The Victorian era might have been an era of scientific discovery, "reason" and invention - but it was also the age of spiritualism and a widespread belief in a host of psychic phenomena. This was the age of seances, fortune-telling, palmistry, and faith-healing. In magazines like Century, you may find one article by an author who is clearly a "true believer" in a particular phenomena, such as palmistry - and another by a writer determined to debunk such things. I leave it to the reader to decide...

Popular Delusions (Cassell's Family Paper, 1860)

A lengthy series that looks at a variety of "delusions" and illusions, including amulets, fortune-telling, witchcraft, ghosts, necromancy, and magic tricks.

Far-Off Vision (Leisure Hour, 1868)

"Mr. Trood... claimed the faculty of seeing ships and other objects long before they were visible to ordinary vision." Trood maintained that clouds exhibit in their outline the outline of nearby terrestrial objects - and so, for example, one could detect ships at a great distance by seeing their outlines in the clouds!

Delusions of Medicine: Charms, Talismans, Amulets, Astrology and Mesmerism, by Prof. Henry Draper (Harper's Monthly, 1873A)

The Delusions of Clairvoyance (Scribners, 1879B)

The Art of Hand-Reading (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

Thought-Reading as an Amusement, by F. Corder (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

What Is Thought Transference? by George Day (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1884)

Faith-Cures, by A.F. Schauffler (Century Magazine, 1886A)

A strong Christian argument against the concept of faith-healing.

Faith-Healing and Kindred Phenomena, by J.M. Buckley (Century Magazine, 1886B)

Divine Healing, or "Faith Cure," by R. Kelso Carter (Century Magazine, 1887A)

A look at the rise of faith healing in America (30 "faith homes" at the time of writing) and the scriptural basis for "divine healing" - a more or less positive approach to the topic.

Faith Healing and Kindred Phenomena, by J.M. Buckley (Century Magazine, 1887A)

A follow-up article to Carter's piece (above) and the author's piece by the same title in an earlier volume, with a somewhat softened stance on the question.

Hypnotic Moralization, by William Wilberforce Newton (Harper's Monthly, 1887B)

A new fad in England: An attempt to produce "moral states of mind upon people while asleep."

Christian Science and "Mind Cure," by J.M. Buckley (Century Magazine, 1887B)

Mind Magic, by George Day (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

The Language of the Hand, by Augusta de Bubna (Demorest, 1888)

Mental Medicine: The Treatment of Disease by Suggestion, by Allan McLane Hamilton (Century Magazine, 1893B)

"The therapeutic use of suggestion is in its infancy, but there can be no doubt that ultimately its importance will be recognized by every thinking person, and it will be adopted as an important and legitimate aid."

Palmistry, by J.M. Buckley (Century Magazine, 1894A)

An explanation of palmistry by a believer.

The Eternal Gullible, with Confessions of a Professional "Hypnotist," by Ernest Hart (Century Magazine, 1894B)

"While...admitting... that hypnotism is a reality, I repeat that the great bulk of the 'phenomena' described by observers reputed to be 'scientific' is founded on imposture. What is true in hypnotism is not new...nor is it of any practical use to mankind. The 'cures' attributed to its agency are exactly similar to those wrought by 'faith-healing,' when they are not altogether imaginary."

The Imitative Functions, and Their Place in Human Nature, by Josiah Royce (Century Magazine, 1894B)

A look at issues of imitation, hynopsis, and psychology.

Our Futures and Our Fortunes, by Mrs. A.G. Lewis (Ladies Home Journal, 1896)

A look at fortunetelling at parties, with a warning not to take this too seriously!

Strange Sects (Home Magazine, 1898)

Amateur Water-Divining, by G.P. Mackenzie (Windsor Magazine, 1902A)

• See also Victorian Health & Beauty: Spas, Treatments & Fads