Something Ouija This Way Comes

Spirit Boards are unfortunately one of the most controversial tools used in mediumship today, despite the fact that they were once considered to be an essential tool for spirit communication. 

The concept of a spirit board developed through a combination of two forms of physical mediumship: ‘table-tipping,’ where the alphabet was spoken allowed during a séance and the spirits would ‘tip’ the table when the correct letter was chosen, and “planchette writing” where a small wooden board would be used to produce automatic writing (early versions sometimes had small wheels on them, and would have a space for a pencil to be attached). 

These tools were combined to make an easier method, where the planchette could be moved by the spirits to point to letters pre-written on a small board. In 1890 businessman Elijah Bond designed and patented a spirit board he termed the “Ouija Board.” This patent would eventually be acquired a few years later by William Fuld, who is truly responsible for the popularity of the Ouija Board and is considered the “Father of the Ouija Board.” Through a hugely successful marketing campaign he turned the concept of a “Ouija Board” into a household name. 

Early Spiritualist literature actually promoted the uses and benefits of spirit boards for developing mediumship.

In the The Mediums Book, written by Allan Kardec, several forms of writing mediumship are grouped together including the use of a planchette, he comments that these forms are some of the "simplest and most convenient" methods for beginning mediums to practice their spiritual development with.

In Genuine Mediumship by William Walker Atkinson, he actually mentions Ouija Boards by name, stating, “Ouija Boards are sold at a moderate price, and will be found a valuable adjunct to any spiritualist circle.” He also gave instructions on how to use them, and also explains how the reader can create their own at home.  

Unfortunately with its mass production the spirit board became removed from it’s spiritual purpose and became to be seen as a parlor game to entertain and frighten people. This lead to misuse and misunderstanding, which then ended up causing these simple boards to be surrounded in urban legends, superstitions, and Hollywood Horror pop culture. 

I remember asking for a Ouija Board for probably my eighth or ninth birthday. I remember mostly playing around with it and looking at it, but having very little desire or interest to conduct a séance, I mostly just wanted to own it because I thought it was fun looking and ‘spooky’. 

It wasn’t until I was in high school that I would seriously begin to practice and use one. I used it as a way to practice physical mediumship and communicate with my spirit guides: both in solitary sittings by myself, and also fairly often with a good friend of mine who was also interested spiritualism and spiritual phenomena (and is also a fantastic medium). 

Thankfully due to a new generation of freethinking Spiritualists, the taboos surrounding Spirit Boards are slowly beginning to be overcome, and the practice is making a bit of a resurgence. 

It may take awhile for the image to recover from all the damage done, but it seems that the Spirit Board is finally being restored back to its rightful place as a Spiritualist tool of healing and spiritual development.

Spiritualist Healing: The Great Unseen Healing Force

One of the forerunners to the Spiritualist Movement was the healing practice known as Mesmerism, named after Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer. Mesmer was born in Austria, and studied medicine at the University of Vienna in 1759. 

In 1775 Mesmer discovered a kind of magnetic energy that ran through all living creatures. He called this energy "animal magnetism." He theorized that diseases, both mental and physical, had roots in this natural energy being blocked or unbalanced in individuals, and developed a system of magnetic healing that would assist in restoring balance thus curing various illnesses and conditions. 

In 1778 He left Vienna and set up practice as a Doctor in Paris. Although his system of Healing was rejected by the French Royal Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of Medicine (more likely for political reasons than actual scientific ones), his teachings proved to be quite popular. Unlike orthodox medical practices at the time which relied on bloodletting and (expensive) harsh treatments with toxic minerals such as mercury, Mesmer's magnetic healing was much less invasive, and much more accessible. 

It was very quickly discovered that when individuals were treated with these magnetic energies they would sometimes enter a state of “magnetic sleep” or a trance-like state. During this state individuals would often experience psychic phenomena ranging from mediumship to astral projection. After his death in 1815 his teachings still remained very popular due to several books published by his students. 

His teachings spread to England, the United States, and also the French Colonies at the time such as Louisiana and Haiti. As time went on the practice began to shift to a more spiritual practice. Although healing was still emphasized, many began to practice Mesmerism purely to investigate and develop spiritual gifts. 

With the rise of the Spiritualist Movement, many of these Mesmerist Healers quickly became Spiritualists, and forever integrated this form of healing to the Spiritualist movement. Mesmer's system of Magnetic Healing is still the primary form of healing used in Spiritualist Churches and Spiritist Centers throughout the world. 

This healing system blends of Spiritualist principles with the magnetic healing of Mesmer. The Healer will act as a Medium for spirit guides to pass magnetic energy to the recipient, this assists the body in restoring itself to a natural state of balance and harmony. This is often done through the Healer laying their hands on one's shoulders, or may be done through a series of hand passes over the individuals body. Healing can also be done at a distance, with the Healing focusing on those in need allowing their Guides to direct the healing energy to where it may be needed. 

Spiritualist Healing is also somewhat unique among other forms of Healing that developed around the same time, such as various forms of New Thought and Christian Science. Medicine and medical practices are not outright rejected in favor of a purely spiritual approach. 

Spiritualism, which emphasizes a positive view of the natural world, prefers to adopt a holistic approach to healing, where the body, mind, and spirit are all treated as important. Spiritist Centers and Spiritualists Churches will recommend various forms of medical treatment in addition to spiritual healing. In Brazil, many Spiritist Centers function as clinics, with resident Doctors, and several Hospitals are actually run by Spiritists, offering medical treatment and Spiritist Healing.

Healing is generally accompanied with prayer. Spiritists, many will select prayers for Healing found in Kardec's Collection of Selected Prayers. American Spiritualists will often use short affirmations or passages from the Bible or Book of Psalms, such as, "Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me" 

The most well known prayer among American Spiritualists is simply known as the prayer for Spiritual Healing, which is used in Spiritualist Church services is as follows: 

I ask the Great Unseen Healing Force 

To remove all obstructions from my mind and body 

And to restore me to perfect health. 

I ask this in all sincerity and honesty 

And I will do my part. 

I ask this Great Unseen Healing Force 

To help both present and absent ones 

Who are in need of help 

And to restore them to perfect health. 

I put my trust in the love and power of God.