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Ouija on the Web

© M. Williams.

The advent of the New Age has brought a resurgence of interest in all things esoteric, and while it may not be as popular as astrology or as trendy as meditation, the ouija board nonetheless takes up its fair share of cyberspace. Controversial, historical, spiritual, skeptical-even artistic-perspectives are all represented on the World Wide Web. Here's a sample of the information available 'out there':

The Ouija Generation
It is a common misconception that the ouija* board (also called a channeling board, witchboard, or talking board) is an ancient form of divination dating back to antiquity. The rebirth of modern spiritualism in the late 1840's meant that those who could communicate with the dearly departed were in great demand in social circles. These mediums strove to design more advanced methods of conversing with astral entities, and their efforts gave birth to such pre-runners of the ouija board as the planchette and the dial plate talking board. It was not until the 1880's that the board as we know it came into being. It was the creation of a trio of Americans, who introduced the alphanumeric elements to the oracle and first gave it the name Ouija-a word that was thought by the inventors to be Egyptian for luck. In no time at all, what began as an entertaining party game became a popular tool for entity communication for those who sought to break through the veil of the afterlife.

An Evil Toy
As with many things not easily understood, the ouija board is often the subject of controversy. Believers are divided as to whether the spirits animate the pointer directly or channel their energies through the user, who becomes a temporary host, or medium, for the spirit. The latter could be considered possession, and more than a few insist that the board is Not a Game. They claim that the board can be a portal for evil spirits and warn people who are attracted to the device to proceed with caution, or better yet, not at all. The Internet is rife with hair-raising stories of ouija board experiences, but for those who just can't resist, the advice for pre-ouija board preparation runs the gamut from simple courtesy (be polite to the spirits) to elaborately staged protection rituals.

High Spirits
A number of websites, while advising a common-sense type of caution, praise the ouija board as an important tool for spiritual development. The premise is that by Using a Ouija Board one is able to achieve enlightenment via a guide or teacher from beyond and thus advance spiritually. Other believers focus on gaining personal insight through use of the board, claiming that subconscious thoughts and feelings can be brought to the conscious mind through its use. One Truth About the Ouija that both embrace, however, is that like attracts like, and questionable characters/motives will produce only questionable insights/responses. While the ouija board itself may not be evil, expectations can be powerful influences in themselves-if you go in search of something negative, you will surely find it.

The copyright of the article Ouija on the Web in New Age is owned by Donna L. Quesinberry. Permission to republish Ouija on the Web in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.