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Nathan from A State of Mind got me thinking about ouija boards. He’s working on a new project and asked me a few questions about them.
It sparked a memory from when I was about 12 years old. I was in seventh grade and some girlfriends and me decided we wanted to mess around with a ouija board.
MY OUIJA EXPERIENCE
I think all kids go through this phase at some point. I remember thinking it was a pretty neat concept. A board that talks to spirits? Wow! I wonder what they’ll say? But I was also pretty skeptical. A board that talks to spirits? Yeah, right. That’s not going to happen.
Still, I wanted to see what mighthappen. So we got ourselves a ouija board (borrowed from one of my friend’s older sisters, if I remember right) and we let the experiment begin.
One of my friends flipped out before we even started and refused to participate. She was afraid of what we might unleash. I think she made us all think twice before proceeding (I know I did), but we went ahead and ouijaed anyway.
Of course nothing happened. We were the only ones moving that planchette.
I pretty much lost interest after that.
OUIJA BOARDS IN INVESTIGATIONS?
I’m sort of surprised I haven’t seen one being used on any of the ghost shows. Not even as an experiment to test it against some of the other more modern equipment being used.
I’m sure people have tried this. I haven’t been watching the ghost TV shows like I once used to so maybe I missed an episode where some team or another gave it a go.
But I’ve been following a lot of different paranormal groups and the various methods they use to try and find spirits and get them to communicate. Dowsing rods, cystals, compasses, PX machines, EMF detectors, K2 meters, digital recorders for EVP sessions, cameras galore, but I don’t recall any mentioning using a ouija board.
ARE OUIJA BOARDS DEAD?
After Nathan asked, I got to wondering about them. Are ouija boards still around? I never seem to hear about them anymore. Is it because people think they’re a joke? Or are they viewed mostly as games or toys by kids and, like me, a phase people grow out of?
After doing some research I quickly realized ouija, talking spirit boards, witch boards, or whatever else you want to call them, are still alive and kicking in popular paranormal culture. Perhaps now more so than ever.
Below is a slide show I put together of all things ouija board. These are items you can buy on Amazon.com. There’s everything from actual ouija boards themselves (which now come in a variety of styles, including glow in the dark and pink) to ouija cufflinks, cutting boards, and beer coasters.
I also found ouija apps. Yep, as in iPhone, iPad, iPod, available through iTunes, kind of apps. Links to them are also listed below.
ALL THINGS OUIJA BOARD SLIDESHOW
Place your mouse over an image to get more information about it.
OUIJA APPS
“Ouija Board” Talking Board – Magno Urbano
Oracle Board ‘Ouija’ – Robert Soliday
Witch Board (“Ouija Board”) – Rick Blair
Amazing Ouija – App Euphoria
Ouija Board – Patrick Q. Kelly
Ask the Dead – The FORM Group
WeeGee – Branch Apps
Planchette – Cory Burke
Arizona Ghost Tours Spirit Board – Roie.Gat
WraithBoard – Pixelgami LTD
Ghost Board – Michael Weber
Ouija Pro – Gioele Luppi
mobileOuija – Mark English
Weej – Roslyn Robot Company
Ghost Seance – Prairie West Software Consulting
Spirit Board – MagicSeth Productions
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUIJA BOARDS?
Do you view them as just a toy? Do you think it’s appropriate they’re mostly sold in toy sections of stores? Do you think they’re dangerous and/or evil? Do you think they’re ridiculous, or do you think they have the potential to really work? Have you ever used one and successfully communicated with spirits?
Here’s what I think: I think a spirit would have a lot easier time understanding how to use a ouija board to communicate rather than somehow being expected to manipulate an electronic device like a PX machine to speak to us through. After all, modern technology baffles a lot of us who were raised with it. I can’t see 200 year old spirits just magically “getting it.”
A board, on the other hand, is more straightforward. However, manifesting enough energy to manipulate the planchette to move around might be an issue.
Mostly I think whoever invented the ouija board, whether it was intended to really contact spirits or was always just supposed to be a toy, had a pretty groovy idea.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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My opinion is simple – I see Ouija board as dangerous tool when used improperly by inexperienced person – like kids or teenagers. Even if summoning real stuff is rare, when it does occur, it requires a lot of effort to fix the mistake.
We messed around with a Ouija board in college. One guy ran out of the room totally freaked out, asked him later why he ran out, and he said he felt like something was trying to get inside him. Tried again another night, the air around the board was ice cold…and I too felt something. I will never again mess with a Ouija board, they can conjour up some stuff you don’t want or know how to deal with.
WHOA! That is some wild stuff, Happyappi. If I had an experience like that, I’d maybe not mess with it either again. (Or, knowing me, I’d be more intrigued I think.) My experience was so boring it totally made me lose interest.
Since I’m lazy and not into effort, it’s best I not mess with them. Plus, I have a knack for doing stuff that requires clean up later…usually by someone else since I’m not experienced. THANKS not only for the comment, but inspiring the idea period!
Many years ago when I was a kid my uncles and I played with a board just like this. Only to find out later on that inside my grandmothers house that paranormal activity began to rise when we had never had paranormal activity in the first place.
Now that is some crazy stuff! Sorry to hear that. Hope you were able to eventually make it all stop. Were you?
The Ouija, Evil Item or not it does represent part of modern day American culture. The board is not evil I have yet found a evil board however the person operating it could have some issues. In reality a can of Coke could do more harm, now if the person with the can of coke was evil what could they do with it.
I enjoy the Hollywood in the board stories however I do treat certain unknown aspects seriously. Usually these aspects were present before the board entered the equation. Most times a board is introduced to get answers for unanswered paranormal activity . The Ouija is the first call.
The Ouija is full of mystery, superstition and influence from Hollywood. Not that’s a bad thing but the reality of the Ouija is maybe not that exciting. For many years the Ouija was used for family fun much like playing Monopoly or similar. Its also interesting to discuss with collectors of Ouija boards and discover that there is no known evil act actually found caused directly by the Ouija. Mental health and the Ouija yes, just like mental health and a pointy stick.. The Ouija is a physical item usually made of wood or cardboard that is usually made in a factory somewhere at sometime. I saw the movie about a haunted car once but I am still able to drive one with out the fear of turning into a evil creature. Open minds guys don’t think to hard about the Ouija.One day we will discover how they work.
Kudos to the author for exploring the fascinating world of paranormal apps and tools beyond the traditional Ouija board! The article provides a comprehensive and eye-opening perspective on the various technologies available to paranormal enthusiasts.
As an ardent believer in the paranormal, I found the section on ‘Ghost Detector’ particularly intriguing. This innovative app offers a refreshing approach to ghost hunting, combining advanced algorithms with user-friendly features. With Ghost detector in hand, investigators can embark on captivating journeys to detect and document potential spirit activity.
In a digital era where technology plays an integral role in our lives, it’s delightful to see how these paranormal apps harmoniously blend with our love for the supernatural. The use of such apps, like ‘Ghost Detector,’ enhances the overall ghost hunting experience, bringing convenience and accuracy to our investigations.
I’m thrilled to see how these tools are expanding the boundaries of paranormal exploration, providing fresh opportunities for enthusiasts to connect with the spirit realm. By embracing these innovative apps, we can dive deeper into the mysteries of the unknown.
I highly recommend trying ‘Ghost Detector’ as a remarkable addition to any ghost hunter’s arsenal. Its seamless integration with modern devices and its commitment to respectful investigations align perfectly with the pursuit of authentic paranormal encounters.
Thank you, Haunt Jaunts, for sharing this valuable information with the paranormal community. Your dedication to enlightening us on the latest paranormal tools is truly appreciated. Let’s continue to venture beyond the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary in our pursuit of the paranormal!