planchettes

Planchettes are small writing devices used in conjunction with talking boards, such as Ouija boards, to facilitate communication during séances and other spiritualist practices. Typically, a planchette is made of wood or plastic, heart-shaped or triangular, and is supported by three short legs. A pencil, pen, or stylus is mounted on the bottom, angled to glide over a flat surface marked with letters, numbers, or a grid.

History and use: Planchettes emerged in the 19th century within spirit-writing and séance culture as a tool to help produce legible messages from supposed spiritual sources. On a marked board, the planchette is lightly placed on the surface and moved—often perceived by participants as guided by a spirit—so that letters and words spell out messages. In practice, many movements are attributed to the ideomotor effect, a psychological phenomenon in which small, unconscious muscle movements create the impression of external guidance.

Design and variants: Modern planchettes vary in shape and material but share the three-legged configuration and a bottom writing point. Some are integrated into electronic or themed boards, while others remain standalone devices used on plain surfaces.

Reception and interpretation: Planchettes are central to popular depictions of spirit communication and table-turning but are also a focal point for skepticism. Scientific explanations emphasize subconscious motor activity and social influence as explanations for the apparent movement, rather than supernatural agency.

See also: Ouija board, automatic writing, spirit writing, ideomotor effect.