A question often asked of me is regarding the issue of using an Ouija board to summon Spirits. What I talk about in the Mediumship Training handbook, is that using the Ouija board is no more dangerous than using other divination tools such as the Tarot, a pendulum, rune stones, or the act of table tipping. A commonly held belief is that roving Spirits will attach themselves to the hapless group and something terrible will always happen. Not true! A lot of this is the product of Hollywood movies or television, the clergy and unfortunately, some in the paranormal field who parrot what they’ve heard.
In some rare cases, it may well be that earthbound spirits are attracted to a group and out of curiosity, crash the session. Some are well intentioned and some are not. And, the notion that someone will inadvertently summon demons from hell is ridiculous. If the correct procedures and precautions are observed, all will be well and contacting spirits can be a rewarding endeavor. Like attracts like, so if someone in the group is afraid or putting out vibes that evil beings will appear, may want to rethink participating. If the group, even if it consists of two people, have the right intentions and work with the energy of Light, there should be no problem.
The way groups can keep any malicious spirit from coming in is to always perform the essential basics of grounding, creating a bubble field of light around the participants and calling in protection from the highest guides and angels. I use Archangel Michael as one of my main protectors. I also call in my Gatekeeper (my designated guide assigned with the task of ushering in only friendly spirits).
Skeptics, the Clergy, and the Movies
Many paranormal researchers advise against the use of the Ouija board, suggesting that it can be a portal for negative or demonic beings slip through from unknown dimensions. Skeptics might claim answers from the Ouija come directly from the subconscious mind or stem from personal desires of the users. Many in the Clergy warn about bringing into play an Ouija board. Certain church groups will either sternly forbid the use of it on pain of going to hell and suffer eternal damnation, or call it satanic–a tool of the devil. I saw one interview on television in which a clergyman maintained contact received with an Ouija board will usually start off with a pleasant tone and then become very negative. True, I won’t deny that this could happen. I call these spirits who might interfere with a well intentioned session, BOGUS spirits. They will appear sweet and friendly at first and then watch out! If spirits are called in only for the highest and best for all concerned, the session will be a positive experience. If a group of two or more are looking for entertainment or something to do on a Saturday night, results can be less than satisfactory. All participants should be well versed on how to safely use the board.
Hollywood has helped create fear about using the Ouija. Think back to the book and eventual movie, The Exorcist. And, numerous other shows depict a situation where a group of people, often in their teens, getting on a board and having negative entities come through. Those who become obsessed with the board and for the wrong reasons may start relying on it for constant guidance and to make their life decisions for them. The truth is that although the Ouija is a tool, we must still learn to stand on our own feet and become confident with our own internal intuition. There is no psychic, spirit guide, or anyone else that has all the answers for us. except for the divine source, which many call God, Mother/Father God, or Great Spirit, which can do this for us (dependent upon your religion).
The Most Spiritual Moment of My Life
I happened to get on the board quite frequently in the 1980’s with a dear friend who was extremely proficient in using it. She moved the planchette so quickly and interpreted the words at such a rapid clip, I had a hard time keeping my hands on the planchette. As we always started the session with a prayer, this time she had me say the prayer. I said my prayer asking for the highest teachers to some through. All of a sudden, I felt as though I was out of my body. I was permeated by the most loving feelings imaginable. The epiphany at that moment was the absolute knowledge that nothing on earth was anything to be concerned about. In fact, all my fears at the time were totally dissolved. Tears of joy were running down my face. I felt a complete bliss and a connectedness which I had never experienced before nor since. I realized what heaven could really be and it helped alleviate any fears I might have had about dying. It was almost like a near death experience and was really quite comforting to know what’s in store for us when we cross over. The feeling has I had that day cannot fully be described to any one. I wish I could. I only know I will remember this for the rest of my days.
Why Use the Ouija at All?
The board is a great way to make a direct link with the other side, or what we call the astral plane where spirits reside. We can always utilize our spirit helper (the one who assists us in connecting with spirits in the astral plane) to help bring the communications through. I believe, however, the best way to contact spirits is in a development circle or ongoing séances. The Ouija board can be used for channeling from higher entities or a collective group of spiritual teachers. The Michael group, renowned for bringing to the world the spiritual “The Michael Teachings” (not anything to do with Archangel Michael), started channeling messages through an Ouija board.
Dangers Outlined Here Should Be Well Heeded
Although Ouija boards are viewed by some to be a simple toy, there are many people who believe they can be harmful, even dangerous. Those opposed to the use of Ouija boards claim that the board facilitates contact with evil spirits or demons, who masquerade as cooperative ghosts or dead loved ones, then proceed to trick players into becoming spiritually possessed. Others claim that evil spirits or demons can cause a user to start using the Ouija board as though it were a drug, eventually ignoring personal relationships and obligations.
The use of a Ouija board has also been claimed to cause users to go insane. As early as 1924, Harry Houdini wrote that five people from Carrito, California were driven insane by using a board. That same year, Carl Wickland reported that "the serious problem of alienation and mental derangement attending ignorant psychic experiments was first brought to my attention by cases of several persons whose seemingly harmless experiences with automatic writing and the Ouija board resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated." In 1944, occultist Manly P. Hall, the founder of the Philosophical Research Society and an authority on the occult during the early twentieth century, stated in Horizon magazine that, "during the last 20-25 years I have had considerable personal experience with persons who have complicated their lives through dabbling with the Ouija board. Out of every hundred such cases, at least 95 are worse off for the experience." He went on to say that, "I know of broken homes, estranged families, and even suicides that can be traced directly to this source." Ouija board users have reported experiences of depression, hearing voices, and seeing apparitions after using the Ouija board. Suicides, and occasional murders are sometimes attributed to Ouija board use. Psychic Susy Smith claimed in her 1971 autobiography, "Confessions of a Psychic," that use of a Ouija board caused her to become mentally disturbed.
Spiritualists often use protective rituals before using the Ouija board, in order to lower the risk of attracting "low level entities." Visualization, the use of incense, and a call to spirit guides are all common methods of protection. Many spiritualists believe that "like attracts like"—those that use the Ouija board while intoxicated or those that possess a great deal of negativity will attract similar, low level spirits from the other side, increasing the risk of negative experiences.
Whether one believes that the Ouija contacts spirits or is merely a vehicle to probe one's own subconscious, there are psychological risks to using the board. During Ouija sessions, it is common to receive vulgar or vile messages, as well as messages that tap into the users' fear of death. These messages can be highly disturbing to some, no matter what their source, and have the potential to exacerbate any existing mental disturbances. It is well advised that those with emotional or psychological disturbances refrain from the use of the Ouija.
More Words of Caution!
Although the Ouija is a doorway to contact the world of Spirit, just like any other divination tool, it needs to be used correctly. It is not a parlor game as the game makers of the board would like you to believe. It is also not for someone who is not adept at knowing how to prepare to enter the realm of Spirits. Always always always, use grounding, protection, and asking your guides and angels to help. You don' want to open a portal to just any old Spirit in the area. You want to make sure you are contacting a Spirit of the light who has only loving intentions.
I risk being rude here, but amateurs should definitely stay off the Ouija board--especially susceptible teenagers.
How to Safely Use the Ouija Board
• Never use the board alone or with someone who is negative
• Never use as an adult party game or give to kids to play with
• Alcohol and drugs consumed just before a session are a big No No
• Always perform the basic protection preparations and remember to say a prayer
• Say a prayer (any loving prayer will do if said with conviction)
• Set the intention of the session by stating, “We are commencing this session for the highest and best for all involved. Negative energies are not welcome.
• Call in Gatekeeper guides (your protections guides) and formally open the session
• Call in Spirits of the light who wish to communicate
• Be aware of any changes in the atmosphere of the room. If a heavy or seemingly negative energy seeps in, stop the session immediately!
• When done with the session, some people who use the board regularly advise sliding the planchette to ‘GOODBYE’ and removing all hands. Officially close the board by stating, “This session is now ended”. This is a very important step. Put the board away in a closet somewhere.
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