Apart from offering vital energy to the spirit operators, some physical mediums are very fluid in their etheric bodily make-up; consequently, they can offer a materializing substance which can be used by the operators to manifest. This we shall discuss very shortly.

Very often, the signs of physical mediumship appear quite early in life; in particular during the period of puberty. The signs range from unusual happenings and sounds, to movements taking place in the vicinity of the child. Sometimes the occurrence of such happenings intensifies as the child matures; sometimes, they subside until a decision is made to sit regularly for the proper development of mediumship.

During the turn of the century, when physical mediumship was quite common, there were many young people giving public demonstrations of physical mediumship. The pressures placed upon these young vessels for spirit was intense, and many simply could not handle it. Physical mediumship requires a tremendous expenditure of vital energy. Many such mediums "burn out" fairly early in life, because they simply do not control, within proper limits, the use of their mediumship. Physical mediumship is relatively rare in occurrence, and people are anxious to witness it. The physical medium must learn to say "no" when the pressure to produce phenomena becomes too great. If he or she does not, the temptation to cheat-- and, over the years, it has, to a great degree -- may present itself.