Game profile: Ouija Board

October 24, 3:29 PMPittsburgh Board Game ExaminerRobert Moyer

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So when is a game not a game? When people believe that it’s real.

The point of this article is not to debate the veracity of mystic oracles. If you believe that chiromancy and mediums are real or fake, I’m not out to change your mind. But I would be remiss in my examination of Halloween games without discussing one of the most famous – or infamous – board games in history. It doesn’t take a psychic to know I’m referring to the Ouija Board.

Talking boards like the Ouija have been part of various cultures like the Chinese, Greek, English and American civilizations for centuries. They almost always have a board or mat on which is written letters, numbers, and symbols, as well as short messages like Yes, No, and Good-Bye.

Depending on the culture, the method of divination can change. Some talking boards use a pendulum; others – such as the Ouija Board - use a planchette (a smaller heart shaped board used as a pointing device). During a séance, one or more persons who wish to speak to a spirit will touch the planchette, ask a question and watch as it moves across the board to spell out a response.

Since the attendees are in contact with the planchette, there will always be a debate as to whether the spirits, or one of the living participants, are spelling out the messages. Scientists will tell you that the participants are moving the planchette either consciously or subconsciously. Spiritualists will tell you that it’s the spirits speaking. I will leave it to you to decide as to which side is right.

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In 1993, married couple Amy Zerner, a collage artist, and Monte Farber, a professional metaphysical counselor, created The Psychic Circle. This metaphysical device – they don’t call it a game – is used similarly to a Ouija Board. The Psychic Circle features a board with twenty key words, eleven colors, and forty universal symbols as well as short phrases, the alphabet and the numbers 0-9. Those using it will put their hands on a ring which then moves from symbol to symbol to spell out a message. I can’t say if it is more effective than a traditional Ouija Board, but I can tell you it is much more attractive to look at.

So do Ouija Boards really work? I don't know. Allow me to consult my Magic 8 Ball and get back to you.

For more info: Read the Ouija Wikipedia article.