When we talk to groups–especially to people who aren’t ghost hunters–we hear more questions about Ouija boards than any other subject. Ouija boards have always been an interesting (and sometimes volatile) subject.
Several other professional ghost hunters have been speaking about the safety–and dangers–of Ouija boards. We’d like to reply, and raise a few questions of our own.
Claim: If you use a Ouija board, you’re asking for trouble.
Some professionals report that, when they’re called to investigate a serious haunting, they almost always discover that the homeowner had used a Ouija board. Therefore, they warn against Ouija boards.
We’d respectfully suggest that this is putting the cart before the horse.
If a haunting is severe enough to attract the attention of a professional ghost investigator or team, the homeowner has probably tried many other ways to deal with the problem… including local ghost hunters, folk remedies and Ouija boards.
In other words, the trouble was already there. The Ouija board is more often a symptom of a desperate situation, rather than its cause.
Claim: Psychics can be ghost hunters, but they shouldn’t conduct seances, etc.
Rather than outright disagree, we’d rather suggest that this is a semantic difference. Then again, maybe we’re too picky… or even misguided.
The problem is rarely the seance, table tipping, Ouija board, automatic writing, or other divinatory method. Researchers should be wary of beliefs and attitudes rather than the tools and practices.
For many psychics, the tools–including Ouija boards, Tarot cards, and so on–are only slightly different than EMF meters and EVP recorders. (However, we readily agree that there’s a big difference in the science of them.)
As long as you remain personally detached from the tools, the risks are generally minimal.
On the other hand, if anyone views the tools–even a voice recorder used for EVP–as “opening the door” to the unknown, the process becomes more invasive.
That’s where you may find psychological and parapsychological risks.
Don’t open spiritual doors
In general, we believe that investigators should avoid making any investigation personal.
Don’t open any doors–mental or physical–for entities to “speak through.” If the spirits want to communicate with you, it should be on the same terms as the living. We make it as easy as possible for them to speak to us through EVP, photos, and other measurable means.
Establish firm boundaries and know your limits
There are many shades of gray between scientific, external tools such as EMF meters and the very personal, psychic connection that many feel with Ouija boards and some other divinatory tools.
Some people induce the trance state to use a pendulum, Tarot cards, or a Ouija board. By definition, the trance state makes you vulnerable to suggestions outside yourself… and that includes messages and even commands from the spirit world.
The trance state should not be attempted by novice investigators, especially in haunted settings.
Many professional ghost hunters are professionally trained in the field of hypnosis. Follow their recommendations. They know when you’re vulnerable, and how to keep the paranormal in perspective.
Some people also add personal, spiritual meaning to certain divinatory tools. For example, a ghost hunter may consider the Ryder Tarot deck safe but the Crowley “Thoth” deck dangerous.
Likewise, dowsing rods may seem safe because they can be used to detect water, oil, or natural gas. However, a Ouija board appears dangerous because its only purpose is to communicate with–or on behalf of–spirits.
We advise against Ouija boards as a research tool, but not because they’re dangerous. We discuss that in another article, Ouija boards and ghost hunting.
Do Ouija boards work? Who do they actually contact? Do they permanently open a door to entities that don’t belong here, and could be dangerous?
We’re not sure.
But, we don’t believe that Ouija boards are dangerous. The risks begin when people use them as doorways to a realm that they don’t fully understand and aren’t able to close, if the experience becomes unpleasant.
Great post thank you, I have also sent this to twitter hope it helps you with traffic.
I’ve done a lot of research on ghost hunting. I have come to the conclusion that you are my very best resource in this field. I think your terrific. I wish you would come to the Houston area and give classes. I’d be on the front row and I wouldn’t be alone.
Thanks so much, Betty! I love hearing that from people. I’m sure I’ll be back in the Houston area in the future, and I’ll happily teach classes for you and my many friends in Texas. I look forward to it!
i haue realy horibble things happing at my house and need some one to investigate it .and need to c or speake to a tarot reader or sycic asap
Lou, If horrible things are happening at your house, a Tarot reader or psychic should not be your first consult. Instead, read related advice at this website, including ‘Possessed? Need help?‘ for the best resources to help intense situations.
I’ve been interested in the paranormal for quite some time now. I used to be absolutely terrified of it, mainly as a result of what I was taught when young. I figured the best way to conquer your fear is to face it head on, so I started watching shows, doing research, etc…, and this has really ‘opened my eyes’ to this area that I was once so afraid of. I definitely have a much better understanding of this, hence my interest in the paranormal now. I’ve found your site to be very helpful and loaded with information. Thank you so much for that.
I was wondering if you ever came to Canada? I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which is pretty much the center of Canada, so if you did come our way on a tour, please give us Canadians a heads up, as I’m sure the place would be packed. Thanks again for all you do. Take care.
Chris
Chris,
Thanks for your comment!
I spoke in Canada last May, but it was near Niagara. If I have an opportunity to speak in Canada again, I’ll look forward to meeting you!
Cheerfully,
Fiona
Question.
Using Ouija boards can be very dangerious. We don’t want to open doors we cannot close. Recently, our team has a debate going on. We all agree that Ouija boards and Tarot Cards are dangerious for those who don’t know how to use them properly. Some “new” members says that anything we use can be a divinition tool that contacts the dead including Electonic Voice Recorders when trying to get EVPS. Cameras, Video Cameras, EMF detectors, ect are all divinition tool when looking for and contacting the dead. It’s the same as using pendilums, Ouija boards. and tarot cards.
What is your thought on this?
Teenie.
Hi Teenie,
I’ve never heard a story of someone opening a door to something dangerous by using a voice recorder, etc. However, I’ve received hundreds of emails from people who used a Ouija board and regretted it because they summoned something scary.
I think we’re talking in terms of shades of gray (no pun intended) and I’d put Ouija boards at the dark end of the spectrum with cameras and voice recorders at the safer end.
Cheerfully,
Fiona
Ouija boards are extremely bad to use when trying to talk to spirits. The Ouija board is like a door that open and its a door that leads to hell. once the door is opened it is redicuously hard to shut. It invites demons and ghosts into your home and most likely will never leave, What ever you do, NEVER USE A OUIJA BOARD!!!
My problem with Ouija boards is you can never totally 100% be sure if it’s really a spirit moving the pointer and not one of the people involved.
My friends and I used a Ouija board a few times in our college dorm house. While we got some responses, I can’t say that I am sure they were real. I know I wasn’t moving it, but it’s curious that it doesn’t really work with just one person’s fingers on the pointer.