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Paranormal tool to communicate with the dead or, a meaningless board to fool the naive?  Whatever your opinion of the Ouija Board there is no denying that they are a source of intrigue and fascination for many people.  But where do these boards come from?  Do they have their roots in ancient spiritual practices or, are they nothing more than a modern toy?

In its early years the Ouija Board was referred to as a Talking Board and looked very different from the boards we recognise these days.  These early designs had a pencil fitted to the planchett which was rested upon sheets of blank paper.  The participants would ask a question and the planchett would travel across the paper until it had spelt out the messages from the spirits.  Over time, the design was modified until the boards had letters, numbers and words fixed upon them.

The modern Ouija Board which we know today dates back to the late 19th Century where they were first sold as novelty items.  William Fuld of the Kennard Novelty Company was the first to introduce the Talking Board to the mainstream and in 1901 patented the term ‘Ouija Board’ to market them.  This was the perfect time to introduce these boards to the general public as interest in spiritualism was growing in popularity.

An interesting side-note is that the original Ouija Boards did not have the words "hello" and "goodbye" on them.  It was only added by the Victorians who didn't want to anger the spirits with bad manners so demanded a courteous opening and closing to their Ouija sessions!

Fuld claimed the word Ouija was from the Egyptian for 'good luck'.  In fact, this is untrue.  However, the name can be linked to the words for yes in French and German, "oui" and "ja" respectively.  One of the earliest mysteries surrounding the boards can be attributed to the death of Fuld himself.  In 1927, whilst attempting to repair a flag mast on the factory roof that produced the boards he fell to his death.  The official explanation is that one of the supports gave way however, others believe a more sinister force was at work and something supernatural caused his demise!

The Fuld family eventually sold the trademark ‘Ouija Board’ to the toy and game manufacturer Parker Brothers in 1966.  Parker Brothers still own the trademark to this day.  To date, they are estimated to have sold up to 25 million units.

Much of the opposition to using Ouija Boards comes from religions groups with many of them believing the boards carry a threat of demonic possession.  Some fundamentalist Christian groups have burnt the boards as they see them as symbols of witchcraft!  However, there is much scientific study to suggest Ouija Boards are nothing more than a toy and it is only the conscious/unconscious activities of the participants that is responsible for making the boards 'work'.

So the Ouija Board we know today may have their origins in ancient China.  The methods used to use the Boards have changed through time but the debate as to their credibility is still a source of great debate.  Perhaps Parker Brothers summed this up perfectly with their marketing slogans: "It's just a game…isn't it?"

Written by Gary Mullen from HandcraftedUK, supplier of Ouija Boards.

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The following article comes from our friend Sandy Cristel.  Whether or not you believe in the power of these boards we provide them on agreement that you adhere to the following safety advice:

* Only have people present who are serious and respectful. If the board is used without care or in a joking manner, this can attract unwanted and potentially dangerous negative energies and spirits.

* Do NOT drink alcohol or use any mind altering drugs including marijuana!

* Clear your mind of all negative thoughts or distractions. Your mind must be clean and clear.

* Anybody having any psychosis or psychological disorders or persons who are nervous, anxious or have addictive tendencies must not use the board.

* Never ask questions relating to your own death or death of another person.

* Make sure you visually protect yourself and have faith that you are protected. Imagine a white light surrounding you and your friends. It is always a good idea to make an affirmation before you begin. For example, "With the power of the elements, spirit guides, angels and higher self, I and the users of this board are protected from all negative spirits, entities, energies and influences." This is what I personally use, but you should say something that resonates personally to yourself.

* It is safer if you ensure that the spirits only communicate through the board – make it certain that you are in control of the board and either ignore any other spiritual activity in the room (knocks, bangs, tapping, lights etc) or ask the spirit to either use the board or leave.

* Occasionally spirits cannot or do not wish to answer certain questions so respect their silence and do not ask the same question over and over again. Ask once, once again to confirm and that is all.

* Ask if the spirit is a good spirit. If the planchette goes to NO, it is advisable to close down the board and wait at least half an hour before attempting to make contact again (see below on how to close down a board).

* Take the answers like you would anything else that somebody tells you (alive or dead). Do not revolve your life around answers you may receive as they may be inaccurate.

* Do not use the board for longer than an hour and a half. This is exhausting for both yourself and the spirits, and can be harmful.

* It is always advisable to "ground" yourself afterwards by eating and drinking something.

* The more you use the board the more spirit activity it will create (similar to a magnet). The board can become addictive to some people and this is harmful, not only to your well being but this can also attract unwanted negative energies and bad spirits. It is advisable to not use the board more than twice a week.

Closing down the board

This is extremely important! The board MUST be closed down properly at the end of each and every séance. Start by thanking the spirits for coming forward and talking with you. Wish them peace and say Goodbye. The spirit should move the planchette to GOODBYE and you may pack up the board.

If the spirit does not move the planchette to GOODBYE, then tell the spirit that you are saying goodbye and that you ask they do the same. If the spirit STILL refuses to leave, then you must move the planchette to GOODBYE and in a stern strong voice say GOODBYE and LEAVE out loud. Remove your fingers from the planchette. If you feel that is not enough you can also slam the planchette down on a hard surface (obviously take care not to break it!) or pass it through a candle flame if it is not made of flammable material.

Be safe, be successful – but most of all enjoy!

We would like to thank Sandy for the content of this article.  You can read more advice from Sandy here.