| I have heard some talk recently about Ouija boards | | | | people after the fact. So are these claims true? Can a |
| and their use in general as well as during paranormal | | | | simple board game (now under the Parker Brothers |
| investigations. First I should discuss the history of the | | | | name) do all of this? What's the difference between |
| Ouija board a bit...it's original beginning, not that of | | | | using a Ouija board and using a pendulum, dowsing |
| Parker Brothers, the version most known today. | | | | rods or any other well-known 'tool'? |
| In 1853 a French Spiritualist named M. Planchette | | | | The use of pendulums and dowsing rods involves only |
| invented a tool so that people could try to | | | | the person holding it in their hands and doesn't have |
| communicate with those who had crossed over to the | | | | the amount of energy that is created when more than |
| other side. The planchette was heart-shaped, and had | | | | one person is involved. The second difference is that |
| little legs attached to the bottom. Spiritualist mediums | | | | with a pendulum or dowsing rods you can ask |
| were the first to use these planchettes at the time, | | | | questions but can only receive a yes or no answer |
| claiming that spirits would force the object to move | | | | most of the time- no words will be spelled out for you |
| through the medium's hands while using it. | | | | by doing this. |
| "Shortly after the planchette came to America, a | | | | When using a Ouija board the intent of the people is |
| cabinet and coffin maker from Maryland named E.C. | | | | KEY. They have gathered specifically to try to |
| Reiche created a new method of communicating with | | | | communicate with people who have passed over. |
| the dead. He devised a wooden lap tray with the | | | | Most don't specify what type of spirit they wish to |
| letters of the alphabet arranged in two lines across the | | | | communicate with...just any old spirit will do! This is |
| center of the board. Below these letters, he placed the | | | | where I believe some problems can arise. Any spirit |
| numbers 1-10 and the words YES and NO in each | | | | who knows you are trying to do this can view it as an |
| lower corner of the board. He used the planchette with | | | | open doorway to walk right in- and wreak havoc on |
| his board but removed the pencil tips and placed | | | | any person or place. The intent is key here folks....No |
| wooden pegs on the bottom of it. In this way, the | | | | matter what tool you are using as a form of |
| planchette was free to move about the board. | | | | communication, it's your intent behind it that matters. If |
| It was always believed that Reiche named his board | | | | you sit down with a Ouija board but have no belief in |
| the "Ouija" because the name represented the French | | | | it's use and don't really want to open up this |
| and German words for "yes" (oui and ja) but this was | | | | communication, it's most likely that nothing will happen |
| not the case. He named it that because he believed | | | | when you try. |
| that the word "Ouija" was actually Egyptian for luck. | | | | On the other hand, if you seriously believe in what it |
| Needless to say, it's not, but since he claimed to | | | | can do, you can have some major results, and results |
| receive the word from a spirit on the board, the name | | | | that you never counted on having...Ever heard the |
| stuck."- from | | | | term, 'Be careful what you wish for?' I think this is one |
| The use of the Ouija board by the general public brings | | | | of the times that this saying can be applied. There's a |
| worries by many people because there are no special | | | | fine line here because in order for the spirits to create |
| mediumship skills that are required to use one. Just | | | | results, they have to manipulate YOUR energy with |
| gather up a few people to sit in a circle around the | | | | your hand to do it. It's very similar to automatic writing |
| board, place your hands on the planchette and go! Ask | | | | or trance mediumship, where the spirit takes over the |
| some questions to the spirit world and before you | | | | medium's body and voice. Although I don't think it's as |
| know it you have movement on the board, and | | | | severe as that, it is along the same lines. |
| communication with the dead. | | | | No matter what tool you want to try out, whether for |
| Stories have been circulated for years about | | | | fun, spiritual use or during a paranormal investigation, |
| horrendous results that have occured after using the | | | | make sure that you really know what your intent is....All |
| Ouija board....Items being thrown across a room, | | | | things can be tools of use, but it's how you use that |
| ghastly noises and even possessions of places and | | | | tool and with what mindset you are using it. |