drawings).

The gilt center vignette of a cross with solar rays illuminating a book with the word “TRUTH” inscribed on it is likely one of the drawings sent to W. M. Wilkinson by his deceased son. In Spirit Drawings: A Personal Narrative, Wilkinson describes his living son, wife, and eventually himself receiving astonishing drawings and poetry from their son.

Surprisingly, skeptics considered automatic writing one of the more legitimate phenomena. The trance state and nature of the communication, such as different handwriting or unexpected abilities, like Wilkinson’s wife drawing a seemingly nonexistent flower, were evidence the medium was not acting by conscious will.

Additionally, it seemed less likely to be tampered with, as it only involved the human hand and a writing instrument. To confirm authenticity of spirit messages from a specific all one had to do was compare the message to an example of their handwriting. 

Of course, it was just as easy to tamper with the paper or board being written on, such as tricks with magic ink or sneakily swapping results.