Ouija Board

By Crusader1307

 Long the staple of many Horror Movies, The Ouija Board, is sometimes referred to as "Spirit Board" or "Talking Board". They are used to allegedly make "contact" with "The Spirit World". The earliest example of "Spiritual Communications" closely associated with this type of device, goes back to Ancient China (1100 AD). Such communication was called (translated) "Planchette Writing". Other examples are mentions in Ancient Greece and Rome. By 1886, various types of "Talking Boards" were used for communication with The Dead. Often used by Psychics, Mediums and even by self-proclaimed "Witches". It wasn't until 1890 and a huge spike in "Spiritualism", that the first "Ouija Board" was marketed (as a game, to The Public. The device is simple. A board made of wood or pressed cardboard (later versions), was created. It featured 4 distinct "Lines". In the Upper Left corner of the board was the French word "Oui". In the Upper right corner wad the German word "Ja".

The First Line was semi-circular shaped. It featured 13 Letters of the English Alphabet, arranged from A to M. The Second Line was also a semi-circle, had 13 addition letters from N to Z. The Third Line includes Numbers, arranged in a straight line from 1 thru 0 (no number "10" is used). The Fourth and final Line has the words "Yes" and "No". Use involves a device known as a Planchette (with earlier versions involved a glass of some sort). Three to four participants all place their right or left fire finger on the device. Questions are asked of "The Board". Slowly, the Planchette moves from one letter to another, spelling out a "response". Non-Believers in The Paranormal, associate this ''movement" as a phenomenon called "Ideomotor Response". The theory that participants involuntary muscular responses sub-consciously react to the posed "questions". Many Christians as well as Paranormal Researchers are wary of The Ouija Board. They cite that it serves as a "doorway" of sorts to "The Spirit World", where one cannot control just "who or what" can gain entry into the World of The Living.

Destruction of The Board is said to be the only way to rid one of an "unwelcome Visitor". A 19th Century European method involved the digging of a hole in the ground. Next "Blessed" Salt is "sown" into the hole. Followed by a dosing of Holy Water, the Board can now be burned. Failure to miss a "step" will cause the Board to become "stronger". Strangely, even in today's World of computer generated games and other electronic diversions, Ouija Boards are still manufactured and sold.