In 1848, something unusual happened in a Hydesville, New York cabin. Two sisters, Kate and Margaret Fox, contacted the spirit of a dead peddler. They became instant celebrities and sparked a national obsession that spread across the Americas and Europe. It was the birth of modern spiritualism.

It seemed that the whole world was ripe for communication with the dead. Spiritualists sprang up everywhere and people with "the special gift" or pipeline to the other side, were in great demand. These mediums invented a variety of interesting ways to communicate with the spirit world. Table turning was one of these. The medium and attending sisters would lightly place their fingers on a table and wait for contact. Soon the table would tilt and move, knocking on the floor the letters called from the alphabet. Entire messages would be spelled out this way.

Another form of communication was the heart shaped, French Planchette. Translated to English this means 'little plank'. It had two rotating casters underneath and a pencil at the tip, forming the third leg.

Planchette writing was often difficult, if not impossible to read. It was a challenge just keeping the instrument centered on the paper long enough to get a decipherable message. Consequently many mediums dispensed with the spiritual apparatuses altogether, preferring to transmit from the spirit world mentally in an altered state of consciousness called Trance. Others eliminated the planchette but kept the pencil.

Excerpt from the NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE March 28 1886
"'The New Planchette' A Mysterious Talking Board and Table Over which Northern Ohio is Agitated." Article Courtesy by John Buescher:

"Planchette is simply nowhere said a Western Man at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Not compared to the new scheme for Mysterious Communication that is being used out in Ohio. I know whole communities that are wild over the 'Talking Board', as some of them call it. I have never heard any name for it. But I have seen and heard some of the most remarkable things about its operations; things that seem to pass all human comprehension or explanation.

In many Places in Ohio I have heard that there was a perfect craze over the New Planchette. Its use and operation have taken place over card parties. Attempts are made to verify statements that are made about living persons and in some instances they have succeeded so well as to make inquirers still more awe-stricken."

This was all so amazing because the new talking board required no skill, understanding or medium training from participants. This really was a new invention and it didn't take long for interested parties to file the first patent for a device similar to the new planchette. It was first filed on May 28, 1890 and granted on February 10, 1891.It lists Elijah J Bond as inventor and the assignees as Charles W Kennard and William H.A. Maupin, all from Baltimore. It is still debatable whether Bond and his cronies invented the board or just took advantage of the existing fad and used their own design. There is no doubt however that they were the first to market the the board as a novelty. Kennard called the new board, "Ouija"

However, Charles Kennard was not long for the Ouija business. Unhappy with the way things were going, his financial backers withdrew his authorisation to produce the board. With a single stoke of fate, William Fuld, a former employee of Kennard's, became the new maker and would later be designated as the 'father' of the Ouija.

For 35years Fuld ran the company through good times and bad. In February 1927, he climbed onto the roof of his buiding in Baltimore to supervise the replacement of a flag pole. A support post gave way, causing Fuld to fall backwards to his death. His children took over the company and marketed many interesting and varied versions of the Ouija, including the Rare and marvelous art deco Electric Mystifying Oracle. In 1966, they retired and sold the business to Parker Brothers.

After purchasing the Ouija name and patent from Fuld's family, Parker Bros moved their factory to Salem, Massachusetts. "Perfect wasn't it". Parker Brothers produced an accurate Fuld repoduction and for a brief time even produced a deluxe wooden edition Ouija. They still hold all trademarks to this day. In early 1999, Parker Brothers stopped manufacturing the classic Fuld Ouija and switched to a smaller, less detailed, glow in the dark version.

As time went on, there were literally hundreds of companies making Talking Boards. In 1944 Dreuke Games produced their first taking board called the Mystic Soothsayer, but discontinued its production after only a year or two. In 2001 They manufactured a limited run of these boards for a Hallowe'en promotion. This is the only instance of a company re-introducing a talking board.

The year is 1972. The EXORCIST is released in theatres and the Ouija is portrayed as an agent of the Devil. The popular game suddenly takes on an ugly dark side and Ouija boards were thrown on the rubbish all over the world. Stories of possession by demons and spirits, conjured up by teenagers using the Ouija, proliferated. The Exorcist spawned films which portrayed the Ouija in a bad light. From the original WITCHBOARD horror flick up to WHAT LIES BENEATH.

USING THE Ouija
Make sure your surroundings are suitable for a good Ouija Session. There should be no distractions or interruptions of any kind. Turn off televisions, radios etc. Good spots are bedrooms, cemetaries, attics, lonely beaches or open fields under the stars; just about anywhere that is private and quiet.

Though it is not necessary to conduct opening and closing Rituals, it can greatly enhance your experience. You may wish to recite poetry, intone invocations to the spirits or anything else to personalise your ritual. Surround yourself with candles to light your path. If you wish to use amulets to protect yourself, go ahead and do it. There are no rules to the contrary. Do whatever gets you into the right mood.

Sit with the board balanced securely on your lap or a table top. Place your fingertips (index and middle finger) very lightly on the planchette. Take a moment to clear your mind of any unwanted thoughts. Relax your body and mind totally, this is more to do with revelation than concentration.

With all this in mind ask the Ouija out loud:
"Is anyone there?"
With fingers in position, give the planchette a few minutes to work by itself. If nothing happens, very lightly slide it around in a circular motion or a figure 8. Distance yourself mentally from what you are doing. Act more like the spectator rather than the participant. Remember you are supposed to be watching things happen, rather than trying to make them happen. Once you have distanced yourself properly, you will get the feeling that the planchette wants to stop at certain letters (this is a very subtle intuitive feeling).

Take care that only one person asks a question at a time (this avoids confusion). Put the question plainly and accurately. Have no one present at the table who will not sit seriously and respectfully or avoid asking ridiculous questions or laughing over it.

The board should be kept smooth and free from dust and moisture. All depends upon the ease the planchette can move freely over the surface of the board. Rubbing with a silk cloth before use is advisable

Beginner sessions tend to move slowly at first, so don't give up staight away. It is perfectly suitable to take notes as your session progresses. Sometimes the board is not totally coherent and may use abreviations, misspellings or fragments. Your notes will help you later to decipher the conversation more easily.

With practice, the planchette will spell out coherent messages. And we do mean practice. Do it over and over. You will not have much success with the Ouija if you are not prepared to totally dedicate yourself to it, or anything else for that matter. Try for 30 minutes a day for a good two weeks. If you do not have success by this time, the Ouija is not for you.