This week’s Witchy Wednesday topic bubbled up from a perfectly ordinary chat at work… the kind that suddenly takes a paranormal detour and reminds me why I love being me.
A colleague told me his ten-year-old daughter had been to a friend’s birthday sleepover. You know the sort: pizza, giggles, fluffy blankets — and apparently, a homemade Ouija board drawn on a sheet of paper.
Yes. The girls held a séance.
According to him, they “got results.” Now, whether that was spirit communication or the overactive imagination of excitable children fuelled by sugar and birthday cake, we may never know. But the twist came when one of the supervising adults — a notorious family prankster — decided to enhance the atmosphere by playing ghostly sounds from speakers outside the bedroom door.
Cue shrieks, hysteria, and mild parental panic.
While I personally find this hilarious (and would probably have done the same when my own girls were younger, but don’t tell them), my colleague was a little unsettled. He wondered whether “anything might have crept out of the void,” and whether his daughter was spiritually safe. I reassured him that he needn’t worry — but the conversation stayed with me.
Because once again, the humble Ouija board had stepped into the spotlight as a misunderstood, much-maligned tool of divination.
So today, let’s explore its history, uncover why it has such a frightening reputation, and remind ourselves that when used respectfully, it is just another doorway to the unseen.
A Brief — and Surprisingly Ordinary — History of the Ouija Board
Many people assume the Ouija board has ancient, occult origins… a sinister artefact passed down by witches and mediums from the dawn of time.
In truth, the modern Ouija board was invented in 1890 as a parlour game.
Yes, really.
The Spiritualist movement was booming, and people were fascinated with communicating with their loved ones who had passed. Entrepreneurs saw an opportunity, packaged the idea into a wooden board with letters, numbers, and a planchette — and sold it as wholesome family entertainment. It wasn’t considered dangerous. It wasn’t banned. It wasn’t whispered about in fear.
It was sold in toy shops, the same way we buy Monopoly or Scrabble today.
The “dark reputation” didn’t arrive until much later.
So How Did It Become the Tool of Horror Films?
Over the decades, the Western world’s cultural relationship with death and the supernatural shifted. Spiritualism faded. Fear-based storytelling grew. Hollywood stepped in to turn this simple communication tool into a portal for demons, possessions, and worst-case scenarios.
Then came The Exorcist (1973).
One teenage girl, a Ouija board, and suddenly mass panic. Overnight, the board went from quirky curiosity to the Devil’s hotline.
Never mind the decades of safe, uneventful use before that. The film cemented the board’s reputation in popular culture, and we’ve been undoing that knot ever since.
My Own Take — Respect, Curiosity, and a Dash of Common Sense
I’ve always been fascinated by Ouija boards. I don’t fear them. I don’t worship them. I see them as a tool, just like tarot cards, runes, or a pendulum.
I’ve taught my daughters how to use one responsibly:
- Set your intention
- Be respectful
- Protect your energy
- Stay grounded
- Close the session properly
It’s not about inviting chaos — it’s about understanding the energetic nature of communication. Children at a sleepover almost certainly aren’t channelling ancient malevolent beings. More likely:
- Their subconscious minds are doing the work
- Their imaginations are running wild
- The prankster outside the door is stirring the pot
(Honestly, I would’ve loved to have seen that scene unfold!)
But the conversation with my colleague highlighted something important:
Even in 2025, our culture still treats the Ouija board as taboo.
So Should You Be Worried If Your Child Tries One?
Generally… no.
Children experiment. They explore. They test boundaries. The homemade paper Ouija board has long been a rite of passage at sleepovers. While I always encourage respect when interacting with anything spiritual, I don’t believe a group of giggling ten-year-olds with a biro and a sheet of A4 are going to tear open the veil.
If anything, it’s an opportunity:
- Teach them healthy curiosity
- Teach them grounding and protection
- Teach them that the paranormal is not something to fear — but something to approach responsibly
We do more harm by letting fear shape the narrative.
Final Thoughts: The Spirit World Isn’t the Monster — Our Own Stories Are
The Ouija board is only as powerful as the intention behind it.
The real danger comes from:
- Fear
- Misunderstanding
- Media sensationalism
- Adults with hidden speakers and a flair for theatrics
For me, Witchy Wednesday is all about shining a light on the unseen with honesty and curiosity. So if you or someone you know has questions about divination tools, intuition, or spiritual communication, remember:
Respect is key. Fear is optional. Curiosity is essential.
And ghostly sound effects should probably come with a warning label.
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