by Karen Frazier
 
We get lots of questions about Ouija boards. There's a great deal of fear and mythology surrounding them. Many people feel they are "evil" and should never be used. This idea arises, ironically, from the iconic 70s movie, The Exorcist. In that movie, young Reagan opens herself up to the evil that eventually possesses her when she begins conversing on her Ouija board with Captain Howdy. 

I started researching Ouija boards several years ago. Always the skeptic, I just couldn't imagine how a toy from Hasbro could bring about the evil so many said it did. What I found was interesting, including many fascinating documented cases involving some type of a talking board. You can read an article I wrote on my research for Paranormal Underground Magazine below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More zombie road 
Since I wrote the article, I have spoken about Ouija Boards at conferences, appeared on panels discussing the Ouija board, and even played with a few. I've always had rather interesting experiences with them.

So do I believe Ouija boards are a portal to evil? Not necessarily. Do I believe they can cause problems? If they aren't used with proper respect and caution, I do believe they can.

Ouija boards (and other talking boards) are communication devices that, ultimately, are really no different than the other communication and divination devices we use in paranormal research. There's nothing magical about a talking board that invites evil, and using one is no different than conducting an EVP session, using a ghost box, or even using dowsing rods or a pendulum. All of these methods invite spirits from the other side to communicate with us in a way we can understand.

Therefore, my advice about Ouija boards actually corresponds with my advice I'd give about any method of communicating with the other side. I don't believe communicating with the other side is for amateurs - regardless of the method you use. Instead, if you've never done so and would like to try, I'd strongly recommend working with someone who has experience in the field and can help facilitate a positive outcome.
  • Don't open communication unless you know what you are doing and how to protect yourself. 
  • Always approach communication with the other side from a positive place. If you are angry, upset, grieving, or anything else then you're not in a safe mental and emotional space from which you can engage personal protection.
  • Intention is everything in spirit communication. Your intentions need to be genuine and positive in order to attract spirits.
  • Be polite and friendly in your communications. Do not provoke.
  • Once you begin communicating, it may be difficult to stop, so be ready for what you open.
  • You cannot control who or what you communicate with, and you never know who, if anyone, will come through. Keep this in mind as you seek communication. Just because you intend to contact Great Aunt Clarice doesn't mean that's who you'll hear from - or that you'll hear from anyone.
  • There's a really good chance that ghosts are merely people without bodies. If this is the case, then you'll find that ghosts may have the same types of personalities they had in life. Just because someone you're communicating with is kind of a jerk doesn't mean they are evil or a demon. They may have just been a real creep in life.
  • Set ground rules before establishing communication. 
  • Mentally surround yourself and others with you in white light before you begin to communicate.
  • If you wind up communicating with a spirit, let them know ahead of time what you plan to do. For instance, if you are ready to close your session, tell them you intend to stop and ask if they have anything else to tell you. Allow them a few moments before closing the session.
  • Always close the session. For example, on a Ouija board, you might say, "Thank you" aloud and then move the pointer to Good-bye. In an EVP session, thank the spirits for communicating with you and say good-bye.
  • In my experience, I've found that spirits with whom I've communicated like to stick around after the session because they're just so happy someone is listening to them. Try to prevent this by setting boundaries before you leave ("It's not okay to follow me home. You stay here, and I will come back to see you again sometime.") 
  • Don't try to communicate with spirits if you don't want to experience activity beyond your communication session. While it doesn't always happen, sometimes this can cause activity to occur.

Interested in documented Ouija board cases? Check out the curious case of Pearl Curran/Patience Worth below. It's one of my favorite Ouija board cases. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More ufos


So to summarize:
  1. Ouija boards and talking boards are not inherently evil.
  2. Intention and mindset are everything.
  3. These boards provide another way to communicate with the other side.
  4. Work with someone who knows what they're doing.
  5. Interact as you would with living, breathing humans. Treat people the way you'd like to be treated.