The Ouija board is used by a group of people that each place their fingertips on a “planchette” that mysteriously spells out words or answers questions as if a spirit is moving it across the board. According to Smithsonian Magazine the Ouija board or “talking Board,” is “a flat board with the letters of the alphabet arrayed in two semi-circles above the numbers 0 through 9; the words “yes” and “no” in the uppermost corners, “goodbye” at the bottom; accompanied by a “planchette,” a teardrop-shaped device, usually with a small window in the body, used to maneuver about the board.” (Smithsonian Magazine, 2013) For people that have lost a loved one, it is natural to want to contact their spirits using Ouija Boards.
Historically, they were created for that purpose after WWI. So many grieving families were looking for answers and closure that they became popular. “The Ouija board, in fact, came straight out of the American 19th century obsession with spiritualism, the belief that the dead are able to communicate with the living.” (Smithsonian Magazine, 2013) Some people use them out of curiosity or to communicate with random spirits in a location. Other people use Ouija Boards like they are simply a harmless game. After all, they are even sold at toy stores.
Yet, the truth is that Ouija Boards are portals where anything can come through. They allow any random spirit or entity to communicate, which is extremely dangerous. Just like you would not want your child to talk to strangers because they may be dangerous, so too are these random spirits and entities. It is far too easy to be fooled by a demonic entity posing a “good” spirit, often a child. They can also pose as your loved ones and answer questions correctly. Therefore, it is difficult to be sure whom one is really communicating with while using the Ouija Board.
The main issue with Ouija Boards is that innocent spirits as well as negative entities conjured can easily become trapped in a location or even follow a person until they are removed. Many times, the use of Ouija Boards keeps innocent or “good” spirits stuck and unable to leave a location. These spirits often become angry at the person that trapped them by using the Ouija board. In that case, a Medium or a religious Official may be able to help the spirit to cross-over into the light. Evil entities usually need an Exorcism performed to remove them from a location or person.
By: Raina Ando, M.A.
