Ouija

The Ouija board, sometimes called a talking board, is a flat board used to communicate with spirits during séances. It typically features the alphabet, the numbers 0–9, and the words YES, NO, and GOODBYE. A planchette, a small movable pointer, is placed on the board and moved around by participants’ fingertips to spell out messages.

The Ouija board emerged from the late 19th-century Spiritualist movement in the United States. Elijah Bond obtained a patent for a talking board in 1890, and production and branding were carried by companies such as the Kennard Novelty Company, later taken over by William Fuld, who marketed the boards widely. Parker Brothers began publishing editions in the 20th century, and after its 1991 acquisition, Hasbro owns the brand and continues to market the game.

Mechanism and interpretation: Movements of the planchette are generally attributed to the ideomotor effect, whereby unconscious muscle activity guides the pointer. Proponents sometimes claim contact with spirits or subconscious sources. There is no conclusive scientific evidence supporting supernatural phenomena, and results can be influenced by participants’ expectations and group dynamics.

In culture and safety: The Ouija board has appeared in literature, film, and folklore as a symbol of paranormal contact and psychological tension. Many religious and cultural traditions discourage its use. Psychologists warn that expectation, suggestion, and emotional state can lead to misleading results; users are advised to approach with critical thinking and to avoid use in vulnerable contexts.