13 Dos and Don’ts to Know About Ouija Boards

A mystic board that allows you to communicate with spirits? Sounds dangerous. And fun.

What is a Ouija Board?

The Ouija board (also dubbed the “talking board”) debuted in the late 1800s, patented by the Kennard Novelty Company. The Ouija is a flat wooden board marked with numbers, letters, and the words “yes” and “no.” It comes with a planchette, a heart-shaped piece of wood used to spell out messages. This board is believed to allow people to communicate with the paranormal. The Ouija board gained popularity in the Spiritualist movement, and by 1886, it was used regularly by spiritualists.

However, the board has been heavily criticized by religious groups, who claim the board invites demons and evil spirits into users’ homes. Many discourage using the board for these reasons. Additionally, many accuse the board of being a complete sham. Despite this controversy, the board is used by mediums and spiritualists in modern-day.

Rules of the Ouija Board

Whether you believe in the board’s authenticity or not, you must proceed with caution if you dare to use the Ouija Board. Here, we compiled a list of dos and don’ts for using Ouija boards to help the brave (or foolish) souls who dare to try.

1. DON’T use a Ouija board alone. Isolating yourself can cause an overbalance of power and make you more vulnerable.
2. DO use the board in a group. Having two or more people means the paranormal won’t be as overwhelming. Plus, you know what they say: the more the merrier.
3. DON’T use the board when you are feeling under the weather. This makes you more susceptible to possession.
4. DO some grounding exercises before you begin. Try meditating and breathing exercises. This will keep you calm and create positive energy in your space.
5. DON’T taunt or antagonize the paranormal. They will get angry, and you will pay.
6. DO, if necessary, properly dispose of the Ouija. Don’t just throw the board in the trash. It will come back to haunt you. Instead, you may bury the board face down in cloth and cover the hole with salt. Or, you can donate it to someone else. Although we’re not entirely sure someone else would want it.
7. DON’T use the board in your home. You don’t want to risk having those spirits lingering in your vicinity.
8. DO light white candles. They bring positive energy and offer protection to the users.
9. DON’T use the board for longer than 15-30 minutes at a time. Using it for any longer than that may cause exhaustion for the users and lower the quality of communication with the dead.
10. DO contact a spiritual leader or paranormal expert if you run into any evil spirits. They’re the ones who know how to deal with these things.
11. DON’T force the planchette (A.K.A. the device that spells out words) to move. Lightly linger your fingers on the wood and allow movement to occur naturally. You don’t want to end up with any false messages.
12. DO cleanse the board with sage after use. This will help remove any lingering ghosts or bad energy from the board.
13. DON’T forget to close your time with the board. Be polite and say “goodbye” to the spirits. Otherwise, they might stay behind to haunt you.

Conclusion

Follow the rules. If you decide to use the Ouija board, be smart about it. If not, say hello to your new roommates…A.K.A. the demons you just welcomed in your home. Good luck, and happy haunting!