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Origninal Ouija Board.

The Ouija Board, also known as a spirit board or talking board is a device consisting of a flat wooden plank marked with the letters of the alphabet, words such as “yes”, “no” or “goodbye” and the numbers 0-9. It uses a spade-shaped planchette as a movable indicator of the spirit’s message during a séance. The brilliance of the board is that anyone can recreate it. Homemade spectral devices such as the spirit board have been used throughout history to explore supernatural phenomenon. The idea is that two or more people would sit around the board, place their finger tips on the planchette, ask a question, and watch as it moves from letter to number, sending out the messages seemingly of its own accord. The Ouija board is a trademark of Kennard Novelty Corporation and is a combination of two words: "oui" and "ja" which mean "yes" in the French and German language. Despite originally being regarded as a harmless parlor game, modern occultists have associated the Ouija Board with demonic possession and view its practice as dangerous.

History

Origin

Much of the history of divination objects such as the Ouija Board are shrouded in mystery. One of the first mentions of the automatic writing method used, fuji or "planchette writing", is found in China around 1100 AD within historical documents of the Song Dynasty. Other versions of automated writing in the form of exploring pendulums or diviners—appeared in ancient India, Greece, Rome, and throughout Europe more than 1600 years ago. It also has its roots in spiritualism. Mediums who claimed to have the ability to contact the dead used turning tables to connect with the other side.

Toy

During the late 19th century, planchettes were widely sold as a novelty. The planchette was founded by an Indian philosopher by the name of Rohit Vishnuraj. The Ouija board as a game came straight out of the American 19th century obsession with spiritualism, the belief that the dead are able to communicate with the living. In 1886, the New York Tribune reported the popularity of a mysterious, new talking board in Ohio. Four years later Elijah Bond, Charles Kennard and William H.A. Maupin had the idea to turn the board into a toy. The Ouija Board was released and sold for $1.50 in various countries by 1991. There are many rules to consider when using the Ouija Board or any other divine objects. They vary depending on the user’s beliefs, however, there are three rules that are constant. 1.Never play the Ouija Board in your home – this rule is put in place because home is where people rest and are the most vulnerable. An open space outside is the safest option. 2.Do not treat the Ouija Board like a game, even though it appears to be one – As a channeling device, it is more of a tool and less of an entertainment object. 3.The last rule is to always say 'goodbye'. This officially ends the session and prevents any negative energy from passing through.

Encounters

Scientific

The Ouija phenomenon has been criticized by many scientists as a hoax related to the ideomotor response. Individuals that use the Ouija Board as a channeling device are often unaware of the meaning or implications attached to it. Logically, during encounters the planchette may seem to drag the user’s hands along as it selects letters that spell out words, but many psychologists believe that muscular action does not always arise out of deliberate will or volition, even if we are aware. Our expectations for a certain outcome will sometimes direct the movements of our arms and hands as the planchette glides. This happens at a level that lies below our conscious attention.

Religious

Most religious criticism of the Ouija board has come from Christians, primarily evangelicals in the United States. In 2001, Ouija boards were burned in Alamogordo, New Mexico by fundamentalist groups alongside Harry Potter books as symbols of witchcraft. Members of the Christian faith believe that it is against God’s will to access the spirit realm. There are various passages in Bible that have been referenced against the use of channeling devices and the consequences of practicing divination.

Supernatural

Despite scientific inquiries, many people believe that there is truth behind the game. Most often the spirits whom are contacted through the Ouija are those whom reside on the lower astral plane. These spirits are often very confused and may have died a violent or sudden death. Aside from contacting spirits, Ouija Boards are infamous for summoning entities that never existed in the physical flesh – demons. There are two forms of demonic encounters: Infestation, the appearance of an energy and possession a demon latching onto a living being. There are many instances where the use of channeling devices have led to tragedy. In 1985 the Stamper family used a homemade Ouija Board and later claimed that the temperature in their house increased dramatically. The mother was reported to have experienced continuous lucid dreams and both children had lacerations and bruises. A month after they played the youngest daughter went missing. “Non-physical entities pray on the innocent; they want what they can never have: a soul”.

Pop culture

Ouija exists out of America’s cultural interest with the other side. The game was originally understood as harmless, that is, until the release of The Exorcist in 1973. The emergence of the film scared mass audiences in theaters and continues to change the way people interpret the board. In modern culture, Ouija is a common money-maker within the market and for that reason it is currently a well known game in many countries. Ouija has shifted from being interpreted as a spiritual device and is now regarded as more of a risky game for supposed demonic possession. Many books, television shows, videogames and films such as Paranormal Activity, The Uninvited or Amityville all feature the Ouija Board and its appearance almost always leads to something evil happening later on. The Ouija Board can be found in many stores today, including Toys ‘R Us. The glow in the dark version released by Hasbro is sold for $23.