In this day and age if you happen to mention the use of a Ouija board to people, you may get a mix of reactions. Some people may laugh at you and some people may get scared by the thought. How did the Ouija board get such a bad reputation? Is this reputation fitting or is it just some child's toy that has gotten a bad wrap? Is this board really a means to communicate with spirits from another dimension?

Well, let's start from the beginning....The Ouija board or 'talking' board has been around for quite a while; over 100 years to be exact. Hasbro, a very popular manufacturer of children's toys, produces the board and delivers thousands of them to toy stores around the country. Over the years, there have been several companies who have imitated Hasbro's edition of the board, but the concept is always the same. The board has printed letters and numbers across the face of it; there is also a pointer that spells out answers to questions when the users place their fingertips on it.

As a child, I have memories of using a Ouija board at sleepovers with my friends. I never personally experienced the pointer moving on the board while questions are being asked. Now, I have talked to people that swear up and down that this toy really does communicate with spirits and really does move on its own.

I believe that the main idea for this toy came from the movie 'The Exorcist'; there is a scene in that movie where Regan-the possessed child, tells her mother Chris that she has been using the board to communicate with someone named Captain Howdy. Shortly after she informs her mother of this, she becomes possessed with the Devil. There were additional movies that followed the same path such as Witchboard and The Craft. These movies promoted the idea that the Ouija board was a connection to spirits and dark forces. In fact, before these movies were released, people did not think of the board in that way.

There are people that claim they have had negative experiences when using a Ouija board, but how many of these tales do you think are really true? Talk to any paranormal investigator and you will be advised to leave the board alone. Additionally, there are even books that have published on this topic such as Stoker Hunt's Ouija: The Most Dangerous Game.

Let's go ahead and for the sake of a discussion, say that some of these stories of terror and negativity are true. Do you think it is fair to blame the board or to place the blame on the person that is is operating the board? I mean, think about that for a moment. Is it possible that the effects of the supernatural arise out of the energized subconscious of the users?

So, at this point in the hub, I think it is safe to assume that this is a topic of interest to you. Let me go ahead and explain how exactly you use a Ouija board. You will get the best results if you have two people involved; each person will sit facing each other and rest half of the board on their knees. Each person will then put the tips pf their fingers of both hands on the pointer. It is highly suggested that there is complete silence while using the board, this will ensure accurate performance. Only one person should ask questions, one at a time, and it is important to concentrate on the question that is going to be asked to the board. More importantly, do not tell the other person what your question was.

For the most part, you will have to sit, completely quiet and concentrating for about five minutes. Do not push or pull the pointer, allow it to move on its own accord. If you are doing this correctly, the pointer will slowly begin to move over different letters and every now and then will stop over a specific letter. The indicated letter will be visible under the pin in the pointer. As the pointer moves, the answer to your question will be spelled out.

The maximum suggested time for anyone using a Ouija board is one hour. This is simply because the amount of required concentration that is necessary can potentially cause a headache or other physical discomfort for the users.