A Word About Ouija Boards

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought this excerpt from my book, OK, So You’re Dead: A Sassy Guide to the Afterlife, was timely.

Especially since, at the movies, Ouija, is scaring the crap out of people. Don’t believe all the hype – but on the flip side, don’t be an idiot either. Read on.

….I would bet that at some point in your life, you’ve had an experience with a Ouija board or seen them in the movies. For centuries, the “talking board” has been used to communicate with people in spirit. It’s amassed a reputation for being “evil,” a beacon for demonic entities. During a recent bout of insomnia, I saw a TV show where they trotted out those same old spooky tales. Oh brother.

Personally, I don’t view Ouija boards that way. In fact, I have a beautiful one, handmade by an artist friend of mine.   Another medium I know works exclusively with her board, using her main spirit guide as the control during sessions.

The thing with these tools is that, like a circular saw, Strontium 90 or a high-powered rifle, you really need to know what you’re doing. The board does serve as a portal between the worlds and one must be experienced to work safely with it.

I choose not to acknowledge evil spirits. I don’t want to give them any of my attention or any power. But I’m the first to admit that I don’t know it all and there are some things in this world I have yet to have firsthand experience of.   Using any kind of mediumistic tool without proper precautions is akin to just leaving your front door open all night long. You never know who – or what — will come in.   Leave the Ouija board to the professionals…..

THE OUIJA HEEBIE-JEEBIES

I still remember the first time I ever used a Ouija board:  I was in fifth grade, having a sleepover with my friends.  After a long, giggly debate, we decided the dead person we most wanted to contact was….Betsy Ross.  Go figure. (I voted for Bobby Sherman, but he wasn’t dead– a minor technicality).

“Easy come….easy goooo…..”

Anyway, we shut the bedroom door, lit a candle, gathered ‘round the board….and promptly had the crap scared out of us when my mother (listening on the other side of the door) gave a spooky “Woooooooo.”  Cue the sound of high-pitched squealing 10 year olds.

Ouija boards have a reputation, which hasn’t been helped by a long line of stories starting with “I heard about this guy who….” or movies where they burst into flames. But I personally don’t believe they are the default gateway to the demonic, and here’s why.

The board is a way of communicating with the spirit world.  Like any work with spirit, certain precautions are necessary.  Whenever I do a reading, meditation, etc, I make a habit of surrounding myself with the white light of love and protection.  I declare that only positive and helpful entities be allowed into this circle.  To me, this is my “Beware of Dog” sign to any spirit that might want to make mischief .

The same kind of precautions apply when working with a Ouija board.  You only want “good spirits” to come through.   And here’s one more thing I learned from a very experienced medium:  have a bouncer.  She works with a board all the time, but generally gets the information from one spirit guide alone.  When she wants to communicate with a different spirit, that guide steps aside – but keeps an eye out in case things start to go off the rails. He has the power to tell that troublesome entity to hit the road.

“I don’t care WHO you are….you’re not on the list….”

Several years ago, I had a Wiccan friend of mine make a Ouija board for me.  See how beautiful it is?

She put a lot of positive energy into it – and added one special touch on the back:  the engraved message, “with harm to none.”  When I work with this wonderful board, I have one of my guides serve as my doorman.  I also make sure to start every session with positive intentions and the circle of protective light.

Having said this, however, I don’t recommend working with a board casually.Like chainsaws, explosives or PowerPoint,  you need to know what you’re doing.  It’s just good sense.

Kids and chainsaws….never a good mix.

As for all those tales of spooky Ouija boards?  Wait…it’s spelling out something….”Forget….about….it….”!