Ouija board, will you work for me?





   Ever since I was a child I have maintained a fascination with the "supernatural." Although after years of experience, and being formally educated in mental processes, I've come to realize that many of my childhood fantasies are just that; fantasies. There will always remain a glimmer of hope within me that other worldly things can be explained scientifically as being other worldly, and not always be debunked and accredited to psychological and physiological processes. A while back a work colleague of mine had engaged in a conversation with me about the paranormal and his inability to accept it as being real. I respect his opinion, and for the most part I agree with him. Without substantial proof of there being an afterlife, or demons, or even monsters, why should I believe any of it? How long ago was it that people believed sin made crops grow dry? Or when the world was flat? There are many things that humans have believed which turned out to be absolute crap. Other than disproving various accounts of paranormal activity, what advances have been made in paranormal science? After hundreds of years, what have we got to show for it? Nothing. Perhaps it will always be nothing. I don't really have a problem with that. I feel that like religion, the belief in something supernatural is merely a solution to death anxiety. It exists only for the sake of comfort. But what if we do find something? As I had mentioned before I mostly agreed with my colleague; a part of me believes there are bigger things we have yet to understand. Just because we can't see it doesn't necessarily mean it isn't there. I may sound like I'm contradicting myself, and perhaps I am; I'll explain this thoroughly. I do not believe we can fly, or cast spells on each other, or that we can have OBEs. I believe people think they can. What I do belive in is that there are species of animals we have yet to discover. I do feel there are functions of the mind that we have yet to understand; but are either of these paranormal? A couple hundred years ago optical illusions would have been considered paranormal, but research in perception has proven otherwise. Paranomal is a word that can only be applied to something prior to its explanation; after it has been analyzed and proven to be true it would have to be accepted as a natural part of life. The word "para" means outside of, or against, and it goes against what's normal. It's ironic that so many die-hard believers wish to prove the paranormal, but in doing so it would only make it less paranormal. The world of alternative science still has its work cut out for it; I remain a skeptic of the supernatural, but my inner child continues to dream.

  The reason I wanted to discuss my feelings in regards to the paranormal is because I didn't want to break into this entry without properly introducing my viewpoint on a subject of controversy. This entry will no doubt start some eye rolling, or maybe excite enthusiasts of the supernatural. I only saw it befitting to familiarize you, the reader, with my personal stance on such matters so that you won't be surprized if I suddenly start spouting out comments that are in direct opposition to your beliefs. I'm not trying to piss people off, and I'm also not trying to change your opinions. I'm just aware that some people are overly sensitive to these things. So, I'd like to get on with it!


Photo from WilliamFuld.com
-Similar to my board only fibre board.
     It was a few months ago that I found myself browsing through a small antiques shop, (practically located in the middle of nowhere). I really enjoy visiting antique or rummage shops because I'm never entirely sure of what I'll find in them. I don't usually have an idea of what it is I want to buy, I just keep an open mind. On this particular visit I happened across something that stirred warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia within me. It was a vintage Ouija Board made of solid wood. I literally froze infront of it, I was so awestruck. It could've easily been missed as it was piled under a mess of aged board games, but I felt drawn to it. It came without a box, but it did have it's original large wooden planchette (with three long pronged legs), and a little instruciton booklet. I don't believe I've ever seen a vintage Ouija in person before, nothing that predates the 90s. I was reluctant to buy it because I already own a Ouija Board that I seldom even see; but I wasn't sure if that was a good enough reason to pass on something that awesome. When I was younger I used to be kind of creeped out by the Ouija Board. I shared a lot of good times with friends playing with the board at parties and late night gatherings, and of course friends always highten the creepiness of the game. I admit I didn't buy it initially. I had to leave and consider it for awhile, then hurried back and scooped up the little treasure.  It turns out it's a pre-1950s ouija board by the Canada Games Company LTD. Canada Games Company LTD was established in 1923 (formerly Canada Games Company) and located in Toronto, ON. It's estimated their boards were created between the years 1915-1955. I believe mine pre-dates the 1950's due to the fact it is made entirely of hard wood, not fibre board, and the planchette is also not plastic like models created from the 50's onwards. Unfortunately I don't have the box, which is probably why I scooped the board at such a low cost. It doesn't have any noticeable damage, with the exception that the instruction booklet has some wear and tear. These boards were made to be solid and sturdy. They aren't the most beautiful boards to look at it, but I'd take quality over aesthetic any day. You can find more information about the Canada Games Company LTD, as well as other leading Ouija manufacturers, and the "father" of the Ouija himself, William Fuld, at WilliamFuld.com. They provide extensive information about a variety of different boards, and pictures in case you're inspired to look for an antique board yourself. What I found particularly interesting about the site is the"customer letters" that were sent to Mr. Fuld regarding his invention. These letters are humorous, and sometimes disturbing. Which begs the question, just how far do people take their beliefs?



    Thanks to the boom in parlor séances, divination games, and the first World War, many people were desperate to get in contact with their departed loved ones, and the Ouija board became the perfect conduit to the spirit world. The ability to communicate with the dead was at your finger tips, a new seemingly real way to make contact, but was it? To many it appeared that way. Anyone who has lost a loved one will admit to the shock, confusion, and desperation that they experienced shortly after the death. Your mind struggles to accept the loss, but you just can't. You need closure, you need to have them back, you need to tell them all the things you never had a chance to say. The Ouija preys on that desperation. It wasn't of course invented for that reason; in fact a quick overview of my instruction booklet speaks more to the old fashion parlor games played at Halloween or on New Years. Questions like when will I meet my love? Will they be handsome? Will I be rich? It plays out more like an 8-ball than a door to another world. In fact there is no mention of contacting spirits whatsoever. The most my booklet ventures to say is “...apparently forming the link which unites the known with the unknown; the material with the immaterial.” It's primary focus is fortune and truth telling, not ghosts. Considering you can ask the board anything it's no doubt that eventually people asked about their loved ones, and it evolved to be used in séances. Some people believed they were speaking with their loved one, and wrote to Fuld with great praise and appreciation for the device, while other more religious types would condemn the board and write spitefully to him. The most depressing letter I had come across was written by a young man, who to my recollection was desperate to win the affection of a girl and said he would kill himself if he couldn't have her. The board, from what I can remember, either instructed the boy to approach her, or give her a letter to win her love. Basically the young man took it to an extreme level of belief. The board practically dictated the way his life would unfold, and that's wholly depressing. What's more, people are still like this today.




    I have no problem with people maintaining spiritual belief, but there can be unhealthy degrees of belief, especially if they threaten your well-being. I recall a while back when I was working in a department store, I had been approached by a young woman, probably sixteen or seventeen, with her male friend. They were acting strangely. I was a weird kid, but not this weird. They were giggling and mumbling to themselves, and acting erratically. I thought perhaps they were stoned out of their minds, or just messed up. Either way, I had to do my job, so I asked if I could help them. The girl was desperate to get a hold of a Ouija board, I of course took her to toys to get it for her. They were asking questions, which I'd answer, but they wouldn't even listen to me, because they'd talk right over me. I was pretty annoyed with them. The girl was insistent on knowing if the board was “safe.” I laughed a little and said “yeah, it's produced by Parker Brothers.” She stood there pretty dumbfounded, then went on in a ramble being like “I need it to be safe, don't you think it should be safe?” Blah, blah, blah blah. She also needed to look at the board thoroughly, where I explained that it's just masonite with a sticker, and a glow-in-the-dark planchette. I had made an attempt to explain that even if the board really worked, it wouldn't be the board doing the work but the person themselves (which I thoroughly believe in), but this chick was in outer space and probably wasn't even aware of my existence. Her friend and her bought the board, giggling, and left. I don't have much patience for people, and I am surprised I had any patience for those two. It's clear they didn't even make an attempt to research about the board, they were mislead into thinking that it is a legitimate and dangerous spiritual device. Well, it's not. I don't care if Long Island Medium, or Sylvia Browne, or any other dork tells you differently; it's a toy. Do weird things happen with them? Probably. Are all apparently paranormal things fake? Until proven otherwise. I'm sure many of you have used a board and contacted a loved one and had them say things that nobody else could possibly know, but there are so many contributing factors to take into account. Like the age old question, who's pushing the planchette? We all have had the trouble-maker friend who takes it upon themselves to lead the séance, and by lead I mean pretty much make up every answer on purpose. Even in groups which you think are absolutely 100% serious believers, there's still a good chance someone is faking. Another thing to consider is the sub-conscious. We do a lot of things without thinking, or at least actively thinking. You may not realize you're pushing the planchette and answering your own questions, but on a sub-conscious level you are. Haven't you ever found the answers to be too perfect to be true? Or maybe you start saying the answer aloud before the board is finished spelling the words? Involuntary muscle spasms or twitches in the fingertips have also been suggested as a contributing factor to the movement of the planchette, although this can only really account for part of the movement, as your arms push the planchette around also; perhaps the finger spasms influence the movement of the arm. Overall, what I'm trying to get at here is that there are a plethora of explanations for why the board doesn't really work, and only one for why it does.

    Why does it work? Because you believe it does. That doesn't mean it actually works, but if you believe it does how can any of us tell you otherwise? If you have a strong enough belief in something, you can convince yourself it's real, even if it isn't. The power of the mind is an interesting thing and it begs further investigation. Maybe we are psychic to a degree, but as it stands right now we're ordinary people with ordinary powers. I truly feel that it is important to remember the Ouija board is just for entertainment purposes. It is meant to be a fun and exciting experience, not for you to gain a fake closure to a loved one's death, not for you to “know” what you'll be like in the future. The answers you look for really reside within you, not the board. You are the key to healing and overcoming the loss of someone. You are the one that makes the decisions for your future, not the board. I'll close my post off with the fourth step in my instruction booklet,

“4th – The Ouija is a great mystery, and we do not claim to give exact directions for its management, neither do we claim that at all times and under all circumstances, it will work equally well, but we do claim, that with reasonable patience and judgment it will more than satisfy your greatest expectations.”

Update

     I realize I once again have failed to keep up with consistent posts. This blog stuff is harder than I thought. My work load has been tremendous, and I've also suffered some very hurtful losses in previous months; including one of my very best friends. As you can imagine, having that pain to deal with has made writing about dark and creepy things a lot less appealing. I'm normally fascinated by death, and the grieving process, but when it happens to me it's not so interesting. It's more of a pain in the ass. All my previous ideas surrounding death have been challenged, and now, as someone without a religious belief system, I struggle to make sense of things. Lately I just can't, and I'm more likely to nap than attempt to analyze what's happened. Sleep has been my saviour. In my spare time, which is minimal at best, I try to keep myself occupied. I have come up with a few ideas to aid me in my struggle with my losses, and I believe they're very positive and productive ideas. I don't have much time to embark upon them yet, but I will in a few months time. For now I'm attempting to rebuild my wardrobe. I've been wanting more sort of goth clothing, so I've been planning some sewing projects. I'm not really gothic to be honest, I just like certain styles, and incorporate them into my wardrobe. When I think of my style, I don't think of an exact label, I just think of me. I think that's how everybody's wardrobe should be. It shouldn't be "Goth" or "Jock" or "Prep;" it should just be you. I hate stereotypes...what's more, I hate people who enjoy embodying stereotypes...I just feel those types of people epitomize what it is to be pathetic. So in future time I'll be creating a few random garments, and possibly posting them on here.


    In other news, I've got cable again. I normally don't watch tv, but I've taken to the show Oddities. If you haven't seen it, it's about a half hour long and about obscure antiques. I love weird antiques, but am unfortunately in an area where you don't see many. I've considered traveling to NY to visit Obscura, but now that's it has a tv spot, I'm wondering just how out of control their clientele is. I've always wondered about reality tv when it concerns a business. So much of it is staged. I had read a comment left on their blog, and someone pointed out that in every episode they're wearing the same clothing. I hadn't noticed before. Was it shot in a day? The people often come in with over the top accents, and behaviour. I've known some kooky people, but much of what I see on the show seems too over the top...like they've been paid to act that way. I seriously hate "reality" tv to the very core; the only reason I'm watching this show is to get inspired. If the antiques are legit, I know what to look for when I go shopping. If they aren't, which is sad, I at least can be inspired when creating Halloween props. I would love to get some crazy looking specimen jars. My dream is to have a house like the Addams family (the original...not the puke they made in the 90s show from Bravo). I like that eccentric museum look they had going on. If I find anything really weird, guaranteed it will be posted on here. The last thing I had found, which I'll be posting about shortly is a vintage Ouija Board. The post is long overdue. I was gonna touch base with a few beliefs surrounding the board, a history, so forth. It'll be an interesting read. So look forward to it! I will do my best to try and update, but obviously life does have to take priority, so I can't make promises.
All the best.
-Sugar Skull

ALSO: Please ignore any hidden links in my entry, this is some feature that I'm not happy to see. I don't know if this bullshit is courtesy of Blogger, or it's some kind of virus they haven't worked through, but the links are just spam. So avoid them. If I link something I will say it is a legit link.