Top 10 Weird Facts and History About Ouija Boards

Number One

Mark Twains Secret Unpublished Book

In 1902, Emily Grant Hutchings claimed to have contacted the spirit of Mark Twain who then dictated a book to her titled Jap Heron. The book was heavily criticized by the New York Times.

Mark Twain's daughter, who owned all the written rights of her father, took the book to court. She successfully stopped any further publications of this book under Mark Twain's name.

Number Two

There's a Famous 7-11 Convenience Store

In theory, the name "OUIJA" was coined when Helen Peters in 1890 Baltimore asked the board what it should be called. She and her brother Elija Bond claimed the board with the planchette spelled out Ouija, which the board told her meant "Good Luck".

The location where this happened is now a modern 7-11 convenience store, but they have a plaque on the wall commemorating the event.

While the board and planchette (in many varying stages) existed before 1890. Helen Peters was the first to take it to the patent office.

Number Three

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Consulted the Dead

It is claimed that Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous wrote his book “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” while communicating with a 15th-century monk through an Ouija board.

Number Four

Do Not BURN an Ouija Board

It is believed that burning an Ouija board can be imbued with bad ju-ju-bees, bad vibes, bad spirits (Whatever have you). So instead of burning it to send it back out openly to the universe in theory the best way to dispose of one is to cut it into 7 pieces, sprinkle it with holy water, and bury it underground.

Number Five

Which Signs are "Bad Signs"

1. The planchet makes a repeated figure 8.
2. If the planchet goes to the four corners of the board.
3. If the spirit attempts to count down through the numbers or the alphabet, it is trying to escape.
4. Using the board in bad locations will conjure more malevolent spirits.

Number Six

Automatic Writing is Ancient

Automatic writing through spirits dates back as far as 1100 AD in China during the Song Dynasty. It is known as “FUJI” where spirits guide the stick in your hand to create new images in the sand and reveal to you new characters and meaning.

Number Seven

Ouija Board Sales Go Up During a Time of War

Historically Ouija boards are purchased more frequently during times of crisis and war.

Number Eight

It's a "Board Game" Because That Can be Taxed Easier

One of the funny facts about Ouija boards is that it was defined in the 1920s as not only a good, but as a "game" in order to coerce higher taxation on the selling of the object.

Number Nine

There is a whole town that went "Ouija Mad" in 1920.

El Cerrito, CA in May of 1920 made headlines of “Ouija MAD” was reported. The sleepy town in California had a population of only 1,200 people began to have its townspeople put into a frenzy over ouija boards. Police arrested 7 people driven insane.

One woman was found walking through the streets naked because she said it helped her contact the spirits better. Town officials quickly held a meeting and made the decision to bring in mental health professionals to examine THE ENTIRE TOWN. As a result, Ouija boards are now forbidden in El Cerrito.

Number Ten

There’s way more than one type of spirit board.

There are actually a lot of varying "spirit board" layouts that aren't used as much anymore. Like the "Volo Talking Board", "Espirito Talking Board", "Igili The Marvelous Talking Board", "Nirvana Talking Board", etc. All of which were stomped out after the 1920s because Hasbro's version won out.