Oujia Board Defined, Part III

Ouija boards are, admittedly, one of the tools we've used in investigations. We've taken all precautions and sometimes the Boards have worked for us and sometimes they haven't. The time it's worked best...

At an undisclosed location(!), we had gotten several photos of an apparition of a bald man in overalls. With the Ouija Board, we found out his name was Edgar. He'd been killed by a knife wound in his side, and despite the police being aware of the murderer's identity, there was never an arrest made. Edgar is understandably miffed. We asked if we could take his picture, he replied affirmatively, and you can see what we captured in the photo above towards the lefthand side. (I see a woman in a long gown though, not Edgar. It's a pretty clear apparition though.) We know Edgar was killed in "80," but are unsure what century as he bid us good-bye.

This was two years ago. In the time since, we've had two affirming eperiences. Someone using a Bob's Box outside the building asked who was present. Three ghosts answered including one named Eddie. Another time we had a youth on a Ghost Hunters of Asheville tour who could talk with spirits. Not knowing this story, he independently told us he'd spoken with a child in front of the building who said he knew Edgar, but he wasn't there right then.

It was a memorable evening. We got a photo of a woman in a mirror, a shadow person and lots of orbs -- the mirror picture as at the right. So yes, Ouija Boards can work. Yes, they can be fascinating. But yes, they can be dangerous. Use with caution.

Ouija Board Defined, Part II

Ouija Boards serve as vehicles or spiritual gateways to facilitate communication between the living and dead. There are, however, sound ways to use them – not only to get good results, but to also use them safely without infiltration or manifestation of evil spirits.

Using an Ouija Board (Safely)

* Draw a closed protective circle of salt around the area where the group and Board will sit.

• * Don’t use the Ouija Board alone as the planchette can be subconsciously moved. The optimal number is three players, sitting on the floor with legs crossed and knees touching. Contact supposedly helps with spiritual connection.

         * Say an opening prayer to strengthen the group psychically and protect against
            any unfriendly entities.

* Place a silver coin on the board. Silver can stop an evil presence from leaving the board.

          * Lighting white (the color of goodness and purity) candles is believed to be a form
             of protection.

* Record the session to capture all information. Recorders work well for this.

* “Clean” the board before and after use and between each question by moving the planchette back and forth between “YES” and “NO.”

* If a planchette begins to move in a continuous circle, the spirit is making a portal. Close the board immediately.

* The planchette moving with figure 8 movements indicates the devil, evil spirit or demon. Again: Close the board immediately.

* If the planchette moves to “GOODBYE” on its own, end the session. Allow the spirit to leave.

* Close the Board by moving the pointer to “GOODBYE” and flipping it. This is critical. If not properly closed, a spirit may remain with the board and/or manifest itself physically.

* Many people say a closing prayer. The least that should be done is thanking the spirits for their time.

Ouija Defined, Pt. I

Nearly everyone is familiar with Ouija Boards, having seen them in the toy and game aisle. Hasbro markets Ouija as a harmless parlor game, but there are plenty of people who consider the Board anything but harmless. As is said: Forewarned is to be forearmed.

The History

Ouija Boards have been around so long, no one really remembers where they came from – or when. Morocco, China and Egypt are some of the places cited; spirit and talking boards other names. The Ouija moniker is said to have either originated from the Moroccan city Ouija (Oujida or Oudjda), the Egyptian word for good luck (which it isn’t), or a combination of the French and German words meaning “yes."

Ouija Boards were patented in London in 1854 and arrived in the United States in 1890 as a harmless parlor game. A spiritualist, Pearl Curran, redefined the Board as a portal to speak with spirits during WWI. Ouija was most popular from the 1920s through the 1960s.

But Does It Work?

Ouija believers say the Board helps us to communicate with the spirits of the dead. In contrast, psychologists cite the ideomotor effect – the unconscious movements of individuals that involuntarily move the Ouija’s planchette. Laboratory studies have proven the phenomenon.

The Dangers

·        You never really know who you’re communicating with. A spirit can masquerade as anyone: angels, the famous, loved ones. The spirit you’re communing with may be devious, deceptive and dangerous.

·        Paranormal researchers believe the Board attracts confused souls, spirits who died a sudden or violent death, even spiritual “delinquents.”

·        Spirits can use the Board as a doorway to enter the physical world. You can unwittingly release an evil spirit that can make for an uncontrolled and volatile situation.

Next Week:  Using the Board and Safety Tips

The Spectre of Newby Church

The Newby Church in North Yorkshire, England, was built in 1870 and had never had a history of ghosts or hauntings. That all changed when Reverend K. F. Lord captured this shrouded figure in a 1963 photograph. Several photo experts have inspected the picture with a universal finding that it is not a double exposure.
Reverend Lord claims that nothing was visible when he took the snapshot of his altar. Looking at visual cues in the photographs, analysts further claim the cowled spectre is approximately nine feet tall. One more reason to avoid meeting it in any dark alleys!