Ouiji

The Ouija Board is an instrument used for divining information from disembodied spirits. A combination of the French (oui) and German (ja) meaning 'yes'. It is a commercial product presented as half game and half séance instrument.

Some professional mediums and psychics tend to frown on the use of the Ouija, regarding it as being too likely to be controlled by "low spirits", more intent on something other than providing accurate information.

Critics of the Ouija, who include authorities in most denominations of Christianity, say it is dangerous and a tool of the Devil. Those who advocate the use of the Ouija, say that, like other forms of divination, it is a legitimate way to discover insight, wisdom and self-truths and to communicate with spirits of the dead.

Some believe that answers given probably rise from the subconscious of the users, even when "spirits" identify themselves and give messages. Yet the pointer, or planchette, used with a Ouija, has been known to fly off the board and spin out of control, as though being directed by unseen forces. Some users claim that after using an Ouija, they have been harassed by external agents contacted through the board.

Precursors to the Ouija date back to ancient times. Before the birth of Confucius, around 551 B.C. Similar devices were used to communicate with the dead. In Greece, during the time of Pythagoras, 540 B.C., a table on wheels designed to point to signs interpreted as being revelations from an unseen world, was used for divination. The rolling table was used throughout the nineteenth century.

Similar devices were used by ancient Romans as early as the third century A.D., and in the thirteenth century by the Mongols. Some Native Americans used a "squdilate board" for the purposes of locating missing objects and people and to obtain spiritual information.

The planchette came into use in 1853 in Europe . Planchette means "little board" in French. Invention of the device is generally credited to a Spiritualist by the same name, M. Planchette. It consisted of a triangular or heart-shaped platform on three legs, one of which was a pencil. The user, usually a medium, would move the device over paper to draw pictures and spell out messages.

The modern Ouija is marketed as a game. Elijah J. Bond invented the Ouija in 1892. He sold his patent to William Field who has been considered the father of the Ouija. Mr. Field founded the Southern Novelty Company in Baltimore, Maryland that later became known as the Talking Board Co., and marketed the Ouija.

During and after World War I, the Ouija became extremely popular as many people desperately wanted to communicate with loved ones killed in the war. Spiritualism was in a revival period, so interest was growing and the Ouija Board was readily available. In 1966, William Field sold his patent to Parker Brothers Game Company of Beverly, Massachusetts. With renewed interest in the occult and supernatural in the 1960's and 1970's, the Ouija once again grew in popularity. Parker Brothers stresses the Ouija Board is for entertainment purposes only!

In the field of parapsychology, use of the Ouija is considered a form of automatism or unconscious activity that picks up and amplifies information from the subconscious mind. Critics of the Ouija say that users have no control over repressed material that might be released, with the result being that the user can suffer a psychosis. Edgar Cayce called it a "dangerous toy." Users have no control if the Ouija Board is used to contact spirits.

Some professional Psychics say there is no danger in using the Ouija, only superstitious fears that produce negative results. On the other hand, even some demonologists say it is a means of accessing the gates of hell, opening the portal for demons to cross over to this plane of existence. There seem to be varying opinions concerning the use of the Ouija Board,  and because of this, the decision really has to be left up to the person considering using it. 

The use of such a tool for the purpose of spirit communication does not belong in the hands of children. People need to take the time to seriously learn about the spirit realm, coming to an awareness of what it means to discipline the mind, and focus and discern the spirits.

The danger of using a Ouija Board is that you have no control over who responds when you evoke the spirits. That seems to be the one point everyone agrees upon, be they pro or con to its use. Responding entities have been known to lie and deceive by the answers they give, being very convincing by using the name of the one the user intends to contact. Unless you know the right questions to ask, you may never know the difference.