Ouija

Astonishing Legends vor 5 Jahren

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3:14:54

Most of us are familiar with the name and iconic image of the
magical Ouija board. Many have dared to test it, either
seeking answers from the great beyond or for spooky entertainment
or both. The Ouija board has always been advertised as a
family-friendly game. However, for about the last 50 years,
Ouija became associated with the forbidden, a taboo tool of the
occult. But has it always had this reputation for
unleashing evil, and when did this shift in perception
occur? Is it a variation of an ancient scrying device or
portal for speaking with the dead, or is it a more modern
amusement? How could such a pop culture symbol that is so
pervasive have such a mysterious background? It seems the
board's manufacturers have intentionally kept the details
shadowed from the start, adding to the marketing appeal and
popularity. Although the practice of attempting
communication with the spirit world is as old as philosophy, the
board we recognize today had its beginnings with the Spiritualist
Movement of the nineteenth century in America. Yet in that
era and into the first part of the twentieth century, using the
board to contact spirits was seen as wholesome family fun and
nothing to fear or shun. Why did the Ouija board take a
turn for the dark side, and what is its real story? As we
search for clues, tonight's guest will shed more light on its
history and cultural relevance. Brandon Hodge is one of the
world's foremost researchers and historians of spirit
communication devices. His website,
mysteriousplanchette.com, is a wealth of information on these
instruments, and his Austin-based collection houses an astounding
display of planchettes, "talking boards," dial plates, and
psychographs, everything an adventurous Victorian soul searcher
might use. Please join us to discuss why a simple board
with printed letters, numbers, and a pointer managed to inspire
such enduring wonder and apprehension with its mystical nature.

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