Difference between revisions of "Ouija board" - New World Encyclopedia

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Ouija (Wē'jə, -jē) is the belief that one can receive messages during a séance by the Ouija board (also called talking board, spirit board) and planchette. The fingers of the participants are placed on the planchette which then moves about a board covered with numbers, letters and symbols so as to spell out messages.

Ouija is a trademark for a talking board currently sold by Parker Brothers. While the word is not a genericized trademark, it has become a trademark which is often used generically to refer to any talking board.

Etymology

The term "Ouija" is derived from the French "oui" (for "yes") and the German/Dutch "ja" (also for "yes"). An alternative story suggests the name was revealed to inventor Charles Kennard during a Ouija séance and was claimed to be an Ancient Egyptian word meaning "good luck." It has also been suggested the word was inspired by the name of the Moroccan city Oujda.

Despite its common usage, "Ouija" is a registered trademark.

History

According to some sources, the first historical mention of something resembling a Ouija board is found in China around 1200 B.C.E., a divination method known as Fu Ji (扶乩). Other sources claim that according to a French historical account of the philosopher Pythagoras, in 540B.C.E. his sect would conduct seances at "a mystic table, moving on wheels, moved towards signs, which the philosopher and his pupil, Philolaus, interpreted to the audience as being revelations supposedly from an unseen world." ^[1]. However, other sources call both claims into dispute, claiming that Fu Ji is spirit writing, not the use of a spirit board, and that there is no record of Pythagoras or his students actually having used this method of achieving oracles or divinations. [1] In addition, the claim of ancient Greek use is called into doubt by questions of historical accuracy, as Philolaus was never the pupil of Pythagoras, and indeed was born roughly twenty-five years after Pythagoras's death.

The first undisputed use of the talking boards came with the Spiritualism movement in The United States in the mid-19th century. Methods of divination at that time used various ways to spell out messages, including swinging a pendulum over a plate that had letters around the edge or using an entire table to indicate letters drawn on the floor. Often used was a small wooden tablet supported on casters. This tablet, called a planchette, was affixed with a pencil that would write out messages in a fashion similar to automatic writing. These methods may predate modern Spiritualism.

During the late 1800s, planchettes were widely sold as a novelty. In February 10, 1891, businessmen Elijah Bond and Charles Kennard had the idea to patent a planchette sold with a board on which the alphabet was printed, and thus had invented the first Ouija board. Bond was an attorney and inventor of other objects. An employee of Kennard, William Fuld took over the talking board production and in 1901, he started production of his own boards under the name "Ouija" * [2].

The Fuld name would become synonymous with the Ouija board, as Fuld reinvented its history, claiming that he himself had invented it. Countless talking boards from Fuld's competitors flooded the market and all these boards enjoyed a heyday from the 1920s through the 1960s. Fuld sued many companies over the "Ouija" name and concept right up until his death in 1927. In 1966, Fuld's estate sold the entire business to Parker Brothers, who continues to hold all trademarks and patents. About 10 brands of talking boards are sold today under various names [3].

Usage

Skeptic and magician James Randi, in his book An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural, points out that when blindfolded, Ouija board operators are unable to produce intelligible messages.^[2] Magicians Penn & Teller performed a similar demonstration in an episode of their television show Bullshit! in which the operators moved the planchette into what they thought was the positions of "yes" and "no" without knowing that the board was turned upside-down, which caused them to move the planchette into blank spaces on the board.

Those who believe Ouija boards can be used to make actual contact with the spirit world feel that the act of hindering a medium’s ability to use his or her own eyes while the board is in use effectively places too great of a handicap on the whole exercise. (This argument stems from the belief that contacted spirits actually utilize the eyes of the medium during a Ouija session in order to point to the letters and words needed to form a message. Most supporters of this theory believe that the board has no intrinsic power in and of itself, but rather, is used simply as a tool to aid a medium while in communication with the spirit world.)^[3]

Criticism of Ouija boards

Although Ouija boards are viewed by some to be a simple toy, there are people who believe they can be harmful, including Edgar Cayce, who called them "dangerous."^[4] Critics warn that "evil demons" pretend to be cooperative ghosts in order to trick players into becoming spiritually possessed.

Some practitioners claim to have had bad experiences related to the use of talking boards by being haunted by "demons," seeing apparitions of spirits, and hearing voices after using them. A few paranormal researchers, such as John Zaffis, claim that the majority of the worst cases of so-called demon harassment and possession are caused by the use of Ouija boards. The American demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, stated that "Ouija boards are just as dangerous as drugs."^[5] They further state that "séances and Ouija boards and other occult paraphernalia are dangerous because 'evil spirits' often disguise themselves as your loved ones—and take over your life."^[6]

In 1944, occultist Manly P. Hall, the founder of the Philosophical Research Society and an early authority on the occult in the 20th century, stated in Horizon magazine that, "during the last 20-25 years I have had considerable personal experience with persons who have complicated their lives through dabbling with the Ouija board. Out of every hundred such cases, at least 95 are worse off for the experience." He went on to say that, "I know of broken homes, estranged families, and even suicides that can be traced directly to this source."^[7]

Many Christians hold the belief that using a Ouija board allows communication with demons, which they say is Biblically forbidden as a form of divination.^[8] Some people who claim to have been oppressed by evil spirits after using a board say that they could only get rid of these problems after Christian deliverance.^[9] Many Christians believe that no dead person's soul can be summoned, and that the only summoned spirits are demons who are trying to harm humans.^[10]

As early as 1924, Harry Houdini wrote that five people from Carrito, California were driven insane by using a board.^[11] That same year, Dr. Carl Wickland in his book stated that "the serious problem of alienation and mental derangement attending ignorant psychic experiments was first brought to my attention by cases of several persons whose seemingly harmless experiences with automatic writing and the Ouija board resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated."^[12]

The former medical director of the State Insane Asylum of New Jersey, Dr. Curry, stated that the Ouija board was a "dangerous factor" in unbalancing the mind and believed that if their popularity persisted insane asylums would be filled with people who used them.^[13]

Decades later, in 1965, parapsychologist Martin Ebon in his book Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult, states that "it all may start harmlessly enough, perhaps with a Ouija board," which will, "bring startling information... establishing credibility or identifying itself as someone who is dead. It is common that people... as having been 'chosen' for a special task." He continues, "Quite often the Ouija turns vulgar, abusive or threatening. It grows demanding and hostile, and sitters may find themselves using the board compulsively, as if 'possessed' by a spirit, or hearing voices that control or command them."^[14]

In her 1971 autobiography, the psychic Susy Smith said, "Warn people away from Ouija and automatic writing. I experienced many of the worst problems of such involvement. Had I been forewarned by reading that such efforts might cause one to run the risk of being mentally disturbed, I might have been more wary."^[15]

Additionally, the late Roman Catholic priest Malachi Martin believed talking boards are dangerous and claimed that by using these devices a person opens themselves to demonic oppression or possession, topics upon which Martin spoke and wrote extensively for many years.^[16]

Literature

Talking boards have become an iconic part of culture, demonstrated by their appearances in many books and movies. Their roles in such vary from being a benign object to an evil entity. A more peculiar role of talking boards in literature stems from authors using the board to channel complete written works from the deceased.

In the early 1900s, St. Louis housewife Pearl Curran used her Ouija board communications with the ubiquitous spirit Patience Worth to publish a number of poems and prose. Pearl claimed that all of the writings came to her through séances, which she allowed the public to attend. In 1917 writer Emily G. Hutchings believed she had communicated with and written a book dictated by Mark Twain from her Ouija board. Twain's living descendants went to court to halt publication of the book that was later determined to be so poorly written that it could not have been written by Twain dead or alive.

Since the 1970s, author Jane Roberts has transcribed text channeled from what she described as an "energy personality essence" named Seth. Topics attributed to Seth discuss the nature of physical reality, the origins of the universe, the theory of evolution, the many-worlds interpretation, the Christ story, and the purpose of life among other subjects and form a collection of more than 10 books and a number of videos and audio recordings.

Author John Fuller used a Ouija board in his research for his 1976 book The Ghost of Flight 401. As he was skeptical of its effectiveness, he worked with a medium and claimed they both contacted Don Repo, the flight engineer on the flight which crashed into the Everglades en route to Miami. According to Fuller, the information divined described facts that neither he nor the medium previously knew.

More recently, Pulitzer Prize winning poet James Merrill used a Ouija board and recorded what he claimed were messages from a number of deceased persons. He combined these messages with his own poetry in The Changing Light at Sandover (1982).

Ouija in popular culture

In the movie Awakenings, encephalitis patient Leonard Lowe communicates a message to Dr. Malcolm Sayer through the use of a Ouija board.
In the movie The Exorcist, a young girl uses a Ouija board to contact a spirit called Captain Howdy (actually an ancient demon named Pazuzu who soon possesses her).
In the movie Long Time Dead, a group of friends accidentally unleash a demon by playing with a Ouija board. [4] [5] [6]
In the 1994 movie Only You, Faith learns the name of "her soulmate" while playing on a Ouija board with her brother.
In the film What Lies Beneath, a character played by Michelle Pfeiffer uses a Ouija Board, believing it will help her to communicate with spirits that are haunting her home.
In the movie Witchboard, a woman is harassed by an evil spirit after she ignores warnings not to use a Ouija board while alone.
In the TV series Charmed, a Ouija board is often used to communicate with spirits. In the first episode, the sisters discover they are witches after using a Ouija board found in the attic of their home.
In an episode of Futurama, upon hearing that Leela believed she could contact the dead, Professor Farnsworth told her that her head might be "acting as a five-pound Ouija board".
In an episode of Supernatural, Sam uses a Ouija board to contact Dean's spirit.
In an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Shake commits suicide in order to enter Meatwad's Video Ouija game so that he can terrorize him.
In an issue of Simpsons Comics, Bart goes to a camp and raises spirits with a Ouija board.
Morrissey sings a song called "Ouija board, Ouija board."
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, the "Destiny Board" cards feature a Ouija board. In the anime, Bakura used these cards in his duel against Yugi in the Battle City Finals.
In an episode of Kyle XY, Kyle uses a Ouija board to figure out his birthday.
The use of a Ouija board is a key plot point in the Egyptian horror movie Ouija.
In Steve Berman's young adult novel Vintage: A Ghost Story, the narrator uses a Ouija board to contact several dead boys.
The hip-hop/rap group Bone Thugs N Harmony have several references to "Mr. Ouija" in their songs.
In Stephen King's novel The Stand, the character Nadine Cross uses a Ouija board to receive instructions from Randall Flagg.
In an episode of House, a patient gets sick after a Ouija board tells him he will die.
Calvin and Hobbes use a Ouija board to ask whether Calvin may become President. The Ouija board answers, "God forbid". They also ask how the board knows so much. The board "answered" "3", prompting Calvin to say "You know, I didn't ask for this for Christmas. I asked for a computer."
In an episode of The A-Team, Murdock uses a Ouija board to communicate with the spirit world for advice.
In the movie Stormbreaker, Alan Blunt claims the British Government would sooner trust a Ouija board than British Intelligence.
In an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus, police officers try to use a Ouija board to solve crimes. The board returns the message "U-P Y-O-U-R-S", to which one officer responds, "What a rude Ouija board!"
In an episode of "The Drew Carey Show", Drew and his friends use a Ouija board as way to retrieve some alchohol.
In the first segment, "The Prophecy", of the third episode of the first season of "Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction", the three protagonists use a Ouija to conjure an evil spirit.
Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist of Metallica has a guitar which has an Ouijaboard design on the body.

Notable users

GK Chesterton used a Ouija board. Around 1893 he had gone through a crisis of skepticism and depression, and during this period Chesterton experimented with the Ouija board and grew fascinated with the occult. [7]

Alice Cooper claims that an Ouija Board suggested that he was the reincarnation of a 17th century witch with the name Alice Cooper, and thus the band's name "Alice Cooper".

Aleister Crowley advocated the use of Ouija boards, and they played a major role in many of his magickal workings. ^[17] ^[18]

Poet James Merrill used a Ouija board for years, and even encouraged entrance of spirits into his body. He wrote the poem The Changing Light at Sandover with the help of a Ouija board. Before he died, he recommended people not to use Ouija boards.^[19]

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi held a séance in 1978 with other professors at the University of Bologna in which a Ouija board spelled the word Gradoli. This turned out to be the name of a street in Rome where a Red Brigades safe house was located. ^[20]

Bill Wilson the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous used the Ouija Board to contact spirits.^[21] His wife said that he would get messages directly without even using the board.^[22]For a while, his participation in A.A was deeply affected by his involvment with the Ouija board. Wilson claimed that he received the twelve step method directly from a spirit without the board and wrote it down.^[23]

The investigators of Most Haunted have been known to use Ouija Boards.

Footnotes

↑ Melton, J. Gordon (1996). Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology (4th ed.). Gale Research. ISBN 0-8103-9487-1
↑ Randi, James, "An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural", St. Martin's Press, 1995. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
↑ Museum of Talking Boards
↑ An American Prophet, Sidney D. Kirkpatrick, Riverhead Books, 2000
↑ Graveyard Ed and Lorraine Warren, 1992, pages 137-138
↑ Graveyard Ed and Lorraine Warren, 1992, pages 137-138
↑ Horizon Magazine, Manly P. Hall, October-December 1944, pages 76-77
↑ Contemporary Christian Divination, by Bob DeWaay
↑ Dialog with a Demon, by Lona Kay
↑ The Ouija Board:A Doorway to the Occult, Edmund C. Gruss, P & R Publishing, Chapter 3, 1994.
↑ A Magician Among the Spirits, Harry Houdini, Harper, 1924
↑ Thirty years Among the Dead, Dr. Carl Wickland, 1934
↑ Edmund The Ouija Board: Doorway to the Occult, Edmund C. Gruss, Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois 1995 page 75.
↑ Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult, Martin Ebon
↑ Confessions of a Psychic, Susy Smith, 1971
↑ Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Americans, Malachi Martin, 1976
↑ Cornelious, J. Edward Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board. 2005 ISBN 1-932595-10-4
↑ Mini site for Cornelious, J. Edward’s book, Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board, http://feralhouse.com/press/mini_sites/ouija/
↑ Ouija: The Most Dangerous Game, Stoker Hunt, Chapter 6, pages 44-50.
↑ The London Independent, by Peter Popham, December 2, 2005
↑ Pass It On, New York A. A., 1984, page 278.
↑ Pass It On, New York A. A., 1984, pages 278-279.
↑ Pass It On, New York A. A., 1984, pages 196-197.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Books

Cornelious, J. Edward Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board. 2005 ISBN 1-932595-10-4 [8]
Gruss, Edmond C. The Ouija Board: A Doorway to the Occult 1994 ISBN 0-87552-247-5
Hunt, Stoker. Ouija: The Most Dangerous Game. 1992 ISBN 0-06-092350-4

External links

External links of sites with information on talking boards

External links skeptical of talking boards

The Skeptics' Dictionary: Ouija
An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural
How does a Ouija board work? from The Straight Dope

External links critical of talking boards

Evangelical Outreach "Dangers of Ouija Boards"
Ouija Boards Are Evil — religious site
New York City Cop Points Out Dangers Of Ouija Board
Ouija Board Website

Credits

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Ouija ^history

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

History of "Ouija board"

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[1] Melton, J. Gordon (1996). Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology (4th ed.). Gale Research. ISBN 0-8103-9487-1

[2] Randi, James, "An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural", St. Martin's Press, 1995. Retrieved 2007-03-28.

[3] Museum of Talking Boards

[4] An American Prophet, Sidney D. Kirkpatrick, Riverhead Books, 2000

[5] Graveyard Ed and Lorraine Warren, 1992, pages 137-138

[6] Graveyard Ed and Lorraine Warren, 1992, pages 137-138

[7] Horizon Magazine, Manly P. Hall, October-December 1944, pages 76-77

[8] Contemporary Christian Divination, by Bob DeWaay

[9] Dialog with a Demon, by Lona Kay

[10] The Ouija Board:A Doorway to the Occult, Edmund C. Gruss, P & R Publishing, Chapter 3, 1994.

[11] A Magician Among the Spirits, Harry Houdini, Harper, 1924

[12] Thirty years Among the Dead, Dr. Carl Wickland, 1934

[13] Edmund The Ouija Board: Doorway to the Occult, Edmund C. Gruss, Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois 1995 page 75.

[14] Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult, Martin Ebon

[15] Confessions of a Psychic, Susy Smith, 1971

[16] Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Americans, Malachi Martin, 1976

[17] Cornelious, J. Edward Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board. 2005 ISBN 1-932595-10-4

[18] Mini site for Cornelious, J. Edward’s book, Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board, http://feralhouse.com/press/mini_sites/ouija/

[19] Ouija: The Most Dangerous Game, Stoker Hunt, Chapter 6, pages 44-50.

[20] The London Independent, by Peter Popham, December 2, 2005

[21] Pass It On, New York A. A., 1984, page 278.

[22] Pass It On, New York A. A., 1984, pages 278-279.

[23] Pass It On, New York A. A., 1984, pages 196-197.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Claimed}}
+{{Started}}{{Claimed}}
 [[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 [[Category:Religion]]
+{{Cleanup|February 2007}}
-{{Redirect5|Ouija board|the spiritual device|Ouija}}
-{{Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
-| horsename = Ouija Board
-| image =
-| caption =
-| sire = Cape Cross
-| grandsire = Green Desert
-| dam = Selection Board
-| damsire = Welsh Pageant
-| sex = [[Mare (horse)|Mare]]
-| foaled = 2001
-| country = [[United Kingdom]]
-| colour = [[Bay (color)|Bay]]
-| breeder = Stanley Estate & Stud Co.
-| owner = [[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby|Lord Derby]]
-| trainer = [[Ed Dunlop]]
-| record = 22:10-3-5
-| earnings = $5,787,390
-| race = [[Epsom Oaks]] (2004)<br>[[Irish Oaks]] (2004)<br>[[Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf]] (2004 & 2006)<br>[[Princess Royal Stakes]] (2005)<br>[[Hong Kong Vase]] (2005)<br>[[Prince of Wales's Stakes]] (2006)<br>[[Nassau Stakes]] (2006)
-| awards = [[Cartier Racing Award|European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly]] (2004)<br>[[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse]] (2004 & 2006)<br>[[European Horse of the Year]] (2004 & 2006)<br>[[Cartier Racing Award|European Champion Older Horse]] (2006)
-| honours = Ouija Board Handicap at [[Lone Star Park]]
-| updated= January 26, 2007
-}}
-'''Ouija Board''' (b. 2001) is a [[Thoroughbred]] [[Mare (horse)|mare]] [[horse racing|racehorse]] owned by [[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby]] and trained by [[Ed Dunlop]]. In a career spanning four seasons, she won 10 of her 22 races, 7 of them [[Conditions races|Group 1]]s, including the [[Epsom Oaks]] in 2004 and the [[Hong Kong Vase]] in 2005. In 2004, she won the [[Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf]] and came 2nd to Intercontinental the following year in the same race.  In 2006, the Dunlop team took her back to the USA where she regained her crown in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, proving that she is one of the best [[horse racing|racehorse]] [[Mare (horse)|mare]]s in history. She has amassed over £3 million in prize money. Also, she is only the second horse ever to win Breeders' Cup races in non-consecutive years, along with [[Da Hoss]], who won the [[Breeders' Cup Mile]] in 1996 and 1998.
-She is Lord Derby's only horse currently in training, the silks being a very simple black, sporting a white cap, and a single white button below the collar. She has had seven different jockeys ride her, with [[Olivier Peslier]], [[Kieren Fallon]], [[Frankie Dettori]] and Jamie Spencer all victorious.
-==Racing career==
+'''Ouija''' (Wē'jə, -jē) is the belief that one can receive messages during a [[séance]] by the Ouija board (also called talking board, spirit board) and [[planchette]]. The fingers of the participants are placed on the planchette which then moves about a board covered with numbers, letters and symbols so as to spell out messages.
-Her debut came at [[Newmarket Racecourse]] over 7 furlongs, when finishing third, a length behind the winner. She was turned out just 18 days later at [[Yarmouth Racecourse|Yarmouth]] running over the same distance, although she was victorious this time. Just 11 days later, she had her third race of the season, again at Newmarket, over a furlong extra in a Listed event, although again she finished third. It was her final start of the [[2003]] season.
-Her first outing in [[2004]] came at Newmarket in the Pretty Polly Stakes over 10 furlongs, a traditional trial for the [[Epsom Oaks]]. She was victorious by an incredible six lengths, but connections opted to go straight to [[Epsom Downs|Epsom]], rather than run in any other traditional trials such as the [[Musidora Stakes]] at [[York Racecourse|York]]. For her 2004 performance, Ouija Board was voted the [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse]] and named [[European Horse of the Year]].
+Ouija is a trademark for a talking board currently sold by [[Parker Brothers]].  While the word is not a [[genericized trademark]], it has become a [[List of proprietary eponyms based on active trademarks|trademark which is often used generically]] to refer to any talking board.
-==The Oaks==
+==Etymology==
-She started the [[Epsom Oaks]] at 7/2 second favourite behind the [[Aidan O'Brien]]-trained All Too Beautiful, as well as taking on the [[Godolphin stables|Godolphin]] duo of Punctillious and Sundrop, but her main rivals had absolutely no answer to Ouija Board's devastating turn of foot, and she ran on to win by seven lengths. It was just the start of an amazing Oaks-[[Epsom Derby|Derby]] double for jockey [[Kieren Fallon]], who was proclaimed the 'King of Epsom' afterwards. Her next target was the [[Irish Oaks]], in which two of her Epsom victims were reopposing - Punctillious and All Too Beautiful, but again neither could seriously challenge, and Ouija Board won by a length from the former.
+The term "Ouija" is derived from the [[French language|French]] "oui" (for "yes") and the [[German language|German]]/[[Dutch language|Dutch]] "ja" (also for "yes").  An alternative story suggests the name was revealed to inventor Charles Kennard during a Ouija séance and was claimed to be an [[Ancient Egyptian]] word meaning "good luck." It has also been suggested the word was inspired by the name of the [[Morocco|Moroccan]] city [[Oujda]].
-Connections had eyed up a crack at [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] for Ouija Board, attempting to be the first female to win the race since [[Urban Sea]] in [[1993]]. To make matters harder, she had a new jockey on-board in [[Johnny Murtagh]]. She was boxed-in throughout the race, and only got out when it was too late, finishing like a train, but still one-and-a-half-lengths behind the winner [[Bago (horse)|Bago]].
+Despite its common usage, "Ouija" is a [[registered trademark]].
-Despite the loss, she remained on target for the [[Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf]] at [[Lone Star Park]] at the end of October 2004, reunited with jockey [[Kieren Fallon]]. She produced her customary turn of foot to win by one-a-half-lengths.
+==History==
+According to some sources, the first historical mention of something resembling a Ouija board is found in [[China]] around 1200 B.C.E., a divination method known as Fu Ji (扶乩). Other sources claim that according to a French historical account of the philosopher [[Pythagoras]], in 540B.C.E. his sect would conduct [[seances]] at "a mystic table, moving on wheels, moved towards signs, which the philosopher and his pupil, [[Philolaus]], interpreted to the audience as being revelations supposedly from an unseen world." <ref>Melton, J. Gordon (1996). Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology (4th ed.). Gale Research. ISBN 0-8103-9487-1</ref>. However, other sources call both claims into dispute, claiming that Fu Ji is spirit writing, not the use of a spirit board, and that there is no record of Pythagoras or his students actually having used this method of achieving oracles or divinations. [http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/ancient.html] In addition, the claim of ancient Greek use is called into doubt by questions of historical accuracy, as Philolaus was never the pupil of Pythagoras, and indeed was born roughly twenty-five years after Pythagoras's death.
-==2005==
+The first undisputed use of the talking boards came with the [[Spiritualism]] movement in [[The United States]] in the mid-[[19th century]]. Methods of [[divination]] at that time used various ways to spell out messages, including swinging a [[pendulum]] over a plate that had letters around the edge or using an entire table to indicate letters drawn on the floor. Often used was a small wooden tablet supported on casters. This tablet, called a planchette, was affixed with a pencil that would write out messages in a fashion similar to [[automatic writing]]. These methods may predate modern Spiritualism.
-Several problems at the start of the [[2005]] season meant her seasonal reappearance came as late as June at [[Ascot Racecourse|Royal Ascot]] in the [[Prince of Wales's Stakes]]. Jamie Spencer was on-board since Fallon was riding for [[Ballydoyle]] and Dettori had a ban which saw him miss the whole of the meeting. Unfortunately Ouija Board lost a shoe round the final bend, and tailed off to finish 7th, thirty lengths behind the winner [[Azamour]].
-However, she bounced back at Newmarket three months later on her next start, in the Group 3 [[Princess Royal Stakes]], winning comfortably under new jockey [[Frankie Dettori]]. Her end of season aim was once again the [[Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf]], although she was partnered by another new jockey, US Hall of Fame jockey and American legend [[Jerry Bailey]]. The race was run over a furlong less than the previous year due to the race being run at [[Belmont Park]]. The shorter distance proved her undoing, and she failed by just one length whilst finishing 2nd.
+During the late 1800s, planchettes were widely sold as a novelty.  In February 10, 1891, businessmen [[Elijah Bond]] and Charles Kennard had the idea to [[patent]] a planchette sold with a board on which the alphabet was printed, and thus had invented the first Ouija board.  Bond was an attorney and inventor of other objects.  An employee of Kennard, [[William Fuld]] took over the talking board production and in 1901, he started production of his own boards under the name "Ouija" * [http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/history.html].
-Her relatively short season meant she was still fresh, and connections decided to send her to [[Japan]] for a crack at the [[Japan Cup]], in which she ran admirably, finishing 5th to [[Alkaased]], but only two lengths behind. She was sent to [[Hong Kong]] just 2 weeks later for a tilt at the [[Hong Kong Vase]], and although never travelling throughout the race under regular rider [[Kieren Fallon]], produced an incredible turn of foot, and scythed through the pack to win by two-and-a-half-lengths, but pulling away with every stride.
+The Fuld name would become synonymous with the Ouija board, as Fuld reinvented its history, claiming that he himself had invented it.  Countless talking boards from Fuld's competitors flooded the market and all these boards enjoyed a heyday from the 1920s through the 1960s. Fuld sued many companies over the "Ouija" name and concept right up until his death in 1927. In 1966, Fuld's estate sold the entire business to Parker Brothers, who continues to hold all trademarks and patents. About 10 brands of talking boards are sold today under various names  [http://museumoftalkingboards.com/new.html].
-==2006==
+==Usage==
-It was decided she would stay in training for one final season, with the [[Dubai Sheema Classic]] her first target. [[Kieren Fallon]] was again on-board, and she ran very flat whilst finishing 4th, although Fallon reported that 'she was not herself,' and that the firework display just minutes beforehand unsettled her badly. Connections, although never publicly admitted, felt Fallon had ridden her poorly and signalled the end of the jockey's successful partnership with her.
+Skeptic and magician [[James Randi]], in his book ''[[An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural]]'', points out that when blindfolded, Ouija board operators are unable to produce intelligible messages.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/Ouija%20board.html | title=An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] | date= 1995 | first=James | last=Randi | accessdate = 2007-03-28}}</ref>  Magicians [[Penn & Teller]] performed a similar demonstration in an episode of their television show ''[[Bullshit!]]'' in which the operators moved the planchette into what they thought was the positions of "yes" and "no" without knowing that the board was turned upside-down, which caused them to move the planchette into blank spaces on the board.
-She was next shipped to [[Sha Tin Racecourse]] in [[Hong Kong]] for April's [[Queen Elizabeth II Cup]] where she was reunited with [[Frankie Dettori]] for the [[Hong Kong dollar|HK]]$14 million (US$1.8 million) Group One event. Although running over 10 furlongs, 2 furlongs shorter than her preferred distance, she finished 3rd to winner [[Irridescence]]. However, she lost absolutely nothing in defeat, absolutely flying in the final furlong, only losing by two necks. Again, although never admitted, connections felt Dettori holding her up in the rear for so long cost her the race. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
+Those who believe Ouija boards can be used to make actual contact with the spirit world feel that the act of hindering a medium’s ability to use his or her own eyes while the board is in use effectively places too great of a handicap on the whole exercise.  (This argument stems from the belief that contacted spirits actually utilize the eyes of the medium during a Ouija session in order to point to the letters and words needed to form a message.  Most supporters of this theory believe that the board has no intrinsic power in and of itself, but rather, is used simply as a tool to aid a medium while in communication with the spirit world.)<ref>[http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/theories.html Museum of Talking Boards]</ref>
-A return visit to the scene of arguably her greatest triumph was next, as she was sent to [[Epsom Downs]] for a crack at the [[Coronation Cup]], although it would not be an easy task, with [[Shirocco]], the apple of [[André Fabre]]'s eye opposing her, and went off favourite, and justified his favouritism, but Ouija Board again lost nothing in defeat, putting in a marvellous run. [[Ed Dunlop]] said after the race that a trip to Royal Ascot was not completely out of the question, with either the [[Prince of Wales's Stakes]] over 10 furlongs or [[Hardwicke Stakes]] over her preferred 12 furlong distance.
+==Criticism of Ouija boards==
+Although Ouija boards are viewed by some to be a simple toy, there are people who believe they can be harmful, including [[Edgar Cayce]], who called them "dangerous."<ref>''An American Prophet'', Sidney D. Kirkpatrick, Riverhead Books, 2000</ref> Critics warn that "evil demons" pretend to be cooperative [[ghosts]] in order to trick players into becoming [[spiritual possession|spiritually possessed]].
-She was confirmed as a runner in the [[Prince of Wales's Stakes]], in a very competitive race. [[Dubai World Cup]] winner [[Electrocutionist]], [[Champion Stakes]] and [[Dubai Duty Free Stakes]] winner [[David Junior]], [[Brigadier Gerard Stakes]] winner [[Notnowcato]], [[Breeders' Cup Turf]] runner-up [[Ace (horse)|Ace]] and [[Manduro]] all lining up against her. It was a tactical battle, not helped with having a brand new jockey in [[Olivier Peslier]]. However, he rode a spectacular race, and went on to win by half-a-length.
+Some practitioners claim to have had bad experiences related to the use of talking boards by being haunted by "demons," seeing apparitions of spirits, and hearing voices after using them. A few [[paranormal]] researchers, such as [[John Zaffis]], claim that the majority of the worst cases of so-called [[demon]] harassment and possession are caused by the use of Ouija boards. The American demonologists [[Ed and Lorraine Warren]], stated that "Ouija boards are just as dangerous as drugs."<ref>''Graveyard'' Ed and Lorraine Warren, 1992, pages 137-138</ref> They further state that "séances and Ouija boards and other occult paraphernalia are dangerous because 'evil spirits' often disguise themselves as your loved ones—and take over your life."<ref>''Graveyard'' Ed and Lorraine Warren, 1992, pages 137-138</ref>
-She was entered for the [[Eclipse Stakes|Coral Eclipse]] just 17 days later, with another new jockey in [[Christophe Soumillon]] on-board. However, she was bumped around in midfield and denied a run, finishing 5th, with [[David Junior]] winning. Soumillon was berated by critics for his ride, and again criticised by connections, although again this was not confirmed.
+In 1944, occultist [[Manly P. Hall]], the founder of the Philosophical Research Society and an early authority on the occult in the 20th century, stated in Horizon magazine that, "during the last 20-25 years I have had considerable personal experience with persons who have complicated their lives through dabbling with the Ouija board. Out of every hundred such cases, at least 95 are worse off for the experience." He went on to say that, "I know of broken homes, estranged families, and even suicides that can be traced directly to this source."<ref> ''Horizon Magazine'', Manly P. Hall, October-December 1944, pages 76-77</ref>
-Soumillon returned to [[England]] 21 days later for the [[King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes]] riding [[Hurricane Run]], which he won in a pulsating race, although his post-race celebrations came under huge criticism, and was rumoured that these antics had been aimed at connections of Ouija Board.
+Many Christians hold the belief that using a Ouija board allows communication with [[demons]], which they say is [[Bible|Biblically]] forbidden as a form of divination.<ref>[http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue83.htm ''Contemporary Christian Divination'', by Bob DeWaay]</ref> Some people who claim to have been oppressed by evil spirits after using a board say that they could only get rid of these problems after Christian deliverance.<ref>''Dialog with a Demon, by Lona Kay''</ref> Many Christians believe that no dead person's soul can be summoned, and that the only summoned spirits are demons who are trying to harm humans.<ref>The Ouija Board:A Doorway to the Occult, Edmund C. Gruss, P & R Publishing, Chapter 3, 1994.</ref>
-Ouija Board had been considered for the [[King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes|"King George"]], but connections felt she had not recovered from her cuts and bruises from the Eclipse and was left out, although she was confirmed a runner in the Group 1 [[Nassau Stakes]] at [[Goodwood Racecourse]] a week later.
+As early as 1924, [[Harry Houdini]] wrote that five people from [[Carrito, California|Carrito]], [[California]] were driven insane by using a board.<ref>''A Magician Among the Spirits'', Harry Houdini, Harper, 1924</ref> That same year, [[Carl Wickland|Dr. Carl Wickland]] in his book stated that "the serious problem of alienation and mental derangement attending ignorant psychic experiments was first brought to my attention by cases of several persons whose seemingly harmless experiences with automatic writing and the Ouija board resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated."<ref>''Thirty years Among the Dead'', Dr. Carl Wickland, 1934</ref>
-==Ouija's finest moment==
+The former medical director of the State Insane Asylum of [[New Jersey]], Dr. Curry, stated that the Ouija board was a "dangerous factor" in unbalancing the mind and believed that if their popularity persisted insane asylums would be filled with people who used them.<ref>''Edmund ''The Ouija Board: Doorway to the Occult'', [[Edmund C. Gruss]], Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois 1995 page 75.</ref>
-Dettori was once again on-board, and lined up in a very competitive field, including [[Hong Kong Cup]] winner [[Alexander Goldrun]], [[Coronation Stakes]] winner [[Nannina]], [[Echelon (horse)|Echelon]] and a half-sister to [[Hawk Wing]], Race For The Stars. It was a titanic clash, with Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun eye-to-eye for a quarter-of-a-mile. Ouija Board was declared the winner after a photo-finish, and the reception she received afterwards was incredible.
-Goodwood has been the scene of many great receptions, notably with [[Double Trigger]] winning the [[Goodwood Cup]] in 1995, and more recently, [[Persian Punch]] in 2003. However, the applause for Ouija Board surpassed even these greats. It was considered her most hard battled victories.
+Decades later, in 1965, [[Parapsychology|parapsychologist]] [[Martin Ebon]] in his book ''Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult'', states that "it all may start harmlessly enough, perhaps with a Ouija board," which will, "bring startling information... establishing credibility or identifying itself as someone who is dead. It is common that people... as having been 'chosen' for a special task." He continues, "Quite often the Ouija turns vulgar, abusive or threatening. It grows demanding and hostile, and sitters may find themselves using the board compulsively, as if 'possessed' by a spirit, or hearing voices that control or command them."<ref>''Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult, Martin Ebon</ref>
+In her 1971 autobiography, the [[psychic]] [[Susy Smith]] said, "Warn people away from Ouija and [[automatic writing]]. I experienced many of the worst problems of such involvement. Had I been forewarned by reading that such efforts might cause one to run the risk of being mentally disturbed, I might have been more wary."<ref>''Confessions of a Psychic'', Susy Smith, 1971</ref>
-==2006 post-Goodwood==
+Additionally, the late [[Roman Catholic]] priest [[Malachi Martin]] believed talking boards are dangerous and claimed that by using these devices a person opens themselves to demonic oppression or possession, topics upon which Martin spoke and wrote extensively for many years.<ref>''Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Americans'', Malachi Martin, 1976''</ref>
-She lined up next for the [[Irish Champion Stakes]] in a rematch with Alexander Goldrun from Goodwood, and the additional threat of [[Dylan Thomas (horse)|Dylan Thomas]], the Budweiser [[Irish Derby]] winner, coming from the formidable trio of Magnier, Aidan O'Brien and Fallon. Partnered by Jamie Spencer once more due to Dettori riding in the [[St. Leger stakes]] on the same day and Fallon engaged in the same race, Spencer took Ouija Board past 'Dylan' with just over a furlong to go, but 'Dylan' showed great spirit and speed to get back up to the great mare, and he prevailed by a neck. Connections had mixed emotions, as she had run a fantastic race and was beaten by a brilliant colt, but she had failed to add a 7th Group 1 to her CV.
-The [[Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf]] at [[Churchill Downs]] had always been her main seasonal target, and with regular partner Dettori aboard, she was sent off a very warm favourite, and despite being boxed in with three furlongs to go, she sprinted clear of the field, and ended up being probably the best performance of the day.
+==Literature==
+Talking boards have become an iconic part of culture, demonstrated by their appearances in many books and movies.  Their roles in such vary from being a benign object to an evil entity. A more peculiar role of talking boards in literature stems from authors using the board to channel complete written works from the deceased.
-==A sad end==
+In the early 1900s, [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] housewife [[Pearl Curran]] used her Ouija board communications with the ubiquitous spirit [[Patience Worth]] to publish a number of poems and prose. Pearl claimed that all of the writings came to her through séances, which she allowed the public to attend. In 1917 writer [[Emily G. Hutchings]] believed she had communicated with and written a book dictated by [[Mark Twain]] from her Ouija board. Twain's living descendants went to court to halt publication of the book that was later determined to be so poorly written that it could not have been written by Twain dead or alive.
-Just a day before she was due to run in her last ever race, the Hong Kong Vase, a slight injury was discovered so she was retired.  This was very sad news as if placing second or higher in the race Ouija Board would have become the highest earning British Race horse in History and this was a distinct possibility as the Racing Post forecast her to be a clear favourite at 6/4 with the second favourite being Admire Main and a lot longer odds of 9/2.
+Since the 1970s, author [[Seth Jane Roberts|Jane Roberts]] has transcribed text [[channeling|channeled]] from what she described as an "energy personality essence" named Seth. Topics attributed to Seth discuss the nature of physical reality, the origins of the [[universe]], the theory of [[evolution]], the [[many-worlds interpretation]], the [[Christ]] story, and the purpose of life among other subjects and form a collection of more than 10 books and a number of videos and audio recordings.
-A not so sad event for Ouija Board was taking her second [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse]] in 2006.
+Author [[John Fuller]] used a Ouija board in his research for his 1976 book ''[[The Ghost of Flight 401]]''. As he was skeptical of its effectiveness, he worked with a [[Medium (spirituality)|medium]] and claimed they both contacted [[Don Repo]], the flight engineer on the flight which crashed into the Everglades ''en route'' to Miami. According to Fuller, the information divined described facts that neither he nor the medium previously knew.
-== Pedigree ==
+More recently, [[Pulitzer Prize]] winning poet [[James Merrill]] used a Ouija board and recorded what he claimed were messages from a number of deceased persons.  He combined these messages with his own poetry in ''[[The Changing Light at Sandover]]'' (1982).
-{{Pedigree
-|name = [[Ouija Board]]
+==Ouija in popular culture==
-|f = [[Cape Cross (horse)|Cape Cross]] (IRE) <br/>[[1994]]
+* In the movie ''[[Awakenings (film)|Awakenings]]'', encephalitis patient Leonard Lowe communicates a message to Dr. Malcolm Sayer through the use of a Ouija board.
-|m = [[Selection Board]] (GB) <br/>[[1982]]
+* In the movie ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'', a young girl uses a Ouija board to contact a spirit called Captain Howdy (actually an ancient demon named [[Pazuzu]] who soon possesses her).
-|ff = [[Green Desert (horse)|Green Desert]] (USA) <br/>[[1983]]
+* In the movie ''[[Long Time Dead]]'', a group of friends accidentally unleash a demon by playing with a Ouija board. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/entertainment/films_and_tv/marcusadams.shtml] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/entertainment/movies/2002_01/18/long_time_dead.shtml] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/01/15/long_time_dead_2002_review.shtml]
-|fm = [[Park Appeal]] (IRE) <br/>[[1982]]
+* In the 1994 movie ''[[Only You (1994 film)|Only You]]'', Faith learns the name of "her soulmate" while playing on a Ouija board with her brother.
-|mf = [[Welsh Pageant]] (FR) <br/>[[1966]]
+* In the film ''[[What Lies Beneath]]'', a character played by [[Michelle Pfeiffer]] uses a Ouija Board, believing it will help her to communicate with spirits that are haunting her home.
-|mm = [[Ouija (horse)|Ouija]] (GB) <br/>[[1971]]
+* In the movie ''[[Witchboard]]'', a woman is harassed by an evil spirit after she ignores warnings not to use a Ouija board while alone.
-|fff = [[Danzig (horse)|Danzig]] (USA) <br/>[[1977]]
+* In the TV series ''[[Charmed]]'', a Ouija board is often used to communicate with spirits. In the first episode, the sisters discover they are witches after using a Ouija board found in the attic of their home.
-|ffm = [[Foreign Courier]] (USA) <br/>[[1979]]
+* In an episode of ''[[Futurama]]'', upon hearing that [[Leela]] believed she could contact the dead, [[Professor Farnsworth]] told her that her head might be "acting as a five-pound Ouija board".
-|fmf = [[Ahonoora]] (GB) <br/>[[1975]]
+* In an episode of ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', Sam uses a Ouija board to contact Dean's spirit.
-|fmm = [[Balidaress]] (IRE) <br/>[[1973]]
+* In an episode of ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'', Shake commits suicide in order to enter Meatwad's ''Video Ouija'' game so that he can terrorize him.
-|mff = [[Tudor Melody]] (USA) <br/>[[1956]]
+* In an issue of ''[[Simpsons Comics]]'', [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] goes to a camp and raises spirits with a Ouija board.
-|mfm = [[Picture Light]] (FR) <br/>[[1954]]
+* [[Morrissey]] sings a song called "Ouija board, Ouija board."
-|mmf = [[Sally Season]] (USA) <br/>[[1962]]
+* In the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game]], the "Destiny Board" cards feature a Ouija board. In the anime, [[Bakura Ryo|Bakura]] used these cards in his duel against [[Yugi Muto|Yugi]] in the [[Battle City (Yu-Gi-Oh!)|Battle City Finals]].
-|mmm = [[Samanda (horse)|Samanda]] (GB) <br/>[[1956]]
+* In an episode of ''[[Kyle XY]]'', Kyle uses a Ouija board to figure out his birthday.
-|ffff = [[Northern Dancer]] (CAN) <br/>[[1961]]
+* The use of a Ouija board is a key plot point in the Egyptian horror movie ''Ouija''.
-|fffm = [[Pas De Nom]] (USA) <br/>[[1968]]
+* In [[Steve Berman]]'s young adult novel ''Vintage: A Ghost Story'', the narrator uses a Ouija board to contact several dead boys.
-|ffmf = [[Sir Ivor]] (USA) <br/>[[1965]]
+* The hip-hop/rap group [[Bone Thugs N Harmony]] have several references to "Mr. Ouija" in their songs.
-|ffmm = [[Courtly Dee]] (USA) <br/>[[1968]]
+* In Stephen King's novel ''[[The Stand]]'', the character Nadine Cross uses a Ouija board to receive instructions from [[Randall Flagg]].
-|fmff = [[Lorenzaccio (horse)|Lorenzaccio]] (IRE) <br/>[[1965]]
+* In an episode of ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', a patient gets sick after a Ouija board tells him he will die.
-|fmfm = [[Helen Nichols]] (GB) <br/>[[1966]]
+* [[Calvin and Hobbes]] use a Ouija board to ask whether Calvin may become President. The Ouija board answers, "God forbid". They also ask how the board knows so much. The board "answered" "3", prompting Calvin to say "You know, I didn't ask for this for [[Christmas]]. I asked for a computer."
-|fmmf = [[Balidar]] (IRE) <br/>[[1966]]
+* In an episode of ''[[The A-Team]]'', Murdock uses a Ouija board to communicate with the spirit world for advice.
-|fmmm = [[Innocence (horse)|Innocence]] (GB) <br/>[[1968]]
+* In the movie ''[[Stormbreaker (movie)|Stormbreaker]]'', Alan Blunt claims the British Government would sooner trust a Ouija board than [[Secret Intelligence Service|British Intelligence]].
-|mfff = [[Tudor Minstrel]] (GB) <br/>[[1944]]
+* In an episode of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', police officers try to use a Ouija board to solve crimes. The board returns the message "U-P Y-O-U-R-S", to which one officer responds, "What a rude Ouija board!"
-|mffm = [[Matelda]] (USA) <br/>[[1947]]
+* In an episode of "[[The Drew Carey Show]]", Drew and his friends use a Ouija board as way to retrieve some alchohol.
-|mfmf = [[Court Martial (horse)|Court Martial]] (GB) <br/>[[1942]]
+* In the first segment, "The Prophecy", of the third episode of the first season of "[[Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction]]", the three protagonists use a Ouija to conjure an evil spirit.
-|mfmm = [[Queen of Light]] (GB) <br/>[[1949]]
+*[[Kirk Hammett]], the lead guitarist of [[Metallica]] has a guitar which has an Ouijaboard design on the body.
-|mmff = [[Tom Fool]] (USA) <br/>[[1949]]
-|mmfm = [[Double Deal]] (GB) <br/>[[1946]]
+==Notable users==
-|mmmf = [[Alycidon]] (GB) <br/>[[1945]]
-|mmmm = [[Gradisca (horse)|Gradisca]] (GB) <br/>[[1943]]
-|}}
+[[GK Chesterton]] used a Ouija board. Around 1893 he had gone through a crisis of skepticism and depression, and during this period Chesterton experimented with the Ouija board and grew fascinated with the occult. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/greatlives/ingrams_chesterton.shtml]
+[[Alice Cooper]] claims that an Ouija Board suggested that he was the reincarnation of a 17th century witch with the name Alice Cooper, and thus the band's name "Alice Cooper".
+[[Aleister Crowley]] advocated the use of Ouija boards, and they played a major role in many of his [[magick|magickal]] workings. <ref>Cornelious, J. Edward ''[[Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board]].'' 2005 ISBN 1-932595-10-4</ref> <ref>Mini site for Cornelious, J. Edward’s book, ''[[Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board]]'', http://feralhouse.com/press/mini_sites/ouija/ </ref>
+Poet [[James Merrill]] used a Ouija board for years, and even encouraged entrance of spirits into his body. He wrote the poem ''The Changing Light at Sandover'' with the help of a Ouija board. Before he died, he recommended people not to use Ouija boards.<ref>''Ouija: The Most Dangerous Game'', Stoker Hunt, Chapter 6, pages 44-50.</ref>
+Italian Prime Minister [[Romano Prodi]] held a séance in 1978 with other professors at the University of Bologna in which a Ouija board spelled the word Gradoli. This turned out to be the name of a street in Rome where a [[Red Brigades]] safe house was located. <ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20051202/ai_n15907526 The London Independent, by Peter Popham, December 2, 2005]</ref>
+[[Bill W.|Bill Wilson]] the co-founder of [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] used the Ouija Board to contact spirits.<ref>''Pass It On'', New York A. A., 1984, page 278.</ref> His wife said that he would get messages directly without even using the board.<ref>''Pass It On'', New York A. A., 1984, pages 278-279.</ref>For a while, his participation in A.A was deeply affected by his involvment with the Ouija board. Wilson claimed that he received the twelve step method directly from a spirit without the board and wrote it down.<ref>''Pass It On'', New York A. A., 1984, pages 196-197.</ref>
+The investigators of ''[[Most Haunted]]'' have been known to use Ouija Boards.
+===Footnotes===
+<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags—>
+<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
+<references/></div>
 ==References==
-* [http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=19062 NTRA bio]
+===Books===
+* Cornelious, J. Edward ''[[Aleister Crowley|Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board]].'' 2005 ISBN 1-932595-10-4 [http://feralhouse.com/press/mini_sites/ouija/]
+* [[Edmond C. Gruss|Gruss, Edmond C.]] ''The Ouija Board: A Doorway to the Occult'' 1994 ISBN 0-87552-247-5
+* Hunt, Stoker. ''Ouija: The Most Dangerous Game.'' 1992 ISBN 0-06-092350-4
+== External links==
+====External links of sites with information on talking boards====
+* [http://www.paralumun.com/ouijaboard.htm Paralumun]
+* [http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/ Museum Of Talking Boards]
+* [http://www.talkingboard2u.com/talking-board-related-names.php Related Names for Talking Board]
+* [http://ouija.witchboards.net/ Witchboard World]
+* [http://www.paranormality.com/ouija_board.shtml Paranormality A-Z Paranormal Phenomena]
+====External links skeptical of talking boards====
+* [http://www.skepdic.com/ouija.html The Skeptics' Dictionary: Ouija]
+* [http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/Ouija%20board.html ''An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural'']
+* [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mouija.html ''How does a Ouija board work?''] from [[The Straight Dope]]
+====External links critical of talking boards====
+* [http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/ouija.htm Evangelical Outreach "Dangers of Ouija Boards"]
+* [http://www.yourgoingtohell.com/ouija.html Ouija Boards Are Evil] — religious site
+* [http://www.spiritdaily.org/Spiritual-War-Angels/Ouija%20Board%20and%20defenseless%20church.htm New York City Cop Points Out Dangers Of Ouija Board]
+* [http://www.geocities.com/ouijaboardsareevil/Ouija.html Ouija Board Website]
+====Other External links====
+*[http://psychicfreaks.com/ouija-board-stories/ Ouija board stories]
+*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4076927.stm 'Ouija board' appeal dismissed]
+*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/videonation/archive/a_f/clare_randall_ouija_board.shtml BBC video on Ouija Board] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/videonation/archive/a_f/clare_randall_haunted_castle.shtml]
-{{Credits|Ouija_Board|114073294|}}
+{{Credits|Ouija|114475761}}