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Ouija Board
A Ouija board is a common tool used in divination. It consists
of a board, on which are marked letters, numbers, and symbols.
A movable pointer, called a planchette, points towards these
letters and numbers, in order to answer questions put forth
at a seance.
According to some sources, the first mention of something
like a Ouija board used for divination came from China around 1200 B.C.
However, the Ouija board did not gain in popularity until the American
Spiritualist movement of the 19th century. Several methods of
divination were used. In one, a small wooden tablet called a planchette was
supported on small casters. A pencil was attached, allowing the users to
perform a version of automatic writing.
In 1890, Elijah Bond and Charles Kennard invented the modern
Ouija board. This consisted of a planchette which would move around the board,
printed with the alphabet. For the next several decades, this version became
synonymous with the Ouija board as we know it.
Ouija is a registered trademark, though the origin of the
term is unknown. One story suggests that the name derives
from a combination of the French word for yes (oui) and
the German word for yes (ja); another story indicates that
this ancient Egyptian word for "good luck" was
revealed to inventor Charles Kennard during a seance.
Scientists think that the movement of the planchette is
caused subconsciously by each person of the group. Under
this explanation, the planchette's movement is an illusion.
Each person shares the illusion that the planchette is moving
on its own.
Spiritualists believe Ouija boards can help us contact the
spirit world. While some spiritualists have been unable to read the board
while their eyes are covered, they claim that the spirits use the body of the
medium to see and use the board. For many people, a Ouija board is a tool,
something to help a medium communicate with spirits. While most experiences
are positive, some horror stories exist.
These talking boards have also been used to channel writing
from authors who have passed on. Pulitzer prize-winning poet James Merrill based
the poems in his book The Changing Light at Sandover
(1982) on messages received through his Ouija board.
Sylvia Plath likewise experimented with a Ouija board, and incorporated the
text into her written work Dialogue over a Ouija Board (1957).
While some see Ouija boards as a toy, others believe they
can be dangerous. The spiritualist Edgar Cayce, among others, warned that evil
spirits would use their Ouija board to trick humans.
Some paranormal researchers accuse the Ouija board of being
the cause of demand harassment and possession. Evil spirits, disguised as
friends and family members, attempt to take over the lives of those who summon
them.
In Christian belief, using a Ouija board to communicate with
demons is forbidden by the Bible, as is all divination. Some people who have
claimed to be possessed by devils from the Ouija board claim that Christian
deliverance is the only solution.
Numerous psychics, parapsychologists, and even medical
doctors have suggested that people avoid using a Ouija board. There is a
danger that the entities called forward will not be benign, and will actively
try to hurt those who summon them.
For those who still yearn to use a Ouija board, there is a
way of protecting yourself. Alastair Crowley, a leading spiritualist,
suggested that a consecrated circle was the answer. By casting a consecrated
circle, and inviting only one particular spirit, the risk can be substantially
reduced.
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