Ouija Boards

[ljiljanac]

I actually bought the traditional looking one at Toys R Us.  I'll look tomorrow.

[PPI Jason]

I think, and this is just my opinion, we should just use a cheapy Toys R Us Ouija Board.

1. I don't want to give $60 - $100 to some company that is clearly taking advantage of the public's ignorance of how Ouija Board's work. To me, doing that would be no different than hiring a fraudulent psychic.
2. I don't know what advantage a more expensive Ouija Board is supposed to have over the conventional models. Is it "blessed" or "cursed"? Either way, I don't think our experiment, at least as it is currently set up, is built to test the blessed or cursed state of a Ouija Board. If we do want to test that, then we would have to test numerous Ouija Boards in order to recognize the possibility that some may be legitimately blessed or cursed while others may not. I think our experiment right now is set up to test the Ouija process itself. I think we could even do that with a home made Ouija Board and an improvised planchette. But I still think a cheapy Ouija from Toys R Us would be cheaper and better to test.

However, this brings up an interesting point. Should we have more than one Ouija Board present and try testing them both seperately and simulataneously? We could log the results by having different sets of investigators test out different Ouija Boards, to see if different combinations of investigators with different boards has any effect on the results?

For example,

Ouija Board A (Jason, Damian, Tracy)
Ouija Board B (Shell, Karl, Tim)
Ouija Board C (Jason, Damian, Tracy)
Ouja Board A (Shell, Karl, Tim)
Ouija Board B (Jason, Damian, Tracy)
Ouija Board C (Shell, Karl, Tim)
Ouija Board A (Shell, Jason, Karl)
Ouija Board B (Damian, Tim, Tracy)

etc...

[Gary]

For example,

Ouija Board A (Jason, Damian, Tracy)
Ouija Board B (Shell, Karl, Tim)
Ouija Board C (Jason, Damian, Tracy)
Ouja Board A (Shell, Karl, Tim)
Ouija Board B (Jason, Damian, Tracy)
Ouija Board C (Shell, Karl, Tim)
Ouija Board A (Shell, Jason, Karl)
Ouija Board B (Damian, Tim, Tracy)

What OB do I get to test Jason???   (  HAHA, j/k!!!   No but really!  okay, great points you made.  I am totally down to use a toys r us Ouija Board.  I just think of it this way.  Toys r us sells some pretty cool little kids spy toys, like the boom mic that can hear far away, and several others.  Now, would I want those, or something that I could pick up out of my latest GALL's catalog!!??  But I am still down for the toys r us brand.

So Lillie has apparently bought one which means that part is taken care of. 

[PPI Jason]

Hey Gary,

By the way, I do agree with you Gary. I'm not against testing any of the more expensive "professional" Ouija Boards at all. I agree with you that in some ways testing a non-professional Ouija Board is kind of like buying those cheap spy toys you were talking about. But I just don't want to spend a lot of money on something that, at least from what I think most of us are expecting, doesn't really work. I guess that's a bad attitude to have going into an experiment (after all, we're supposed to be open minded, right?). I would love to test one of those "better quality" boards (heavy accent on the quotation marks on THAT one), but it would be nice if we could borrow one from someone rather then having to invest in one.

[PPI Karl]

Essentially, we're talking about materials that are easily available, right?  Cardboard, some ink, a trivet with a brass finishing nail in the middle?  A plumb line?  How's about I just make a ouija board.  (Either that, or we can fly in a member from TAPS Rhode Island who has one tattooed on his back.)  At the very least, a homemade ouija board should be among our test items, right?

The client who hosted the now-infamous investigation in which his Afghani father with Alzheimers became violent--that client was not a well man, himself, and during our preliminary interview described how he used to make ouija boards out of scraps of paper and letters written in his own blood.  I'm not planning to open a vein for this experiment, but blood sacrifice is part and parcel with the rituals that many ascribe to the "Satanic" use of a ouija board.  As you all know, I don't give a shred of credence to any of it.  It's a game.  However,  I think if we mean business, we should include at least one super Satanic deluxe, homemade Helter-Skelter version of a ouija board capable of scaring the bejeezus out of fourteen-year-old goth.  If I build it, will y'all come? 

Asking seriously now.  Want me to make one?

[PPI Debra]

Essentially, we're talking about materials that are easily available, right?  Cardboard, some ink, a trivet with a brass finishing nail in the middle?  A plumb line?  How's about I just make a ouija board.  (Either that, or we can fly in a member from TAPS Rhode Island who has one tattooed on his back.)  At the very least, a homemade ouija board should be among our test items, right?

A light drinking glass turned upside down is a traditional substitute for the planchette.

[PPI Karl]

Essentially, we're talking about materials that are easily available, right?  Cardboard, some ink, a trivet with a brass finishing nail in the middle?  A plumb line?  How's about I just make a ouija board.  (Either that, or we can fly in a member from TAPS Rhode Island who has one tattooed on his back.)  At the very least, a homemade ouija board should be among our test items, right?

A light drinking glass turned upside down is a traditional substitute for the planchette.

Right on, Debra.  Perfect.  And when we're finished using it as a planchette, I'll uncork the cognac for us and we'll all drink to our experiment.

[PPI Debra]

[/quote]A light drinking glass turned upside down is a traditional substitute for the planchette.[/quote]

Right on, Debra.  Perfect.  And when we're finished using it as a planchette, I'll uncork the cognac for us and we'll all drink to our experiment.
[/quote]
Ahh... Ouija board.... and Spirits!  LOL

[Damian]

I agree that a homemade board should be among the boards we tested.  Karl, I'll admit that the prospect of making and using the Satan-deluxe board has me a little apprehensive due to the "what-if" factor.  Despite that, I'm still very interested in moving forward with the experiment(s).

What does the team think of the precautionary measure of a protection prayer or ceremony immediately prior to the using of the boards?  My thought is we've really got nothing to lose and everything to gain by carrying a sense of protection within each of us.

I'm not 100% sure what I believe will come of these experiements, but the Eagle Scout in me want to be prepared.

Thoughts?

[PPI Debra]

I agree that a homemade board should be among the boards we tested.  Karl, I'll admit that the prospect of making and using the Satan-deluxe board has me a little apprehensive due to the "what-if" factor.  Despite that, I'm still very interested in moving forward with the experiment(s).

What does the team think of the precautionary measure of a protection prayer or ceremony immediately prior to the using of the boards?  My thought is we've really got nothing to lose and everything to gain by carrying a sense of protection within each of us.

I'm not 100% sure what I believe will come of these experiements, but the Eagle Scout in me want to be prepared.

Thoughts?

I  know how to do the "Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram" (ala Golden Dawn, invoking the Archangels of the 4 quarters) ), the sage smudge clearing ritual, or I can do a Tibetan blessing of the space. Then there's the good ole Christian prayers.

[PPI Karl]

A light drinking glass turned upside down is a traditional substitute for the planchette.

Right on, Debra.  Perfect.  And when we're finished using it as a planchette, I'll uncork the cognac for us and we'll all drink to our experiment.

Ahh... Ouija board.... and Spirits!  LOL

There's just something about contact with the spirits that requires spirits and altered states.  One of my all-time favorite scenes in an early film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, setting up the visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past later on:
   "What might that be?"
   "It's a wine bottle.  A cheering, warming, goodly wine.  A wine that'll race through your veins...with little torches.  It's port, Bob.  The fifth essence of the Christmas spirit."
   "But we haven't got a glass."
   "I'll get one from Mr. Scrooge's office."

I love it.

As for ouija board protection, I'm game for whatever anyone is comfortable with.  No one should be made to feel uncomfortable in this experiment--well, not much, anyway.  My thoughts are that belief plays a large part in whether or not results are forthcoming, and that it also plays a part in such things as protection from negative spirits.  If you would like, I'll be happy to volunteer as the one who goes into this as the Objectivist, sans blessings or protection (though, some may argue that the denial of demonic existence is, itself, a charm to ward off their negative influence; me thinks that's circular reasoning, though).

[PPI Jason]

Well, Karl, if you go in without blessings then you'll need someone to go with you so that at least we'll go to hell with someone to cover us.

I agree with both Gary and Karl that if we are going to test this theory then we need to have at least some test involving some of the other aspects associated with the Ouija Board.

I think we should also consider doing some EVP work during the sessions. We should also consider doing some EVP work prior to the sessions to set up a baseline. We should also monitor EMF, temp, with video cameras, etc... You guys were probably already thinking that, but I just wanted to throw it out there so we're all on the same page. This will be a full on investigation in a sense.

And if Gary, Karl, and I lose our souls in the process, then I say we have Debra cast a soul cleansing spell on the hot tub and on some soul purification essences which will then be placed into several bottles of beer which then we will all have to reluctantly choke down with a sacraficial steak which should be sacraficed on a propane altar. Just an idea 

[Gary]

Yes, Karl, please DO make one of your own.  I think that would be something very interesting to try. 

Jason, like you mentioned that you are going into this expecting little to nothing to happen.  I think that is okay to feel, because I honestly am going into this expecting something.  Won't be disappointed either way. 

We should have multiple video cameras recording a long with voice recorders and anything/everything else.  Collect as much as possible in one take.

It is very interesting to see how this idea snowballed into what is now, I may make this the featured topic for April!!!   

[Shellshock]

Hi  Hi,

   I've actually seen it work* on smooth cement in a patio. O_o
They used a shot glass.

Also, Id always see the "pagan chicks" in high school doing that.
They wrote it out on their binders and would "play" with it in class and at lunch using their guitar picks.

Anyway, I agree, don't blow a lot of money on one of these.

[Gary]

Hi  Hi,

   I've actually seen it work* on smooth cement in a patio. O_o
They used a shot glass.

Also, Id always see the "pagan chicks" in high school doing that.
They wrote it out on their binders and would "play" with it in class and at lunch using their guitar picks.

Anyway, I agree, don't blow a lot of money on one of these.

That is good advice.  Like I said, I know very little about it.  I think I might look into making them over my "weekend" break.  This should be interesting.

[Shellshock]

Dont know much either.

So will you be making making the delightful  pink one? 
Think I might have some old hello kitty stickers you can have
to add to the decor.  =^_^=

=P

[PPI Jason]

Honestly I'm a little scared to try out a Hello Kitty Board. I just feel like we'd be asking for trouble.

Oh hey, I forgot. Can we try to communicate with Ozzy Osbourne. I know he's not dead yet, but that would be pretty cool. We'll have to get a board with a lot of expletives on it though since he probably doesn't spell very well and it will take him a while to get back to us if we don't have a lot of easy one word responses. 

[PPI Tracy]

Honestly I'm a little scared to try out a Hello Kitty Board. I just feel like we'd be asking for trouble.

Oh hey, I forgot. Can we try to communicate with Ozzy Osbourne. I know he's not dead yet, but that would be pretty cool. We'll have to get a board with a lot of expletives on it though since he probably doesn't spell very well and it will take him a while to get back to us if we don't have a lot of easy one word responses. 

We have to make sure that in addition to the words "Yes"  "No" and "Maybe", it has to have one that says "SHAAAAAAARRRRRROOOOOOOON"!

[Damian]

And then one section of the board dedicated to nonsensical and unintelligeable mumblings.   

[PPI Tracy]

Hey....have I got a thread for YOU!  Oh..wow!  You're already here!  Welcome.

so kidding.  i need food.  i dunno what i am spouting.....

[PPI Debra]

Oh hey, I forgot. Can we try to communicate with Ozzy Osbourne. I know he's not dead yet, but that would be pretty cool. We'll have to get a board with a lot of expletives on it though since he probably doesn't spell very well and it will take him a while to get back to us if we don't have a lot of easy one word responses. 
[/quote]

We have to make sure that in addition to the words "Yes"  "No" and "Maybe", it has to have one that says "SHAAAAAAARRRRRROOOOOOOON"!
[/quote]

Tracy,
I had the same idea. How would we talk to Ozzie without having to hear from Sharon? EEK! She'd charge us $$$$ for access!

[PPI Debra]

The Ouija board quiz:

What Pulitzer Prize winning poetry was entirely channeled by the author using an Ouija board?
Whoever finds the answer gets a box of evil chocolate chip cookies (made w/ real butter). 

[Damian]

James Merrill.  But I have to confess that I didn't know that off the top of my head, I looked it up.   

[PPI Debra]

James Merrill.  But I have to confess that I didn't know that off the top of my head, I looked it up.   

But you didn't answer the question!   

Extra credit: What famous "Institution" did his family found?

[PPI Karl]

James Merrill.  But I have to confess that I didn't know that off the top of my head, I looked it up.   

But you didn't answer the question!   

Extra credit: What famous "Institution" did his family found?

Drats!  I was too late for the poetry question!  I actually like James Merrill's poetry, too!  Couldn't honestly tell you anything about his family history, though.  I know he, himself, was head of the MLA for a while.  Maybe Merrill Lynch?  Or, the Merrill Streep School for Scandalized Young Actors?

[PPI Tracy]

The Ouija board quiz:

What Pulitzer Prize winning poetry was entirely channeled by the author using an Ouija board?
Whoever finds the answer gets a box of evil chocolate chip cookies (made w/ real butter). 

Deb - what is UP with those dang cookies?!?!?!  Your Facebook posts are making me HUNGRY!!!!!

[PPI Debra]

The Ouija board quiz:

What Pulitzer Prize winning poetry was entirely channeled by the author using an Ouija board?
Whoever finds the answer gets a box of evil chocolate chip cookies (made w/ real butter). 

Deb - what is UP with those dang cookies?!?!?!  Your Facebook posts are making me HUNGRY!!!!!

Tracy- those cookies are too good. I don't usually like store bought cookies. If there's any left at the store, they coming to the meeting with me!

Karl- No one has named the title of Merrill's channeled poetry yet.
You guessed right: Merrill-Lynch.

[ljiljanac]

If we have enough team members present to do it (which it sounds like we will), how about setting up two boards in two separate areas (one bought and one homemade or whatever, with an EVP'er and a camera and digital recorder set up, and call on the same spirits to compare results?  If both groups call Ozzy or whoever, and both groups get results asking the same questions, we can compare notes afterward and to better know if it was the spirit communicating or our subconscious minds at work?   

[Damian]

Another thing I think we should try is to have the people using the board be blindfolded, then another team member places the board in front of the blindfolded team members so that the people using the board don't know for sure where the letters and responses are at on the board.  I think it was on Penn and Teller's Bullshit show that they did a similar experiment.  I like it because it takes a chunk of the human factor out of it.

Another experiment that came to mind is to have board users stare/focus on the planchette without touching it.  I'd like to see if the collective focused energy would allow the planchette to move on it's own (I'm pretty sure it won't, but it's just another aspect to test).  And on top of that team members, while not touching the planchette, and while focusing on the board, should have a pen and pad in front of them so that when questions are asked of the board they can write down any answers or responses that might pop into their heads.  Then after the exercise, any written notes could be compared.

And while these experiments are going on, a couple of team members should be actively videoing the goings on, and like Jason suggested we should have audio recorders running too.

Would it be worthwhile to ask the questions from that global EVP survey during one of the board experiments?

[Shellshock]

 
I really like your ideas! The blind fold actually popped up in my mind as well.
Another idea I liked was have someone whos not sitting at the board and touching the planchette ,
stand to the side, with back turned or Blind folded ask the Questions. Im sure thats been done, but
ive never seen that.
*Sorry if that was already mentioned early on, I couldnt scroll back  my screen keeps freezing up! O_o

I'm really looking forward to these experiments.

Also just to help see who has what , and who can bring what things -
I have a HandyCam ive yet to use and also a lil Flip Video camera.
so just in case we fall short on video cameras I could bring one or both.


xoxo's