Parker Brothers will tell you, that Ouija boards are game boards that provide a form of entertainment and nothing more. They are so popular, that you can even play with them on line at Witchboard.com. The recent movie “Paranormal Activity” had a scene, that involved a Ouija board catching on fire by itself. The scene was supposedly captured on a video camera. However, from the distance it was shot, you could not tell, if it was fake or real.
A Ouija board game consists of a board with letters, numbers, answers (yes/no) and a triangular marker. The object of the game is to ask the board a question. Members playing the game, let their finger tips lightly rest on the marker. The marker then slides over the board to spell out names, places and things or answer questions yes or no. This is done with the assist of the individuals playing. I have never seen the marker move by itself.
Game Rules
1. Never play alone. There is strength in numbers.
2. Don’t let the demon escape. Don’t countdown the numbers or let the pointer run through the alphabet.
3. Place a silver coin on the board. Silver has metal qualities that spirits don’t like.
4. Never ask about god. It is said that this will agitate the evil spirit.
5. Never say goodbye. Just leave. You do this by moving the pointer to the goodbye, at the bottom of the board.
Ouija and Religion
Many religions consider the Ouija board as evil and a practice of witchcraft. Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims consider it as evil. It is a form of a pagan ritual. Lifehouse has the story of a Christian girl that started using the Ouija board and it eventually led her into a life wrapped in the occult.
Stories
You can find of these accounts at True Ghost Tales.com. You can decide for yourself, if they hold any merit.
Ouija Board Revenge; In this account Stacy Rowland and her friend bring a 35 year dark figure into their bedroom. The pointer from the board fly into the corner of her room with no help. She asks a priest to bless her room to get the entity to leave. The blessing works.
Return from the Trash: Three children are discovered by their mother playing with the board. She places it in the trash can and watch it get hauled away. 26 years later, the same board is found in the attic. Was it the same board?
Party gone Wrong; In this story, the party members are physically touched during their playing of the game. Their dog is threatened. The moment the board threatens the dog, it starts barking at the board.
Ouija Board Possession; In this account a young girl is attacked by crows after playing the game. It is said that crows and spirits have a connection.
After reading through these accounts, I found them to be entertaining, but no true facts exist. All accounts are by word of mouth. I can understand why this game would be appealing to people. It brings them together in anticipation of excitement. Sharing the pointer with their fingers brings a group bonding. I can also see why many religions ban them. They are a form of a pagan practice. A practice, that can lead people into the dark shadows of life. My advice, stick with Monopoly.