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The Ouija Board - Is it Really Just a Game?

© Brenda Gambrell

The ouija board, created in 1892, derived its name from the French and German words for yes. It is a flat board - the size of a breakfast tray - with the alphabet, the numbers one to ten, and the words yes, no, hello, and goodbye written on it. Players sit across from each other with their hands on the edge of a small heart shaped planchette and ask the board a question. The planchette then moves across the board spelling out the words of the answer if you're lucky, or should I say not so lucky?

The ouija grew in popularity during World War I and II which was not surprising, considering that during times of crisis people often resorted to religion and mystical means for comfort. Thousands of boards were sold, often being reportedly used to contact dead soldiers killed in the war. Newspaper articles highlighted the manufacturer's "abuse" of those who purchased the board with the hope of using the board's mystical powers to channel the dead.

Is the ouija board just a game or is it really a dangerous tool that we can use to contact the spirit world? Baltimore toy manufacturers William and Isaac Fuld explained when they applied for a patent that "after a question is asked, the involuntary muscular action of the players, or some other agency, will cause the frame to commence to move across the table." Their explanation leaves a lot of room for speculation, and even though the brothers played the game regularly as boys, they claimed not to believe in its supernatural powers.

If you have ever dabbled with the ouija, you may be one of the many who have cast it aside forever. The website http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com covers several personal frightening experiences while using the board, including the apparition of spirits, objects flying in the room, and predictions of death. Many religious organizations claim the board is a direct access to demons or even satan, and that the use of the board will lead to possession by an evil entity. On the other hand, some spiritualists believe that the board is an effective and safe way of channeling the spirit world if the board is used correctly. For example, never use the board alone, be sure to designate an experienced medium to ask the questions, and always close the board by moving the planchette to goodbye before ending a session.

Perhaps the board is a spiritual connection to the spiritual realm; however, it could just be our subconscious minds answering our questions by means of involuntary muscular motions in our hands. Nevertheless, the board should be played with caution whether you believe it has any type of power or not. If you feel afraid or sense a negative force while playing, then the game should be terminated. Your intuition is the ultimate deciding factor and will show you the truth.