Ouija: How To Play The Spirit Board

When you hear Ouija Board, you probably think of talking with ghosts. Still, this Spirit Board is more than just a creepy party game. At least, if you’re not afraid of yourself that is. Do you dare?

All kinds of creepy stories are told about the Ouija Board. This magical spirit board has a reputation for conjuring up ghosts and is therefore a popular party game during Halloween or other dark days. For others, it’s more than just entertainment and the game helps to answer burning questions, no ghosts needed. Wondering what the game will do for you? Here you will find everything about its meaning and we’ll give you tips to get started with the spirit board. A little advice in advance: don’t ask questions if you don’t want to know the answer!

What is a Ouija Board

The Ouija game is about getting answers. Legend has it that the board can connect with the spirit world, so you could see it as a kind of spiritual gate through which all kinds of energies can pass. This could be your deceased grandmother, but also a wandering soul, or even a Guardian Angel. You’ll often even hear warnings about looming evil spirits or demons. Some people believe that this was made up to make the game more exciting, while others believe that it is meant as a sincere word of caution. On the other hand you can also use the board to see what your subconscious is up to. More on that later!

This is What a Ouija Board Looks Like

The Ouija game consists of a board with different symbols on it. The board contains all the letters of the alphabet, a greeting, a goodbye, yes and no, and the numbers 0-9. Some boards also have a sun and moon symbol. During the game, move a heart-shaped board, a planchette, over these characters. There is a hole in it that shows the underlying letter as soon as your plank stops on it. This is how the Ouija Board spells out an answer to your question.

Where the Ouija Board Comes From

At the end of the nineteenth century, spiritualism was very hip in Europe and the United States. Ghosts and supernatural phenomena were in the spotlight. According to some, this was a result of the American Civil War, which claimed many victims. Through a reading or seance, relatives tried to get in touch with their deceased loved ones. Mediums used special discussion boards to translate messages from other worlds. In 1891 a patent was applied for such a talking board. Later, Charles Kennard’s toy company marketed the same idea under the name Ouija board, later continued by the Parker Brothers. From that moment on, buying a Ouija board was extremely popular!

Meaning of the Word Ouija

Once Kennard left the toy business Ouija was taken over by William Fuld. He increased the mystery surrounding the ghost game by telling everyone that the name Ouija in Egyptian means ‘luck’. How did he know? Of course the board had told him that! The word Ouija was probably coined by Kennard as a compound of oui and ja, the French and German versions of the ‘yes’ on the game board. A little less magical, but at least creative! Fuld’s tragic death also helped to build the mystery around the bord. While building a new factory for the production of the board, which he had told newspapers the spirits had instructed him to do, Fuld fell to his death. Of course it was nothing more than a tragic accident, but it made the board instantly infamous!

How does a Ouija Board Work? Follow the Ouija Board Rules

A spiritual game session follows these rules:

• Ask a question
• Places an index finger on the plachette
• A message arises
• You close the question

Asking Questions via a Medium

If you are playing with a group, one person is the Medium. They ask the questions on the board. If you play alone, obviously you are your own medium.

Put an Index Finger on the Plank

In a group, everyone places their index and middle fingers on the board. The intention is that no one does anything, but waits to see which letters the planchette moves to. Of course you do the same when playing on your own.

A Message Arises

Over time, the board spells out a message with the letters and numbers present. For specific yes or no questions, some people also use Commuting tools, such as a Biotensor or Dowsing Rods. The sun, according to the game’s instructions, means a good spirit and the moon a bad one.

Close the Question

Every question is closed by the medium with ‘goodbye’. This way the ghosts would return to their realm and the board is ready for the next round.

Ouija as Automatic Writing

The Ouija board was nothing new in the nineteenth century. Letting your hand be guided by something outside of yourself to receive a message was already very popular in the form of automatic writing. Spirit writing is an old tradition and the first known written records date back to around 450 CE in China. People even used spirit discussion boards in classical India, Greece, the Roman Empire, and the European Middle Ages. Usually only spiritual masters or mediums could use them. So spirit boards aren’t new, it’s just that now everyone can get hold of one!

Where Ouija Answers Come From

There are different opinions about how the Ouija game works. Because who moves that plank now? The scientific explanation is that you do that yourself. According to researchers, the carpenter or ideomotor effect ensures that you unconsciously convert information into muscle movement. As soon as you think about something, your body automatically starts to participate. With the Ouija board you play an answer that you already know or expect deep down. You just don’t see it yet! Others believe that you cannot use scientific evidence to explain all phenomena. They use the board to contact invisible forces. It is, of course, this supernatural explanation that makes the Ouija board so exciting!

What Ouija Messages May Reveal

It seems that you decide what kind of messages you get while playing. Do you assume that you evoke your own wisdom? Then you can see all the answers as a mirror of your own subconscious and thus get to know yourself better. Negative answers or spirits therefore get a completely different connotation. Are ghosts and supernatural phenomena quite normal for you? Then you will probably get visitors during your session. Do you think the truth lies somewhere in the middle? Then you can expect a combination of both.

Five Tips Before You Start with the Spirit Board

The Ouija game is for many people a way of divination, just like working with a Crystal Ball or Tarot. With all these techniques you work with intuition, the subconscious or higher spheres. Therefore, according to practitioners, it helps to get in the right mood before you start. How do you start with a Ouija Board? These five tips might help:

• Choose a good location
• Make the place positive
• Be kind
• Choose your fellow players carefully
• Do an opening ritual

Choosing a Location

Choose a pleasant room for the game where you are relaxed. For example, do you want to play at the table or on the floor? In the evening with a candle or in the morning with a view of your garden? As always, make it as fun as possible. Some players recommend not to work at home, due to (unsolicited) visits from ghosts. Of course it is up to you whether that is of any use to you. Either way, the following tip will help you get the vibe right for yourself.

Make the Place Positive

You can do this by Cleansing your Home with White Sage, Palo Santo, or Florida Water. You can also say some mantras, put on some nice music or put out your favorite crystals. Crystal Skulls, for example, are said to promote communication with spirits. Spiritual symbols can help to encourage the flow of spiritual energy and open doors to spiritual visitors. The Merkaba and the Pentagram for example are popular among Wicca practitioners when contacting spirits. Turning off phones can also provide relaxation. Whether you experience ghosts or not, it is always nice to create a relaxed space, especially if you invite others for an evening of ouija.

Be Kind

Now you yourself! Meditating helps many people to be open to information. For example, you can take a moment to let go of expectations about the answer. If you’re worried about evil entities and influences, focus on positive outcomes before you even start. Just wish yourself helpful answers. This is also useful even if you don’t believe in ghosts! The advantage of this attitude is that you more easily recognize negative information and kindly show any pests or bullies out the door. Of course you can also choose to play alone if you feel comfortable in your own skin.

How to Choose Your Fellow Players

The use of a Ouija board can be done alone or with a group of people. Together with fellow players, make sure that everyone is enthusiastic and positive. Of course you never know what will come up! Also, it doesn’t seem to really help spirits if someone is laughing all the time or asking bizarre questions.

Opening Rituals

Once you start playing, you can do another small ceremony to prepare yourself or the group. You can figure that out yourself. It can be by setting an intention, but you can also light a candle, or lay down objects that you want to use to summon the dead.

Calling Ghosts Ouija Board

According to players who have had to deal with ghosts, there are a number of guidelines that will help keep communication flowing smoothly. This way you can avoid awkward questions and get the most out of your conversation.

• Simple Questions
• No Tricks
• Stay Kind

Why You Ask Simple Questions

Ghosts are only human. They don’t seem to be able to handle negative or very complicated questions. Therefore, ask simple questions that elicit a clear answer. Also keep it to yourself. Entities aren’t interested in gossip and intrigue. So don’t ask what other people think or say about you, but focus on knowledge about yourself or the guest present.

What Experts Say You Should Never Ask

If you want to summon ghosts with a Ouija board, don’t ask them to do tricks. According to experts, the game is not intended to challenge ghosts. Quite understandable: if you traveled all the way here from the spirit world, you wouldn’t want that kind of nonsense! Also, it wouldn’t help to ask questions out of fear, because then you always get something bad in return. So don’t try to figure out when you’re going to die, that could only increase your panic.

Why You Need to Stay Kind

Furthermore, it seems that you can approach entities just like any other person: friendly, calm, and with genuine curiosity. Is the contact despite your social skills not really pleasant? Feel free to end your conversation by saying “goodbye”. Then it’s clear!

How to Close the Game

End an Ouija session  by moving the planchette to goodbye. This is how you stop the flow of information according to the game. Then everyone takes their hands off the board. If you like, you can leave the room or cleanse it again in your own way. Another way to end the meeting might be to write down what you experienced or take a moment to thank the board for its faithful service.

Contacting Spirits with Spiru

Are you interested in making contact with spirits? One helpful tip is to make sure your Crown Chakra is open. This chakra is responsible for spiritual energy and communication. Another very popular way to do this is with Pendulum Dowsing. This can be used on its own or with a pendulum mat or Ouija board.  Crystal Balls are also a great a tool for peaking into your subconscious or lifting the veil to the spirit world. And be sure to keep your eyes open for messages from the universe which can appear as anything from Angel Numbers to Bird Messengers. By the way don’t be shy about using a Talisman or Dreamcatcher to chase away any unwanted spirit visitors. Whatever your commuting needs, you’ll find it at Spiru.

Have fun playing, if you dare!