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Spell It Out: Ouija Boards |
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Among the classics of Spiritualist paraphernalia is the Ouija board (pronounced WE-ja). Depending on who you talk to, the source of the name could be either ancient Egyptian for ''good luck" or a combination of the French and German words for "yes." Various people also claimed to have invented the board, which has been around for about a century. |
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The impulse to use this device came with the great popularity of Spiritualism after the Rochester Rappers (a.k.a. the Fox sisters) brought table rapping (the knocking on a table by unseen spirits during séances) to the fore in 1848. People used the table rapping as a way to spell out messages from the spirit world, with a certain number of raps corresponding with each letter of the alphabet. You can imagine how tedious it could be to talk with a spirit named Zebediah. So séance fans began looking for an otherworldly form of shorthandand the Ouija board was born! |
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The Ouija board consists of a smooth surface (usually a round board) on which the letters of the alphabet, the numbers one through nine, and the words "yes" and "no" are drawn. Participants place a planchette, a smaller plate-like device equipped with a pointer, atop the board. During a séance, two or more people place their fingers loosely on the planchette, then ask a carefully worded question. Apparently directed by a spirit guide, the planchette's pointer glides around the board, pointing letter by letter to spell out an answer. Although the messages may appear a bit nonsensical at first, they eventually seem to flow more smoothly. |
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People who experience the phenomenon are amazed at how accurate answers can be, but usually emphasize the importance of wording the questions clearly. (Remember the oracle who promised the king that a great army would win the battle? The king mistakenly assumed the oracle meant his army. Needless to say, he was extremely disappointed when he suffered a devastating loss.) Foolish, impossible, or unclear questions lead to garbled answers. |
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If you decide to use a Ouija board as a way to communicate with a spirit guide, make sure to think through your questions carefully before you begin. Also ponder who you want to seek information from. If you seek valuable news from a specific entity, you'll need to make this clear. Like other psychic exercises we've described, we recommend asking good and loving guides for their protection, both before and after the session. |
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