Q. What is a "talking board?"
A. The term "talking board" is the
generic name for a message board with numbers, letters, & a movable message
indicator. The message indicator, touched lightly by one or more persons,
slides or pivots along the surface of the board to spell out words. Hence, the
name "talking board." There is debate about whether the messages come
from supernatural entities or are some form of psychological phenomenon
originating from the players. Boards using pendulums, fixed spinners, or
rolling balls, are not technically "talking boards" although they may
have the same effect. Talking boards are also referred to as Ouija boards,
witch boards, spirit boards, oracle boards, & most recently, channeling
boards. The name "Ouija" is a registered trademark for Parker
Brothers' William Fuld Talking Board Set.
Q. When was the first Ouija board invented?
A. The first "Ouija" board was
invented in 1890. Earlier talking boards (alphanumeric tables with rotating
pointers), date to the 1850's. We don't see true talking boards much before
that.
How
many different kinds of talking boards are there?
No
one really knows but it is safe to say hundreds, maybe thousands.
Q. Why are Ouija boards banned in England?
A. England has not banned Ouija boards. This is
a rumor that refuses to die. We are not aware of any countries that have
specifically banned Ouija boards. If you know differently, do contact us.
Please arm yourself with the specific laws, statutes, so that we may verify
them.
Q. Why are Ouija boards called witch boards?
A. To capitalize on the Ouija's reputation of
conjuring spirits & foretelling the future, some talking board
manufacturers added witches to their designs starting in the early 1900's.
Swamis were also a popular design. They were called oddly enough, "Swami
boards."
Q. Do witches use Ouija boards?
A. Ouijas are non-denominational. Anyone can use
a Ouija board.
Q. I'm a Wiccan, a witch-practitioner.
Real witches don't contact demons, we don't foretell the future, & we
don't look like the "witches" on Ouija boards, either.
A. We know that. You must remember that the
public's conception of witches was much different around the turn of the
century. We're just telling you why talking boards were called
"Witchboards," that's all.
Q. Do I need special training to use a Ouija
board?
A. Some find the directions on the box
sufficient. If you need more, have a look around the website. We've got lots
& lots of directions.
Q. Sometimes it is hard to find partners. Is it
OK to use the Ouija board alone?
A. Absolutely. Many people have great success
using the Ouija by themselves. (While we recommend that Ouija Boards not be
used, we ABSOLUTELY NEVER suggest doing it on your own.)
Q. How do I properly "open" & "close"
the board? Is a special ritual needed to avoid demonic influences?
A. Whether you need to do this or not is a
personal decision. There is certainly a lot of debate on the subject. Within
the last twenty years, the New Age movement has lent a unique perspective to
the use of the Ouija board. New Agers believe that the proper protocol when
channeling a spirit, is the same whether working alone or with the aid of an
instrument. Consequently, a session with the Ouija board should always begin
& end with a group of correct behaviors intended to strengthen one
psychically & to protect against any unfriendly "entities."
Q. What do the sun, moon, & people
in the corners of the Ouija board signify?
A. Traditionally, the sun (originally designed
as a full moon) means "YES" or conditions favorable. The waxing
crescent moon with the single star (the evening star, really the planet Venus,
representing enlightenment) means "NO" or conditions unfavorable. The
people in the lower corners don't mean much of anything & are just part of
the design. If the planchette cycles repeatedly to the sun & moon and/or
people below, it means the board is not cooperating. Try again later.
Q. What does the GOOD BYE on the board mean?
A. It means the same as when your friend hangs
up the telephone. When the planchette goes to GOOD BYE you need to stop your
session because no one is listening.
Q. Nowhere at the Museum of Talking Boards do
you mention the different types of spirits or how to be a medium. Why is this?
A. We are fully versed in the different schools
of Spiritualism/Spiritism, know the differences, & respect them all. We
felt, when creating our website, that it should not be about Spiritualism/Spiritism
or mediumship directly. This is not out of disrespect. There are so many
different spiritual beliefs that it is difficult to elaborate on one without
slighting the others. A comprehensive study of the subject is beyond the scope
of the Museum of Talking Boards.
Q. What is the proper way to dispose of my Ouija
board? Should I break it into seven pieces, say the Lord's Prayer, sprinkle it
with Holy Water, then burn it? What?
A. You may donate it to the Museum of Talking
Boards. Under no circumstances should you burn your Ouija. People can be
injured when proper fire precautions are ignored.
Q. What in the world is a psychograph?
A. Psychographs were early ancestors of Ouija
boards. They were also known as dial plates & Spiritscopes.
Q. What does ideomotor response mean?
A. Ideomotor response is the fancy-schmancy term
scientists use to say that you moved the message indicator yourself without
knowing that you did it.
Q. The Ouija Board won't work for me. Am I doing
something wrong?
A. Like many things in life, people sometimes
have better luck with the Ouija when working with a partner. Then again, some
may have no luck at all.
Q. What is the marker thingie called?
A.
The proper name is planchette (plan-'shet) from the French word for
"little plank." Some believe that the actual inventor's name was
Planchette. Wouldn't that be a coincidence? If French is hard for you, call it
a message indicator. Under no circumstances call it a carriage, center dome,
cursor, do-hickey, doo-dad, eye, fulcrum, glide, glider, guide, heart, letter
finder, locator, marker thingie, marker, mover, paddle, palmier, plachet,
plaque, planchard, plantain, platent, plinth, pointer, receptor, shuttle,
slider, seer, spade, speaker, stylist, stylus, triangle, or trivet. That is
considered very bad form. And whatever you do, never, ever call
it a "puck." If you don't know why, we suggest you look that word up
in your dictionary. On second thought, call it anything you please. If it
sounds interesting & enough people use it, we will eventually list it here.
Q. Since using my Ouija board I have been
hearing voices & seeing weird things. What should I do?
A. Stop using your Ouija immediately! You know
who you must see. Go pronto!
Q. How do you pronounce the word
"Ouija?"
A. The proper pronunciation is 'wE-ja, but you
may also use the more colloquial 'wE-jE. Totally inappropriate are: oh-jee,
oh-ja, oh-jar and hoo-jee.
Q. Ouija is a combination of the French and
German words for "Yes" right?
A. The answer to this question is
"YESYES" and "NONO."
Q. Should I light candles before using a Ouija
Board?
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