BEGINNING OF THE SCREENINGS

In September 1972, the group began "sessions"—informal gatherings during which members discussed Philip and his life, meditated on him, and attempted to visualize their "collective hallucination" in greater detail. These sessions, conducted under full illumination, yielded no results for the next year. While some members claimed to sense a presence in the room, all attempts at communication were unsuccessful.

So they changed tactics. The group decided they'd have better luck if they tried to recreate the atmosphere of a classic séance. They dimmed the room's lighting, sat around a table, sang songs, and surrounded themselves with paintings of castles, imagining Philip living there, as well as objects from that era.

It worked. One evening during a session, the group received their first sign from Philip in the form of a distinct knock on the table. Soon, Philip was answering questions posed by the group members—one knock for "yes," two for "no." They knew it was Philip because they were directing their questions at him.

The sessions that began there produced a range of phenomena that could not be scientifically explained. By tapping on the table, the group was able to learn the smallest details of Philip's life. He even seemed to possess a personality, expressing his likes and dislikes, as well as his strong opinions on various topics, which he clearly demonstrated through his enthusiastic or hesitant tapping. His "spirit" could also move the table, moving it from one side to the other despite the floor being covered with a thick carpet. At times, he even "danced" on one leg.