The Ouija (pronounced wee-jee or wee-jah) is a game board supposedly used to talk to the dead. It is designed to be a fun activity based on self-deception. They are also called "spirit boards" or "talking boards. It is a flat board with the numbers 0-9 and all the letters of the alphabet. It has the words "yes" and "no" at the top with the word "goodbye" on the bottom. The board uses a planchette, which is a small wooden plank in the shape of an upside down heart. It has a glass circle (or plain hole) in the top. The player asks a question. Then one or more players guide the planchette to the letters or numbers to spell out a message. However, Scientists know the game is based on the ideomotor effect. A participant believes they are not controlling the message, that it comes from ghosts or spirits. It can seem very mysterious. But anyone can test a Ouija board by blindfolding or hiding the board from the ones moving the planchette. What usually results is gibberish and no message.
Ouija board
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a Ouija board?
A: A Ouija board is a game board that is supposedly used to communicate with the dead. It consists of a flat board with numbers 0-9 and all the letters of the alphabet, as well as words like "yes" and "no" at the top and "goodbye" on the bottom. The player uses a planchette, which is a small wooden plank in the shape of an upside down heart, to guide it over these letters or numbers to spell out messages.
Q: How does it work?
A: The Ouija board works by using something called the ideomotor effect. This means that one or more players believe they are not controlling the message, but rather that it comes from ghosts or spirits. However, scientists know this isn't true and anyone can test this by blindfolding or hiding the board from those who are moving the planchette - usually what results is gibberish and no message.
Q: What does 'planchette' mean?
A: A planchette is a small wooden plank in the shape of an upside down heart that has either a glass circle (or plain hole) in its top. It's used when playing with an Ouija board to guide it over letters or numbers to spell out messages.
Q: Is there any scientific evidence for using an Ouija Board?
A: No, there isn't any scientific evidence for using an Ouija Board - scientists know that it's based on self-deception and anyone can test this by blindfolding or hiding the board from those who are moving the planchette - usually what results is gibberish and no message.
Q: What do you need to play with an Ouija Board?
A: To play with an Ouija Board you need a flat gameboard with numbers 0-9 and all letters ofthe alphabet, as well as words like "yes" and "no" at its top and "goodbye" at its bottom; plus one or more players guiding their own individual planchettes over these letters/numbers/words in order to spell out messages.
Q: Is playing with an Ouija Board dangerous?
A: While some people may believe playing with an Ouija Board can be dangerous due to potential contact with spirits/ghosts etc., most experts agree that there isn't any real danger associated with playing this game since it's based on self-deception rather than actual communication between living beings and supernatural entities.