Ectoplasm vs. Teleplasm — What's the Difference?

Ectoplasm, originating from spiritualism, is often described as a visible substance sometimes viscous, filmy, or even solid—that emanates from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic session. In contrast, teleplasm, though similar, is sometimes depicted in descriptions as specifically formed into shapes or figures supposedly representing spirits.

While ectoplasm has been famously photographed and has a substantial lore in paranormal studies, depicting it as emanating from the mouth, nose, or ears of mediums, teleplasm is less frequently mentioned in the literature and lacks the same visual or anecdotal evidence base.

Ectoplasm is subject to much skepticism and controversy, with historical accounts often debunked as hoaxes involving materials like cheesecloth or egg white, whereas teleplasm, being less well-documented, has not been scrutinized or debunked to the same extent.

While ectoplasm is a key element in many accounts of physical mediumship, playing a central role in the narrative of spiritual manifestation, teleplasm is often used interchangeably with ectoplasm by some sources but does not appear as prominently in spiritualistic practices or literature.

Ectoplasm is featured in popular culture, often portrayed humorously or in horror films, contributing to its more recognized status compared to teleplasm, which remains relatively obscure and less depicted outside of specialized paranormal discussions.