Ouija board experiments.

[lifesmate]

I have long been an advocate against the use of ouija boards,mainly because I have witnessed the devastating psychological effects they can have on some people.
I have recently,however,been part of a couple of experiments with them.
The reason being...I wanted to try and show the participants..family members...that it was us pushing the glass and not a spirit.

I dont for one second assume that my experiments were valid or proved anything but it was fun anyway.

First one was that we did the ouija as normal and got some words spelt out....not important what they were but suffice to say everyone around the table had the knowldege of what was written.

Next.I blindfolded the participants and I wrote down what they got when they couldn't see the glass......which was utter gibberish.

Funny that.

Second experiment was that I got someone to write down a question to the spirits that only he would know the answer to.
He placed the question in a sealed envelope and nobody had access to it.

He then left the room and went to another so that nobody around the table could possibly hear him and he asked the spirit to answer his question.
Of course,we got nothing.
The question was actually quite simple and if indeed we were in communication with a relative passed over they would have,or should have answered it no problem.

These experiments,as I said,dont prove there are no such thing as spirits but for me personally showed that the only people pushing the glass or plancette are the people around the table.

ps..new here so hope I put this thread in the correct place.

[Mulder]

A good example of 'engaging' with believers and showing them how a non-sprit theory is more powerful at predicting outcomes than a spirit one (sort of, my god is bigger than yours ).

Believers are always coming up with excuses why what they predicted didn't happen (wrong conditions, skeptical attitude, New Moon, etc) while good practical theories simply deliver the goods every time.

[lifesmate]

They are not believers but some do tend to lean towards the paranormal explanation more easily.

One thing they all insisted on was that they were not pushing the glass.
I trust them all 100% and know that none of them did intentionally but its an uphill battle to persuade them that it was them nevertheless.

Have to say that even I was amazed at how the glass still moved when I was the only one with my finger on it even though I made sure I concentrated hard to ensure I never pushed it.

I explained to the people that if I was not pushing it then surely the answer to the question would have been answered or something at least coherent would have come out.

I have not got the knowhow to explain to them how it works but I dont think for one second it was a spirit.

[Mulder]

The unconscious bit of your brain was pushing the glass! Our consciousness is the last to know what's happening with our bodies and certainly isn't in charge - imagine trying to consciously instruct all the correct muscles exactly how much to contract, and when, to intercept and hit a tennis ball back where it came from!

In the case of ouija, you were responding to a cultural expectation that the glass would move. In other circumstances I'm sure you could touch a glass without pushing it. If we could find someone who'd never heard of ouija and asked them to put their hand on a glass, I'm willing to bet it wouldn't move.

They are not believers but some do tend to lean towards the paranormal explanation more easily.

People who are not believers nevertheless will be aware, through cultural influences, how ouija is 'supposed' to work and that the generally held 'theory' is that spirits are responsible. It may not be an explicit belief but an implicit one. When investigating hauntings, witnesses will say they 'know nothing' about ghosts and 'don't believe in them'. They will, nevertheless, expect me, as an investigator, to offer an explanation involving spirits most of the time. They are usually surprised, and frequently relieved, when I don't.

[lifesmate]

Thank you,that is what I think but found it hard to explain it properly.

Is amazing how much our unconcious can make us do things we are not in control of.

Me telling them it was us but not offering a good explanation was not enough for them.

[Trinoc]

I suggest going to this page and listening to podcast #39, a little way down the page, on the Ideomotor Effect. This could explain a lot of what was observed.

[polomint38]

Next.I blindfolded the participants and I wrote down what they got when they couldn't see the glass......which was utter gibberish.

Funny that.

you obviously contacted a dyslexic spirit

[dizzyblonde]

Dyslexic spirit? Maybe it was ABRAHAM - a la Gary Manion?

[lifesmate]

you obviously contacted a dyslexic spirit

Well as far as I know neither me or any of the others are dyslexic.

Thanks Trinoc..good links.

dizzyblonde

Been reading about him on here.

[Dancer]

Lifesmate,

Next time you try some experiments try blindfolding the participants. And have one person on the side taking notes.

[Trinoc]

Lifesmate,

Next time you try some experiments try blindfolding the participants. And have one person on the side taking notes.

That was done - see about half way down the original post.

[lifesmate]

As Trinoc said...we did do that. Got gibberish...as expected.

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

There is a woo explanation as to why that happens, I'm sure I've posted it somewhere recently.

ETA : Just found this explanation

The Ouija board is useful, but inefficient, mostly because most people who use them don't know how to use them properly. The reason it doesn't work when the participants are blindfolded is because it works through the unconscious mind of the participants. The Spirits speak through you. Another possibility is that the disbelief of the experimenter interferes with the outcome, but this explanation is usually seen as a cop-out. A third possibility is that the Spirits are speaking their own language, similar to the "Angelic Language" or "Enochian" of Elizabethan occultists John Dee and Edward Kelly.

Try it with a pendulum. Make a circle of letters out of scrabble tiles, and use a pendulum to spell out the messages. Blindfold the person holding the pendulum, and see what results you get. It will work best if you are calling a specific spirit, and if the participants are open to the possibility of it actually working, rather than intent on disproving the phenomenon entirely. Also, performing the operation within a protective circle ensures that you are only contacting the spirits you want to contact. Your intent and your expectations do hold a powerful sway over these types of experiences.

In the end, though, it matters little if you are actually contacting literal external spirits, or your own unconscious mind. Either way, the information gathered is the same. Whether or not it is useful or helpful depends more on the individuals doing it than on the spirits contacted. Some occultists even see the spirits as aspects of themselves, but this psychological approach does not take away from the validity of the experience (and often adds to it.)
10 months ago
Source(s):
The book, _Aleister Crowley And the Ouija Board_, by J. Edward Cornelius, is a good place to start learning how to use the Ouija Board safely, effectively, and efficient

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1065740AAT4l8a

Bollocks to that, like everything woo, there's always an excuse. That's the beauty of living in a fantasy land, you can just make up anything you want to explain failure.

[lifesmate]

Thank you for that FarSideOfTheMoon.

There is always an excuse.

Right..not one to dismiss something unless I have tried it so pendulum next.

I will be interested to see what excuse is used if it doesn't work...and I doubt it will.
Oh of course...my disbelief will be the cause.

One thing believers are not taking into account...I want to believe and I want it to work. Not my fault if it doesn't.

[Paul]

My One time Involvment into the possible unknown.

Back Ground Information.
Investigation year 1999

Private home Massachusetts, A 62 year old women claims to be contacting a dead female spirit using a Ouija board. The spirit has identified herself as Doris

I received a call from a very good friend who stated there is a lady in The Boston area who can receive messages from a spirit using a Quija board. I rolled my eyes and told him Ouija boards are manipulated using the ideomotor effect. I couldn’t understand why he believed such nonsense could or should be connected to activity. He laughed and told me the lady’s brother contacted him and said he was convinced his sister is genuine and she is being contacted by a spirit . I asked him if she claimed to be a or if she claimed to have any psychic ability. He already asked these questions and was told she did not display any special powers or unusual behavior until she purchased a Ouija board. At this point I have no idea why I’ am still having this conversation .” Even worse” why he bothered to call me. I said I was not interested in investigating something he and I can explain and duplicate. I ended my conversation thinking that was the end of it.

A few days later he called me back. He was excited and said you have to see this. I said see what, “he blurts out”, the Ouija board lady. He said you would not believe the demonstration I witnessed. He related the following story.

I went to the client’s house with the lady’s brother; I asked her if it was possible to communicate with the spirit in my presence. She said she would try and proceeded to get the Ouija board. She sat down and placed the board on her lap. She then asked if the spirit was present. Within moments the planchette moved to yes. She then asked the name of the spirit. The spirit complied and spelled out the name Doris. More questions were asked and the spirit answered them all. No questions were asked by the investigator.

So I inquired about his tone of excitement and said nothing unusual about what he just related. He then said, it was the speed of the planchette moving on the board. “His direct quote was”. The indicator spelled out answers faster then an experienced typist. I paused and tried to imagine what I just heard. Now he has my attention. But I am not convinced she is communicating with a spirit or a phenomenon I couldn’t explain. A Ouija board can be purchased at Wal-Mart for a few dollars. It’s a toy right. “OR IS IT”

He made an appointment for another demonstration. We brought two recorders and a list of well prepared questions. I asked her would the spirit respond if I asked all the questions. She didn’t seem to think that would be a problem. She agreed and seemed to be excited about the idea of a video. She asked for a copy when we finished.
The first was set up for a complete frontal view capturing her hands and face. The second camera was at a slight right angle directed more on the hands and board.

Would the spirit communicate with camera’s rolling? We all know how
ghost’s appear to be camera shy.
I won’t list all the questions asked, and answered. I will explain what happened. Remember I asked all the questions. And I examined the board and planchette.

As soon as I asked a question the planchette immediately went to spell out the answer. I can only relate the speed at which they were answered .Nothing less then remarkable. The speed of a laser presentation pointer. I’m holding a pad of paper and pencil and I can’t record the answers.That’s how fast the planchette is moving across the board.

I stop the questions. The cameras are still rolling. I asked her if she could communicate with the spirit using a different Ouija board. I had purchased one and left it in the car. She had a puzzled look on her face. She agreed to give it a try. With a new board. I asked if the spirit was in the room. Long pause, planchette does not move. The question was again repeated. No response, I asked if she thought the spirit had left. She said she didn’t know. I asked if she wanted to continue using her board. She said she would try.

I had one more request . I asked her if she was truly communicating with a spirit could she get the same results BLIND FOLDED. To my surprise she agreed and said she did not think this would be a problem. Now I’m thinking. (Game Over)

Doris are you still here. Planchette moves, answer yes, I quickly ask another question. Planchette spells out the correct answer. I notice this time I can keep up with the planchette and record on paper what is being spelled out. A total of 12 questions were answered and all spelled out correctly. The only difference being the speed was noticeably much slower.

Was the Ouija really communicating with a spirit? How could we explain the speed at which the answers were given. How could she do this blind folded and spell out the answers correctly. Was the spirit guiding her. Does she possess a gift. Is this a classic case of unexplainable phenomenon. Can we really communicate with a spirit with an object purchased at Wal-Mart.

Comments.

I will admit this was an experience and one I will not forget, to say the least it was amusing and entertaining and she had me thinking about how she was doing this. I watched the video several times. I made my own conclusions. The obvious question, was she peeking through the blind fold. I can only say I’ am confident she was not. So how did this remarkable lady do this. I knew it was a trick but like most tricks I don’t know how they are performed. If it is a trick, how was it done?

Practice, and more practice. She displayed the best hand eye coordination and thought process I have ever seen. I can honestly say she can be compared to a well trained Marine who can assemble his weapon quicker then you can say Marine. A combat trained Marine can assemble his weapon in pitch black conditions with a slightly slower pace. I would suggest the Ouija lady would have made a very good Marine.

My explanation is she memorized the board.

Does this explanation seem likely? Did she really take the time to memorize the lay out of the Ouija board? How many hours of practice did it take to master this incredible mystifying illusion, what would be her reason. Did I prove it can not only be done but duplicated? I did except my explanation as plausible for the simple reason. When blind folded the speed of the planchette was noticeable slower She appeared to be thinking instead of reacting. We can all type and spell with out looking at the key board, so with practice we should be able to push a triangle shaped object to spell out words.
Background

Doris the spirit: Was Doris Larkin, she died in 1923 at the age of 27 believed to live in The Massachusetts area. How she died was not clear. Possible accident. Spirit could not remember. A history search proved negative. No information on Doris was ever confirmed.

One more note.. Did I waste my time with nonsense? NO, I loved the experience and would do it again. After all, it beats sitting in a dark house all night waiting for reported objects to be hurled into the air.

Final note. Why did she do it? She lived alone and had very little company.