Although I haven't witnessed and / or used anything in regards to the paranormal myself, my family has.
Practically everyone in my family has used Ouija boards, and claim to have had success as well, although I wouldn't call it that.
I'll pick two examples:
Back when my dad was younger, he and his sister used a ouija board along with a bunch of other people, and although there wasn't much action at the start, things took quite a dark turn.
At the start they claimed to be pretty focused and respectful, but since nothing came of it, they got quite lackluster and started to taunt the whole idea of Ouija boards and the paranormal in general, after which they turned their attention towards everyday life happenings.
What may be important to note here, is that while they weren't concentrated or busy with the board itself, they all held onto the planchette ever so slightly.
He said that some time after they started to joke around and talk about everyday stuff, the planchette started to move---and quite forceful and irrational at that.
Naturally, people starting to "point fingers" at each other, claiming that he / she had to be behind it.
Then someone asked aloud "who's there?", and it spelled in a surprisingly swift and direct move "Devil", after which the planchette started to shift around the board as if something literally "pulled" at it, or so he told me.
After that they haven't touched a board again, and are quite careful with anything connected to the paranormal.
Moreover, my grandfather (on my dad's side) started to have regular Ouija sessions, which are guided by one of his longest and most loyal employees.
She practices this type of stuff since a long time, and since he trusts and knows her since the better part of his life, he chose to do it with her. He doing it every odd week.
He claims with absolute conviction that he's talking with his deceased wife when using the board, something I doubt, but it's not the type of man who'd do such a thing if he had even the slightest doubts about it, so there's that.
I've been quite intrigued by Ouija boards, but have received many warnings from both family members and acquaintances alike.
What's your take on the whole thing?
this territory is moderated
I think they make great gimmicks and plot points in horror movies (including The Exorcist, of course).
reply
LOL Just give it a try and see. In the movies it always leads to something. But you have to remember, it is humans controlling the board. Half the time you dont get any results.
reply
DO NOT give it a try.
Would you stick your hand in a box if you dont know what's there? Why do it with your life?
This curiosity is dangerous. Be prudent and refrain yourself from engaging with the paranormal.
reply
0 sats \ 5 replies \ @alt 24 Apr
I'm a scientist and I think of myself as very logical and serious. I don't believe in the paranormal.
That said, as a child I have had paranormal experiences, and I try to avoid visiting 'haunted' locations. I would not allow a Ouija board in my home, and would certainly not allow one to be used there.
It's a known cognitive dissonance that I have and for the time being I am absolutely fine with that.
reply
Hm, scientist in what field?
reply
0 sats \ 3 replies \ @alt 24 Apr
My education was centred on physics with a focus on space technology and environments, but in my career I've spun off into materials science.
reply
Hm, that's clearly above my pay grade. 👍
reply
100 sats \ 1 reply \ @alt 24 Apr
Feels like it's above mine most of the time too 😂
reply
Hahaha 🌝
reply
When you use such devices, even the phonier ones, you are opening yourself to interact with and be subject to demonic forces. Stay away.
reply
Yeah! More of that please, you're into this?
reply
Not really. It's just a common exorcist talking point. You could join a "session" with the main goal of just having fun, but deep down you might be curious and open for a real encounter. Who wouldn't? This mindset is dangerous.
Fr. Rippenger has books and sermons about it you could find online. Highly recommended.
(Not on ouija boards specifically, but can point you to his channel) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_kQxJc8pAVY
Also, fr. Amorth, the former exorcist of Rome, has lots of books about demons and his experiences.
reply
reply
I know about that, but I don't think that it can explain everything.
reply
I think it explains everything about Ouija boards.
reply
I go back and forth over what I think of the whole thing. Personally, though I just do not see a reason to mess with one because I am not exactly sure what good would come out of it. I had an ex though who messed with one and while its been years since I heard the story it went something like this.
She and her best friend messed with it in the basement and nothing happened and so they went to bed then your typical odd stuff started happening. Where the story gets weird though is her mom then goes on to tell me that she (the mom) and my ex then used it together and I want to say something like the word fire was spelled.
That freaked out the mom who then put it in their detached garage which then caught fire and burned down in the middle of the night less than a week later. The fire department said it was due to an electrical issue but the mom swears that the thing was either warning her about a the fire or that the thing itself caught fire and caused the whole thing. That was enough for me to just be like uhhh nope I don't need to mess with that stuff lol.
reply
Yeah, it's an odd thing for sure... There's heaps of stories like your's, which honestly have kept me at bay as well.
reply
0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Cje95 23 Apr
Yeah I figure why go looking for trouble ya know? Nothing good can come from it so why even go after it lol
reply
Hm, I'd like to witness some "prove" in regards to the whole paranormal topic, but then again, I don't... 😜
reply
I've never played the Ouija board, nor do I plan to, I've heard so many strange stories from people I know who played the Ouija board that I have no desire to try my luck.
reply
Care to share some?
reply
I was conversing with someone who does tarot cards, and I essentially asked "why should I buy any of this". Their response was interesting - their theory was that our subconscious is a lot more impactful than we realize, and that, for a tarot card reader, their subconscious aware of the cards, the meanings, and where cards are when we shuffle them, so a reading is more about tapping into the subconscious than it is anything supernatural, mixed in with a hint of being subconsciously "in-tune" with the universe.
I still don't fully buy it, but I thought that was an interesting theory, and I think there's some truth to it. My personal theory with that stuff is, sometimes all you need is a metaphorical landscape to find meaning that you're looking for. So, as much as I think astrology is complete BS, I think it could actually be helpful for some people.
I could imagine something similar happens with Ouija boards. There's probably some level of subconscious coming into play, some level of "searching"/being open to meaning, and (usually) a lot of fear mixed in.
And as far as bad things happening post-reading, I feel like it's similar to buying a car and suddenly seeing a ton of that car around town.
Just my two cents.