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Ouija boards

  
 
fuckbaked
00:00 / 18.05.05
Hi. I don’t usually read the threads in the Temple because I don’t know about magick or anything like that, so I don’t really understand the threads. So, I hope you’ll put up with my naivete and with the fact that I’m barging into your forum without having really familiarized myself with what goes on here.

I’m wondering about ouija boards. My strangest experiences with the board happened over 10 years ago, and while my memory is extremely foggy, I recall some of what happened. My friends and I decided to try to contact a dead celebrity, so we asked for him, and the board responded by saying it was him, and we began chatting. At first it was just idle chatter, and trying to prove that we weren’t talking to our own subconsciouses or something like that, but eventually things got a bit stranger than that. And by eventually I mean over the course of the next few days/weeks (I don’t actually remember how long it went on for) as the group of us started meeting up very frequently to use the ouija again. We always either talked to the spirit that claimed to be the dead celebrity, or one that claimed to be a demon and said really messed up things. At some point, the dead celebrity told us that we’d trapped his spirit inside an inanimate object, and we needed to find a way to free him. We started going to libraries and stuff, trying to find info on how the hell to free him, until one day one of my friends woke up and told us she’d had a dream that showed her how we were supposed to perform the ritual to get the celebrity out of the object. I can’t believe that I don’t remember what it was that we actually did. I know we went out into a field where no one would see us and did something that I thought was very strange, but I have absolutely no recollection of what. Supposedly this ritual freed the spirit of the celebrity from the object.

Ok, so another strange thing that happened is that 2 of my friends started seeing what they called “doors” (okay it might have only been one of my friends, but I’m pretty sure it was 2 of them). These doors supposedly allowed spirits to move between our world and some other world. One of my friends (the one who I think was seeing doors, but I don’t actually remember) started seeing other stuff as well, which seemed to really scare her. She also seemed to be communicating with something without the use of the ouija. I don’t remember how she explained this stuff, but I remember, for one thing, that she had done 11 things to keep her bedroom free from bad spirits and doors and the like. I don’t know how she learned of these 11 things, or if doing them actually did what she wanted (protected her room). She also told us that she’d learned her “real name”. She said that her soul has a name (as everyone’s supposedly does) and that it’s different from the name you use while alive. Furthermore, you’re not supposed to know you’re real name, nor are other people supposed to know it. Despite this, she eventually told me, and no one else, her real name. I was never ever supposed to tell anyone, but I eventually told one other person, who was also in this group of friends. Ever since then I’ve felt like I totally betrayed my friend, and was scared that something bad would happen to her because of it. A few years after our ouija board sessions, this friend killed herself, and while I try to convince myself that it’s not my fault, I have this nagging feeling that somehow by telling someone her real name, I brought harm upon her, which eventually lead to her killing herself.

That’s much of what I remember from my first experience with a ouija board. I’m wondering if anyone here knows anything about real names, or has heard of them. I guess my friend could have made that up. I did a google search, but it was difficult to find anything because using search terms like “real name” and “spirit’s name” (along with other words like ouija) gave me tons of stuff that I didn’t want. One of the references that I could find that might give credence to the idea that spirit’s have “real names” was here . It’s some accounts of strange things happening in relation to ouija boards, and one of the people said, “That night, Christina's friend Laura came into my dream. I saw what she looked like and how she died. She said than an evil man named Howard (real name a-liesgh-ha; I can't spell it, but that's how it's pronounced) stalked us on the Ouija board and threatened to hurt us.” The other reference to real names that I found was here . The paragraph I’m referring to says, “Some time ago, my Demon gave me his real name on the Ouija Board. All of the Demons use aliases, like Lucifuge Rofocale is the Demon Focalor (anagram). When a Demon gives you his real name, this is to be kept secret.”

Also, does anyone know why the palanchette moves so much more quickly when some people’s hands are on it than others? I know some people might think this means that the people it moves well for are actually moving it themselves, but due to my personal experiences with ouija boards, I find that hard to believe (I didn’t just use the ouija as a kid, I also used it a number of times about a year ago). I’m one of those people that can’t get the palanchette to move much, if at all. The board doesn’t work at all if I use it alone, and it’s more sluggish when I’m using it with others than when someone else is. One time when there were 3 of us, each with a hand on the palanchette, the ouija told me to take my hand off, as I was just getting in the way and making it harder to move the thing. I never thought much about what this might mean until I read something here which said, “The board would only work if Jamie's fingers were on it. The board told us it was because it couldn't use Heather because her soul belonged to the devil and was no good, and that my soul wasn't strong enough to pull a force but if need be it could go through me.”

So, um, does my soul belong to the devil? I guess I’m not as worried as I should be, since some of the entities I’ve contacted with ouija boards often seem to be just trying to fuck with the people using them, and telling someone their soul belongs to the devil is a good way to fuck with them. I don’t even believe in the devil anyway…

But, having used the ouija as much as I have, I’m quite convinced that when I’m using it I’m communicating with something other than myself (or other than my friends’ selves, rather, since I don’t seem to influence the palanchette). Like, I’ve asked it things that my friends wouldn’t know while my hands aren’t on it, and gotten the right answer. This leads to me wonder if there’s life after death (am I talking to ghosts?) or if the ouija is accessing psychic awareness that we don’t know we have…or what? I’ve always thought that religious practices and such seemed very silly and I thought, well, that people were just deluding themselves, that they so needed the security brought by their beliefs that they never realized that their beliefs were illogical.

I’m starting to wonder if I’m the one who’s being silly. If ouija boards are real, then what else is real, too? I don’t know if I’m explaining my thoughts well, but it just seems that my belief that atheism is probably right (although I’ve never actually been an atheist) can’t be true. But, I still don’t believe in anything. So, I’m wondering if I should be looking for some sort of spirituality. There are so many different spiritual paths out there that I have no idea what the right path for me is, and I’m more than a little hesitant to start reading and learning all the religions in the world to try to figure this out. I don’t want to study for 10 years or more before giving up because “it all still just seems like hogwash”. Okay, so I don’t really know what I’m getting at here, but, um, where should I start on this journey, and how will I know that I’m really getting somewhere? I don’t even know if “religion” is what I’m looking for….
 
 
Papess
04:49 / 18.05.05
Her soul belongs to the devil??? Come now, surely this seems a bit ridiculous. I can't explain Ouija to you, but that most certainly is Christian dogma at it's finest. I had no idea Ouija was a Christian.

Anyway, your friend, the one who did the 11 things to her room and committed suicide...if I read between the lines there, it sounds like she may have had some mental health troubles. There is certainly a lot of power in names - the ineffable name of God, Rumplestilskin, Beetlejuice, the wizard Ged Earthsea Trilogy, but I don't think you telling your mutual friend her name would cause her death. Besides, by the logic she gave you, she wasn't supposed to know it herself. Please don't burden yourself with this guilt.

I don't know much more about Ouija. I have never been a big believer in it. Although, I have heard others claim much strangeness in association with it. I don't know what to make of that.

You might want to check The Skeptics Dictionary.
 
 
Charlie's Horse
07:20 / 18.05.05
I don't really have any experience with Ouija boards, either, but some of those stories that you linked to sound like the letters section from Paranormal Penthouse.

As far as any kind of spirituality being a deluded attempt at feeling secure - meh. You can say the same thing about athiesm, especially given your circumstances. It would be easier to believe that all of this is bullshit - one less thing, right? If you really go and meet God face to egoless awareness, then athiesm starts to look like a security blanket. Really, though, if any of your beliefs become less about questions and more about simple answers, then you've lost the point.

And as far as 'choosing the right spiritual path' - meh. If you go out and really study a religion, through its books and its practitioners, you'll likely get something positive out of it. You don't have to study every damn religion to make an informed decision about 'which path to choose' - you're already on your spiritual path. We all are. That's the funny thing about spiritual paths: they're sneaky. It's only when you're seventy turns in that you realize that you've long walked down one, that you've been on it, all your life. If you're asking these questions, then you're on a spiritual path, taking a roadtrip, pondering that which creates no simple understanding, but ambiguity and further awed exploration. Now, learning about other religions might add depth to your surroundings or determine which turn you take at the next intersection, or even determine the next destination, but the road's always beneath you, no matter where you turn.

Great thread. I hope that thinking about this sort of stuff does you a good turn. And I think your response to the entities you've contacted was good - taking them with a grain of salt, assuming that some of the stuff they say is just them fucking with you. Seems like, with the quality of the beings you've met, that's the best way to work with them. Given this quality, maybe you should use a different approach altogether to do this kind of work?

Who was the celebrity, if I may be so bold?
 
 
gale
19:40 / 19.05.05
Hi,
I'm sorry, I don't know anything about "real"names, secret demon names, or why a demon would tell you to keep its real name secret.

In my opinion, I think you should stop using the ouija board and try to contact the dead (if that's what you want to do) without it. I always had the feeling that with a ouija board, you're stuck with whoever picks up the line on the other end. And that can mean trouble if you believe what they say.

As for spirituality, Saint Augustine--back when he was still a party animal--heard a voice singing, over and over, "take up and read, take up and read."

Nothing is not worth knowing!
 
 
slinkyvagabond
09:57 / 25.05.05
We, you might be a relative stranger to the Temple (gods and I still always want to call it Magic, though I don't go for that 'k' at the end.) but this is a pretty interesting thresd, perhaps cos it appeals to the 14 year old hormonal bundle we all were once.

I have heard stuff about 'true names' but mainly only in fictions - and I have never heard of a true name that even the owner of such a name must not know. I any legends or stories that touch on this idea, knowing your own true name brings you great power (perhaps 'great power' is a metaphor for great self-awareness, and 'true name' a metaphor for truly knowing yourself). However if another discovers the true name they gain total power over you. I seem to think this kind of thing has been touched on in Celtic and some African legends but I might just be making that up. It's doubtful that the business with your friend and your blabbing of her true name has anything 'real' to do with her death. Unfortunately, religous and occult practices often exacerbate mental health difficulties. I mean, if you're going to drum it into someone who has schizoid hallucinations that they have to be good or Satan will get their soul, don't be surprised when Satan does pay them a visit. You shouldn't feel guilty for this.

Personally, I didn't use the board much, just s couple of times when I was in my early teens. But one of my friends (and her mates) used it a lot. She later described it as an addiction and given their ages and the fact that they were living in an unexciting country town I find this an accurate description - an addiction to the fear and the buzz that brought, plus it satiated that teenage need to feel unique/special (OK, it's not just a teenage need...).
But with reference to your freinds' 'doors', my mate then claimed that spirits were communicating with her and another of her friends without using a medium. They were seeing objects move without any discerable reason and feeling 'presences watching' them (this is something I've had experience of but that said, even writing this now makes me feel a bit 'watched'. Ho-hum.). But in particular they claimed a special spirit friend visited them both - I can't remember what this entity's name was supposed to be - but they were really obsessed with 'him'. Looking back I can't help but think maybe it was some outwards focussing of their own desire for each other - especially as they gendered this spirit as male. But basically, what their experiences had in common with your friends' was not needing the ouija board or other medium to communicate with the spirits. It follows a similar pattern: frequent use of the board; speaking to special spirit friends who reveal secrets; sprit 'presences' coming univited into personal space; burnout - and this accompanied by a growing sense of power but also fear and feelings of loss of control. I'm sure someone with better knowledge of early adolescent psychology would be able to give a great explanation of these behaviours.

Which, paradoxically, is not to say I don't believe in it. I'm just a skeptic who likes to look at all the possible explanations. Having done the board myself, I can say that the planchette apears to move entirely independently. Whether that's some collective force of need/desire or a sprit operating, I can't say.

The idea that the planchette won't move for some people alone because the 'devil has their soul' is pure playground nonsense. Please. Anyone can see this comes from the same stable as, for example, saying the Hail Mary backwards in front a mirror at midnight to call up the divil himself. Some people are more sensitive, that's all. For all we know, they're more senstive to their own fears etc. rather than ghostly/spiritual matters but that still accounts for their ability to 'channel'. By the way, I would never, ever use an ouija board by myself and I would strongly advise against it, whether you believe in spirits or not. Whatever about its occult powers, it does have the power to scare the shit out of you, bringing insomnia, panic attacks and hallucinations. At least when with others you'll naturally feel the 'safety in numbers' security that humans are prone to.

I'm inclined to think that the right spirituality will come to you, if you need it to. In the meantime, just let go of your desire or struggle for it. As for reading up on religions, this could well be fascinating but it's likely to be an academic exercise. I imagine that most people find themselves drawn to a particular teaching first and read up on it second.

Good luck with that.
SV
 
 
slinkyvagabond
10:00 / 25.05.05
We, you might be a relative stranger to the Temple (gods and I still always want to call it Magic, though I don't go for that 'k' at the end.) but this is a pretty interesting thresd, perhaps cos it appeals to the 14 year old hormonal bundle we all were once.

I have heard stuff about 'true names' but mainly only in fictions - and I have never heard of a true name that even the owner of such a name must not know. I any legends or stories that touch on this idea, knowing your own true name brings you great power (perhaps 'great power' is a metaphor for great self-awareness, and 'true name' a metaphor for truly knowing yourself). However if another discovers the true name they gain total power over you. I seem to think this kind of thing has been touched on in Celtic and some African legends but I might just be making that up. It's doubtful that the business with your friend and your blabbing of her true name has anything 'real' to do with her death. Unfortunately, religous and occult practices often exacerbate mental health difficulties. I mean, if you're going to drum it into someone who has schizoid hallucinations that they have to be good or Satan will get their soul, don't be surprised when Satan does pay them a visit. You shouldn't feel guilty for this.

Personally, I didn't use the board much, just s couple of times when I was in my early teens. But one of my friends (and her mates) used it a lot. She later described it as an addiction and given their ages and the fact that they were living in an unexciting country town I find this an accurate description - an addiction to the fear and the buzz that brought, plus it satiated that teenage need to feel unique/special (OK, it's not just a teenage need...).
But with reference to your freinds' 'doors', my mate then claimed that spirits were communicating with her and another of her friends without using a medium. They were seeing objects move without any discerable reason and feeling 'presences watching' them (this is something I've had experience of but that said, even writing this now makes me feel a bit 'watched'. Ho-hum.). But in particular they claimed a special spirit friend visited them both - I can't remember what this entity's name was supposed to be - but they were really obsessed with 'him'. Looking back I can't help but think maybe it was some outwards focussing of their own desire for each other - especially as they gendered this spirit as male. But basically, what their experiences had in common with your friends' was not needing the ouija board or other medium to communicate with the spirits. It follows a similar pattern: frequent use of the board; speaking to special spirit friends who reveal secrets; sprit 'presences' coming univited into personal space; burnout - and this accompanied by a growing sense of power but also fear and feelings of loss of control. I'm sure someone with better knowledge of early adolescent psychology would be able to give a great explanation of these behaviours.

Which, paradoxically, is not to say I don't believe in it. I'm just a skeptic who likes to look at all the possible explanations. Having done the board myself, I can say that the planchette apears to move entirely independently. Whether that's some collective force of need/desire or a sprit operating, I can't say.

The idea that the planchette won't move for some people alone because the 'devil has their soul' is pure playground nonsense. Please. Anyone can see this comes from the same stable as, for example, saying the Hail Mary backwards in front a mirror at midnight to call up the divil himself. Some people are more sensitive, that's all. For all we know, they're more senstive to their own fears etc. rather than ghostly/spiritual matters but that still accounts for their ability to 'channel'. By the way, I would never, ever use an ouija board by myself and I would strongly advise against it, whether you believe in spirits or not. Whatever about its occult powers, it does have the power to scare the shit out of you, bringing insomnia, panic attacks and hallucinations. At least when with others you'll naturally feel the 'safety in numbers' security that humans are prone to.

I'm inclined to think that the right spirituality will come to you, if you need it to. In the meantime, just let go of your desire or struggle for it. As for reading up on religions, this could well be fascinating but it's likely to be an academic exercise. I imagine that most people find themselves drawn to a particular teaching first and read up on it second.

Good luck with that.
SV
 
  
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