A Ouija Board, also known as a "Spirit Board", is any flat surface printed with letters, numbers, and other symbols, that is used to answer questions from people at a séance. The participants place their fingertips on a planchette or some other movable indicator that then moves around the board to spell out messages.
EditSteps
EditPrintable Board
EditPaper Boards
EditMethod 1: Written
- Cover a large piece of paper with letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0-9 and the words "Yes", "No", "Hello" and "Goodbye".
- Lay the letters in a circle, putting a sun in the top left hand corner and next to that the word "yes". On the right side put a moon, and next to that put the word "no" then put the numbers outside the circle on a table. Use a tumbler turned upside down on top of the paper as a pointer.
- Sit around the table with a couple of friends. Each of you place one hand lightly on the up-turned glass. Decide who will ask the questions. Another person could be taking notes.
EditMethod 2: Cut
- Start by writing out all of the letters in one or two rows, making sure that the characters are large enough to read.
- In the row below that write the numbers 0-9.
- Write out “Yes”, “No” and “Goodbye” symbols, which will make communicating with the spirits easier. You can add any other phrases you wish.
- Cut out the characters, numbers, words, and phrases.
- Adhere them with glue to the paper according to your desired layout.
- To make the pointer slide, you can make it a smooth surface. Glass or sheet protector should be fine!
- Voila! You are ready to have your first talking board seance!
EditWood Boards
- Get your materials. You'll need a wood board, sanded and smooth. You'll also need paint, varnish (or another clear coating), and a soldering iron (with a calligraphy tip or similar). Pencil and paper will also help.
- Practice. Soldering irons are a little tricky. Practice on some scrap wood first so that you can see how slow you need to go and how hard you need to press. It will also give you the chance to figure how to move it in order to get different shapes.
- Get your board prepped. Make sure the wood is clean and smooth.
- Draw out your design. You can draw the design free-hand or you can use a "cheat", such as printing the characters onto transfer paper or you can purchase ink stamps from a craft store.
- Make sure the designs are not too small or detailed, especially if you do not have a lot of experience with a soldering iron.
- Go over the designs with the soldering iron. Draw over the design with the iron. Don't rush yourself. Look at it in different lights to be sure that it looks right.
- Let it cool and clean the surface. Let the burned areas cool and then brush off any excess material. Erase pencil marks and other marks and gently wipe the whole surface with a lightly damp cloth. Let it dry before going on.
- Varnish the surface. The varnish or other clear coating will create the smooth surface necessary to make the planchette work. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for whatever finish you decide to use. You will likely need to do several coats and each one takes a long time to dry correctly. Set aside plenty of time for this project.
- Add further details. You can paint on even more details once the varnish has dried completely. Details are best painted on in the second to last layer of varnish, so long as it is clear and not colored.
EditDesigning Your Board
- Choose your layout. There are a number of ways that you can lay out your board. The design isn't so important, so long as you have all of the necessary symbols. You need to include at least the letters of the alphabet, numbers 0-9, and the words "yes","no", and "farewell".
- Use the traditional layout if you want to. This is where the letters are written out in two slightly-arced lines at the center, with yes/no above and the numbers and farewell below.
- You could also use a diamond layout. In this design, the letters are written in a diamond shape, with each of the four points lining up with the center of that side of the board. The numbers are written inside this diamond and the corners are allocated for the words (allowing for an additional phrase, like "not now").
- You could also try a circular layout. This design is similar to the diamond, but uses an oval shape instead.
- Choose your font. Choose a font which fits with the design of your ouija board. Gothic fonts are good choices, as are many Western-themed fonts. You can, however, choose whatever you like best. Write some test text in a word editor to get an idea of what you think looks best.
- Choose your embellishments. Many believe it's a good idea to add certain symbols to the corners or other location on your board. Beliefs vary, but common symbols include: the moon, sun, and stars; the symbols for the elements; the symbols for the planets; and symbols or images in neurologically significant quantities (12, 13, 7, 3, etc).
- You can also embellish your board with physical objects, such as set spots for candles, attached stones (quartz is good for this purpose), or places to put the elements (a bowl of water, a branch, etc).
- Choose your colors. Choose a color scheme for your board. Darker, earth tones tend to be better at calling forth the spirits, but if you're looking to contact particularly cheerful spirits, there's nothing wrong with using colors you think they'd prefer. If you're trying to contact someone in particular, try their favorite color.
- Try to use colors that contrast well. You want to be able to see your text easily.
- Choose your planchette. You'll need a planchette (the device where you place your hands) in order to use your ouija board. You can rescue one from a random set you find at a dollar store, or you can make your own.
EditVideo
EditTips
- Some people believe that the spirits are real and that if you are not careful you can upset the spirits around you and get an unwelcome visitor in your home. Treat the board with respect if you're concerned about this. Imagine a pure white light surrounding you for protection.
- If things start to get scary, like things moving, or general poltergeist activity, it would be safe to stop for the night.
- If you or your friends are nervous, tired or unwell.. Do not use the board. Anything that ends up at the board can sense what you're feeling, and you may end up with a demon. As long as you're all confident and well you should be fine.
- When an angry spirit comes to play, say a prayer and get off for the night. you may not believe in evil spirits but don't disrespect people who do! Just stay calm and remember its your board not theirs.
- Remember, you are in control and there is nothing to be afraid of but fear itself.
- The quality of the answers you receive while using the Ouija Board will depend on the quality of the questions asked. Ask a serious question and you will get a serious answer. Ask a silly question and you will get a silly answer.
- No one can agree on whether Ouija is real or not. Some believe it calls on spirits from beyond to answer questions, while others believe that subconsciously, you move the glass. Keep an open mind and remember to respect the beliefs of others.
- When you are done, put the pointer on goodbye and then fold up the board. Some believe it is preferable not to leave it open.
- To make your talking board using some traditional talking board-style letters, visit Harold's Fonts for some free downloads. Three ouija fonts that are available are Cap'n Howdy, Mystick Prophet, and Sideshow. You certainly don't have to limit yourself to these three, however, as there are hundreds to choose from.
EditWarnings
- The real danger is when you ask for physical proof of the existence of the spirits you attempt to contact. When you "ask for a sign", you literally open a door between the physical and spiritual world and allow the spirits to enter. As a result, future problems can and often do arise.
- Just remember that the homemade ouija boards that are made of wood tend to work better than those of paper. If the paper is bent or folded, the spirits will be appalled and stay away. This is a good thing when you are too afraid to play but a friend keeps bugging you. All you have to do is bend the paper and not tell them that it would not work then.
- Any attempts to communicate with the dead or other spirits should not be taken lightly (in other words do not attempt to speak with certain spirit in particular, let them come to you, never ask for a spirit to come)and should not be done by the inexperienced. There are plenty of stories on the net. Take some time and read some of them before considering playing with an ouija.
- Scientifically, there is, of course, no evidence that the above 2 points apply, since the words are formed in the subconscious of the user rather than 'spiritual intervention' (or, in some cases, deliberately by the user as a trick to others). Hence, although the results can be surprising, scientific evidence would suggest they arise in the user in a process similar to dreams or hallucinations.
EditThings You'll Need
- A pair of scissors, a sheet of cardboard or card stock, a pen or a marker, glue.
EditRelated wikiHows
- How to Use a Ouija Board
- How to Solve the Ouija Board Mystery
- How to Play Candy Land
- How to Make a Planchette
EditSources and Citations
- http://ift.tt/1yu4n7J - An experiment was carried out in order to prove that the Ouija Board is in fact a game.
- http://ift.tt/13PpyCx
- The Museum of Talking Boards - By far, the best site about talking boards around. They have excellent photographs of various types of talking boards and extensive background information. http://ift.tt/1yu4n7N
- http://ift.tt/1yu4n7O
- About the Author: Denise Alvarado is a mystical artist and freelance writer specializing in wellness, self-improvement, Native American issues, cultural psychology, and metaphysical concepts. Visit her website, http://ift.tt/1yu4pwq to view her gallery and for free articles on a variety of topics.