The Talking Board, or patented Ouija Board, has quite a past and contacting the other side using automatic writing or letters on a board goes back far further than the nineteenth century.

It is recorded that in China in 1100BC a method of spirit writing called Fuji was used, this entailed the use of a device with a stick that would write Chinese characters in ashes or sand. Likewise the Greek philosopher Pythagoras is recorded to have used a table on wheels adorned with letters and characters to contact spirits from beyond our plain.

Today a talking board or Ouija board is recognised as a table top device with characters laid out that which, when combined with a triangular pointer, enables it’s user to contact the dead, or as the spiritualists would correct me, Spirits From The Other Side. So how did this come about and how did such a device in the twentieth century become recognised as a children’s parlour game ?

The Planchette

The triangular pointing device is known as a Planchette and it seems to stem back to the 1850’s although how it got its name is somewhat unsure. The original Planchette consisted on a small triangular board raised on two legs, with its third leg being a pen or pencil. By placing their fingers on it members of a séance would ask questions hoping the device would move to write out the replies. Its name like its origin is dubious, one version is a Frenchman called ‘M Planchette’ invented it, while some records show ‘Thomas Welton’ laid claim to the device and published a booklet called ‘The Planchette’ to endorse this.  With no official records of such a Frenchman, or a copy of Mr. Welton’s booklet still in existence today’s historians favour the name stemmed from the French word  ‘planchette’  its literal French translation being ‘Little Plank’.

The Ouija Board

The history of the ‘Ouija’ board however seems far better documented, although the actual inventor is still a mystery in itself.  There are two contended accounts for this title. 

Ernest Charles Reiche, a cabinet or coffin maker from Chestertown who’s interest in the afterlife and need to have a more portable device to communicate with the dead brought about the creation of the first Ouija Board. This information is documented in a The New York World Magazine article written by Edgar Goodman on May 23rd 1920, where it is stated:

“Col. Washington Bowie, who was a leading figure in the company that originally manufactured the ouija board, narrated, while testifying in the case of Fuld vs. Fuld, that in the early part of 1890 Mr. E. C. Reichie, a cabinetmaker of Chestertown, Kent County, Md., invented the ouija board. In that year spiritism was in the flush of its early glory, and tables rapped and pranced on every side. Mr Reichie, although not a spiritist, noticed sympathetically that a large table was a heavy thing for a frail spirit to juggle about. His meditations, attuned to cabinetmaking, took a practical form. He devised a little table – the ouija board.”

The more documented Ouija history puts its creation down to Elijah J. Bond of Baltimore, who applied for the first US patent on 28^th May 1890. He assigned the rights to two fellow masons and local business men Charles W. Kennard and William H.A. Maupin. The two combined forces with Colonel Washington Bowie and on October 20th 1890 they appeared in court to file for incorporation papers for the Kennard Novelty Company which went on to produce the first version aptly titled ‘Ouija : A Wonderful Talking Board’. The patent was granted on February 10, 1891.

William Fuld

This was to be a short lived company ownership and by 1892 the Kennard Novelty Company was to be taken over. A name now synonymous with Ouija came into the spotlight. One of Kennard’s employees, William Fuld and his brother Issac took over the company and renamed it ‘The Ouija Novelty Company’.

On 19th July 1892 the patent was re-issued to William Fuld, the company continued under the leadership of the Fuld brothers until nigh on nine years later. On 18th July 1901 the Fuld’s ended their partnership under somewhat of a cloud and the company was once more to be renamed. This was to give way to the name that would adorn the Ouija Board throughout it’s life span under William Fuld … ‘The Baltimore Talking Board Company’.

It must be stated that William’s brother Issac did try to hold onto some of his association with talking boards. He set up his own company called ‘Southern Toy Company’ making a talking board called ‘Oriole’ based on Kennard’s original design. After a legal battle with his brother William Fuld however he was forced to cease this production in 1920.

Williams association with the Ouija Board came to a tragic end when he died falling from the roof of his home, while overseeing  the work  on a flagpole . The company was then to be taken over by his sons William A. Fuld & Hubert Fuld.

The company continued under the Fuld descendants until 24^th February 1966 when Willaim A. Fuld sold the company to Parker Brothers, best known for the game Monopoly.

The board has gone through many changes over the years, as have the owners. In 1991 Hasbro took over ownership of Parker and so the patent of the Ouija Board.  They still make the board today in various guises included a green glow in the dark version, and a pink version sold through Toys R Us aimed at young girls. A version that caused much contraversy in 2010. An interesting issue when we consider since it’s introduction  it has always been marketed as a parlour game.

Many films have portrayed the Ouija board as a device to communicate with evil including the Exorcist, 13 Ghosts, Witchboard, What Lies Beneath and most recently Paranormal Activity.  Is there any fact behind this and occultist Aleister Crowley’s association with the board ?  Watch this space for the next article on Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board.

By Paul L. Griffiths 2010

THE annual Arthur Findlay College Course Organisers’ and Tutors’ meeting has been held at Stansted Hall. Those tutors attending the weekend event met to discuss and help each other with teaching-related issues.

This year’s meeting, led by course organisers’ support team Paul Jacobs CSNU, Minister Simone Key and Simon James OSNU, contained an additional element, as tutors were divided into working parties where they examined and discussed a range of sometimes controversial subjects which frequently give rise to concern regarding people’s understanding of the Spirit World. As a result of these discussions a number of conclusions and statements were agreed collectively.

ABORTIONS /MISCARRIAGES

The AFC teaching staff accept that, based on the Fourth Principle– the Continuous Existence of the Human Soul:
1. It is not possible to communicate with an aborted or miscarried
foetus, but it is possible to communicate with family who are connected, and who have an awareness of the event, and therefore bring reassurance to the recipient.
2. Following the Seventh Principle – Eternal Progress Open to Every Human Soul – there is progression of the individual in the Spirit World, but we cannot give definitive evidence of the process.

ALIENS

We cannot deny the possibility of the existence of aliens. Contrary to popular belief, not is disturbed. Many people hold this belief, but do not indoctrinate others.
Even though people may say they have had certain experiences, they can only have them subjectively, and we cannot confirm or deny them.

ARCHANGELS, ASCENDED MASTERS AND GUIDES

As Spiritualists, we understand and accept the role of guides as a supporting team to us in our earthly lives, in our mediumship and our spiritual progression.
We accept that certain reflections of teachings from a spiritual hierarchy, be it Ascended Masters or Archangels, do exist and may be accessed, but we do not accept that these higher beings take the role of individual guides in our lives.

ATTACHMENTS

It is not possible for anything or anyone to attach itself to you. Circumstances or the individual’s own mind and negative thinking can manifest a false reality in which they sincerely believe this may be happening. One may believe this situation could occur because the seed is planted by another person with malicious and/or ignorant intent.
Fear can be alleviated by education, counselling, support and healing to help the individual to recognise that the situation is not genuine.

DEFINITION OF ANGELS

As Spiritualists, our definition of angels is a spiritually evolved intelligence, which is incarnate or discarnate, that aids and touches the soul of another.

EVIL SPIRITS

We cannot accept the idea of evil spirits. As spirit is the pure expression of God, evil surely is a product of the negative thoughts and actions of the conscious mind, and therefore, not of spirit. We do not accept the idea, therefore, that the Spirit World could exert a harmful force on humankind.

POSSESSION

No matter what level of consciousness a medium moves to within the altered state, it is still mental mediumship. The Spirit World impinges through the auric field to the conscious mind, thus allowing the personality and characteristics of the discarnate spirit to be witnessed.
Due to the past and present activities of the media and film industry, some people have come to believe possession is possible. However, throughout all religious history, there has never been a scientifically proven case of possession.

PROTECTION

The AFC teaching staff accept that, based on the Fifth Principle of Personal Responsibility, the only protection needed is from our own ignorance. Our greater understanding of Natural Law allows us the knowledge that God is the ultimate embodiment of unconditional love, and that the concept of protection is therefore meaningless.

PSYCHIC ATTACK (PSYCHIC SELF-ATTACK)

We believe we feed our own paranoia, and this can be realised through our heightened sensitivity. The damage we can do to ourselves is unlimited as we respond through jealousy, bitterness, hatred, revenge, hurt and anger. We feel our emotions are very fragile, and because of this heightened state, we try to rationalise senses and feelings not normally experienced, thus blaming psychic attack.

Reported in the Psychic News 6th March 2010

Most Haunted’s Phil Whyman has launched a new website for his company Dead Haunted.

Phil and his team take the public on ghost hunts and paranormal investigations in some of the countries most haunted locations.

This years summer special is a series of investigations of Pendle Hill Lancashire, famous for the Pendle Witches

Visit http://www.deadhaunted.com

What appears to be a glowing white orb can clearly be seen emerging from a fireplace in a hair salon that was once a courthouse – and where criminals used to be hanged in the cellar.

The property’s current owner, hairdresser Harry Browns, 35, said his customers have been plagued by spooky apparitions for years.
 On the move: What appears to be a white ghost can be seen emerging from a fireplace in a Market Harborough hair salon that was once a courthouse
But he said this was the first time one had ever been filmed in the salon in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

‘We’ve been aware of an eerie presence in the salon for years but to actually see it on film is very odd,’ Mr Browns said.

‘Some of the girls working here have been quite freaked out by what they’ve seen. Scissors and hairbrushes have gone missing and order sheets have printed out on their own.

‘On one occasion a customer saw two people standing by the fireplace wearing old clothing.

‘He freaked out when we said no one was there so I decided to get some professionals to investigate.’

The spectre was caught on film after spook hunters Ghost UK set up cameras in the salon – a former courthouse dating back to 1820 – earlier this year.

 Who you gonna call? Spook watchers Ghost UK were called in to monitor the salon. Prisoners used to be hanged in the property’s cellar

At 8.21pm on February 28, a ghostly white flash appeared on the camera.
Kelly Goddard, 31, of Ghost UK, said the ghost could be that of a former prisoner.

‘The most interesting part of the night was when we saw what looked like an orb or spirit,’ she said.

‘On the screen it seemed to change shape. We believe the shape could have something to do with what the building was used for in the past.

‘Apparently it was used as a courthouse and criminals used to be hanged in the building’s cellar.

‘This could explain the strange orbs and the dip in temperature felt by the staff and customers.’

Father-of-two Mr Browns said he is happy for the ghosts to stay as long as they remain friendly.

He said: ‘I haven’t decided whether to hire an exorcist yet, as long as the ghosts don’t do any harm I suppose they can stay.’

Daily Mail on 14th April 2009

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169860/Caught-camera-The-spooky-moment-ghost-haunts-courthouse-prisoners-hanged.html#ixzz0gowHQFLd

STRANGE footsteps were heard by builders working at ‘Deco 5’, a bar and art gallery in Whitstable, Kent.

The men reported that the footsteps made their way across the floor in the room above the bar, which is part of the first floor art gallery.

Work continued, but then engineers said the whole floor was unsound and would have to be replaced. Owner Tiziana told Your Canterbury: “It was when they were  clearing out the rubble after the old floor had been removed. We were out at the time, and when we got back we found these two burly builders shaking on the doorstep and refusing to go back in. They said they had just heard footsteps on a floor that wasn’t there!”

Co-owner Michael Dowling said, “We thought they were joking at first, but they were white and shaking.” From then on the builders worked in pairs. An electrician, working in the loft early one morning had the fright of his life when his lamp smashed, but still lit, it appeared to float through the air. Tiziana said, “He rushed down to the bar and refused to go back upstairs. We spent an hour calming him down. He took the next day off.”

Staff have reported slamming doors, trip switches on the security cameras operating for no reason, and flickering lights. Customers seem to avoid using the back stairs leading down from the gallery to the bar. They are becoming used to their supernatural entity, and according to Tiziana, everyone refers to it as ‘her’.

“We talk to her, ask if she’s OK. And she likes the music. When the music is on, nothing seems to happen.”

Deco 5’s owners are looking into the history of the building to see if they can shed any light on the reports. They are interested to hear from anyone who might
have information. Get in touch at http://www.deco5.co.uk/

PALE young woman appears at the window of a ruined castle – in a photo said to show a GHOST.

The spooky snap was taken at a building hailed as one of Britain’s most haunted.

The shadowy girl appears to be on the first floor, in what used to be a magnificent banquet hall.

The floor in that room crumbled away years ago, meaning there is nothing for a person to stand on.

Company boss Kevin Horkin took the photo at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales, but only saw the ghostly figure when he downloaded his pictures later.

Kevin, 48, said: “I did feel a presence there. It was a cold day when I visited, but it seemed warm near the building.

“There seems to be a sense of tragedy there.”

Kevin, believes the figure is someone who once lived at the castle. He plans to investigate further with a ghost-hunting team.

The North Wales Paranormal Research Group says many sightings have already been recorded at Gwrych.

The castle, built in 1819, has been derelict since 1985.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2853270/A-pale-young-woman-appears-at-the-window-of-a-ruined-castle-in-a-photo-said-to-show-a-ghost.html

A pink version of the popular Ouija board game has some critics seeing red.

The children’s sleepover staple — sold by Hasbro since 1967 — now comes in hot pink, an edition released two years ago that gets tweens to call on “spirits” to spell out answers to life’s pressing questions.

It’s designed for young girls ages 8 and older, but some say the mysterious product is a “dangerous spiritual game” that opens up anyone, particularly Christians, to attacks on their soul.

The game continues to be sold at Toys R Us locations in the U.S. and Canada for $19.99, although it’s currently being “phased out,” company officials say.

“There’s a spiritual reality to it and Hasbro is treating it as if it’s just a game,” said Stephen Phelan, communications director for Human Life International, which bills itself as the largest international pro-life organization and missionary worldwide. “It’s not Monopoly. It really is a dangerous spiritual game and for [Hasbro] to treat it as just another game is quite dishonest.”

Phelan, who has never played the game, said the Bible explicitly states “not to mess with spirits” and that using a Ouija board will leave a person’s soul vulnerable to attack.

“All Christians should know, well everyone should, that it’s opening up a person to attack, spiritually,” he said. “Christians shouldn’t use it.”

Asked how the game differed from magic kits or Harry Potter-themed merchandise, Phelan replied, “The difference is that the Ouija board is actually is a portal to talk to spirits and it’s hard to get people to understand that until they actually do it. I don’t pretend to know how it works, but it actually does.”

Phelan also noted that the pink version of the game is explicitly marketed to young girls who may want to partake in “something dangerous” during a late-night sleepover.

“It’s pink,” he said. “That wouldn’t appeal to me when I was 8.”

The pink edition is also available for $33.99 on Amazon.com, where some commenters likened the game to occult materials targeting “tween” girls.

“Just unbelievable,” one posting read. “Hasbro — you should be seriously ashamed — you have lost your way. Ouija boards are NOT ‘games’ and they certainly should not be marketing these to children.”

Toy expert and consultant Chris Byrne said he found “absolutely nothing” wrong with any version of the game.

“And if something doesn’t fit your value or belief system, you don’t have to buy it,” Byrne said. “There’s absolutely nothing remotely Christian or un-Christian about it. I think people are projecting their belief system on it.”

Byrne, who writes for timetoplaymag.com, said he was unclear of the origin of the notion that Ouija players can somehow communicate with spirits or the dead.

“That is something that people have made up and it became part of our culture,” he said. “It’s always been entertainment. What I remember is trying to brain my younger brother with the board because he kept moving it. It’s just funny that people make up this stuff.”

Hasbro officials say they have received a “couple of dozen” complaints following a recent report on the pink version. Patricia Riso, a Hasbro spokeswoman, defended the game as, well, just that.

“Our response is that Ouija is simply a game — and it is intended purely for fun and entertainment,” she wrote FoxNews.com.

Bob Friedland, a spokesman for Toys R Us, said the pink Ouija version has been on clearance at its locations and is being “phased out” moving forward as new products are being introduced this year.

“There are very few pieces in our inventory in store and it is no longer available online,” Friedland wrote.

In a statement to FoxNews.com, the Toy Industry Association said the game is among thousands of options to bring “fun and excitement” to children.

“TIA encourages parents to make their own choices about which products are most appropriate for their families,” the statement read.

Byrne, meanwhile, said the current version of the game is not much different from the first Ouija-like game first patented by patent attorney Elijah Bond in May 1890.

“It’s been a popular toy for years, and I’ve played it and I don’t do any Macbeth-like witchcraft,” he said. “It’s no different from watching a scary movie or a good ghost story.”

Fox News – 6th February 2010

Local magistrates, conducted ruthless witch-hunts in 1612 in the hope that they would find favour with King James who lived in fear of Catholic rebellion having survived the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. One of these hunts resulted in the arresting of Alizon Device in Pendle, Lancashire.

The crime she was accused of was setting a curse on a pedlar and paralysing him. She confessed, and incriminated two other women, named Demdike and Chattox.

Investigations at Demdike’s home, Malkin Tower, revealed human bones and clay figures of people who had mysteriously died in recent years.

The magistrate continued their witch-hunt arresting, eleven women in total and then imprisoned at Lancaster Castle where on 17th August 1612 ten of them were tried and publicly hanged three days later.

Alizon Device, Elizabeth Device, James Device, Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, Anne Redferne, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock & Isobel Robey were the ten hanged at Lancaster gaol.

Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike, died in Lancaster Gaol awaiting trial, but was nevertheless considered to be a witch on the basis of evidence already gathered. Jennet Preston, who lived just over the Lancashire border, was tried in Yorkshire and hanged at York in 1612. Finally, Magaret Pearson was found guilty of witchcraft at Lancaster, but not murder, and received a sentence of one years imprisonment.

In their mass these people made up the famous thirteen Pendle Witches.

The Pendle Witches were accused of selling their souls to evil spirits or devils in return for the power to kill or injure who ever they pleased.

The usual method of murder, described in Demdike’s confession to magistrates, was to make an ethigy of the intended victim, known as a ‘picture of clay’. The image was then crumbled or burned over a period of time, causing the victim to fall ill and slowly die.

The family at the centre of the witchcraft allegations and the ring leaders of the Pendle Witches: Alizon Device, James Device, Elizabeth Device and Demdike lived at Malkin Tower. Demdike, who was in here eighties, was the head of the family and was believed to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. It is here that bones and other vital evidence was found to incriminate the Device family.

Magistrates were baffled that the witches were so eager to incriminate each other when questioned, but it then came to light that Demdike had once been a close friend of Chattox, but they fell out and then feuded bitterly. It is believed that this is why the two families incriminated each other. In addition to this when Demdike died in gaol, Chattox changed here story, claiming Demdike was responsible for inticing here into witchcraft.

The Pendle Witches are said to haunt the buildings, landscapes and historic villages in the shadow of Pendle Hill such as Newchurch, home of St. Mary’s Church, from where Demdike was thought to have stolen human bones.

A sinister feeling and anger is often felt by visitors and many local refuse to discuss the goings on for fear of their own safety.

The comedian Billy Connolly used to play music at the Pendle Inn before his comic fame and loves to return to Pendle to relive those times.

Visit Pendle Hill With Phil Whyman’s Dead Haunted Nights

Download The Pendle Witch Trail Leaflet (PDF)

Paranormal investigations, organised ghost hunts & ghost hunting events with Dead Haunted Nights; the only UK ghost hunting, haunted events and paranormal investigation company whose events are run and hosted by an internationally recognised figure within paranormal TV programming – Most Haunted’s PHIL WHYMAN.

To Book Any Of These Events visit DEAD HAUNTED NIGHTS

The Tarot was originally a deck of 78 cards, divided into 4 suits of 14 cards (the standard ace-10, then page, knight, queen, and king) and 22 un-numbered ‘triumphs’ or ‘trumps’. Over the years, the trumps got numbered 1 to 21, with one card (the fool) remaining un-numbered or sometimes being 0. The 4 suits are commonly called the ‘Minor Arcana’ and the trump cards are called the ‘Major Arcana’. More loosely, any deck of cards designed for ‘fortune-telling’, divination, meditation, contemplation, or other non-game uses is popularly called a Tarot deck. The most commonly found suits for Tarot decks are cups, swords, wands or staffs (probably originally polo-sticks), and pentacles (originally coins).

The names of the Major Arcana cards frequently change from deck to deck, but historically they’ve been ;

• The Fool (un-numbered or 0)
• The Magician (I)
• The High Priestess (originally the Popess) (II)
• The Empress (III)
• The Emperor (IV)
• The Heirophant (originally the Pope) (V)
• The Lovers (VI)
• The Chariot (VII)
• Strength (VIII, originally XI)
• The Hermit (IX)
• The Wheel of Fortune (X)
• Justice (XI, originally VIII)
• The Hanged Man (XII)
• Death (XIII)
• Temperance (XIV)
• The Devil (XV)
• The Tower (XVI)
• The Star (XVII)
• The Moon (XVIII)
• The Sun (XIX)
• Judgement (XX)
• The World (XXI)

The Major Arcana cards are usually illustrated, frequently the Minor Arcana cards are, as well.

Tarot decks come in a bewildering variety these days. You can find oversized, undersized, or round decks. Some have more than 78 cards, some less. Some are based on a particular mythic cycle. Some are based on a particular psychological theory. Some are based on channelled information. Some are just hard to describe. A ‘historical’ deck has simply one, two, or however many wands, cups, or whatever for the number cards.

A.E. Waite first popularised a deck which has illustrations on all 78 cards (painted by Pamela Colman Smith), which has become the model for the greatest number of other currently available decks.

A. Crowley popularised a deck which had arcane symbols, but not real ‘illustrations’ on the number cards (painter by Lady Frieda Harris). Decks which follow those basic set-ups are descendants from these earlier ones.

No-one knows the ‘true’ origin of the Tarot. The most common myth is that it was brought to Europe by the Gypsies – but this myth come from the fact that very early occultists who used the Tarot fancied that it came from Egypt. They were as wrong about that as they were about the homeland of the Gypsies. In fact, the Tarot came to Europe about the same time as any other form of playing card, in the early/mid 1300’s. It is most closely related to the ‘Mamluk’ deck of the Islamic world, which had suits cups, coins, swords, and polo-sticks.

The Tarot was originally used for a game called ‘tarocchi’ in Italy, which is sort of a distant cousin to Bridge. Tarocchi is still played in some parts of the world, not usually with the same decks the ‘fortune tellers’ use.
The game was quite popular for a time among the royalty in Italy, and sometimes a duke would commission an artist to create a really nice deck. Some of the earliest surviving Tarot decks come from this source. Plainer decks existed, but were not well made enough, or well thought-of enough, to survive the intervening 600 years.

The Joker of ’standard’ card decks is “not” related to the Fool of Tarot. The Joker was invented as a wild card for Euchre in the 1800’s, in a part of the world where the Tarot was virtually or totally unknown.

The Tarot was first associated with the occult by Antoine Court de Gebelin, a relatively obscure Parisian mason who wrote about the deck in 1781. He invented a lot of the standard myths about the Tarot which were later popularised by others (it comes from ancient Egypt, the Major Arcana is related to the Kabalah, etc.). The first big popularise of the deck was a contemporary of de Gebelin, called Etteilla, who published the first ‘revised and corrected’ Tarot deck for divination. The fad was caught up by Eliphas Levi, Oswald Wirth, and Papus, among others. From Papus, the Tarot caught on with some English mystics, such as S.L. Mathers (whose mistranslation of Levi brought us the suit of pentacles), A.E. Waite, and A. Crowley. The Tarot received a lot of attention from these folks, and they created a fairly large body of writing on the use of Tarot. For the most part they thought that divination was a ‘lower’ use of the cards, that ideally it should be used to put you in touch with eternal verities, usually in conjunction with whatever magical order they happened to be involved with. But of course, divination was the most popular use for the cards.

Most of the Tarot decks on the market were created this century, most of those in the last 20 years.