oracoli
Ouija
The Ouija board (commercially "Ouija board") is a tablet with the letters of the alphabet, numbers from 0 to 9, the words "yes" and "no" and a mobile pointer in the shape of a heart or a triangle, used in spiritist practices to obtain alleged messages from non-physical entities. The name is a registered trademark of Hasbro since 1966.
Origin
The "talking board" establishes itself in the United States in the 1880s, during the spiritist boom. Patented in 1891 by Elijah Bond and William Fuld, it is marketed as a parlour game by Parker Brothers, today Hasbro. It is one of the bestselling games of the 20th century, in addition to being a tool for spiritist practices.
Scientific explanation
The movement of the pointer is explained by the ideomotor effect: small involuntary movements of the hands amplified by the pointer. Experimental studies confirm that participants, while believing they are not moving the pointer, unconsciously guide it. The "answers" tend to reflect the expectations and thoughts of those taking part.
FAQ
Is it dangerous?
From a physical point of view, no. From a psychological point of view it can produce group suggestion, anxiety and in some cases unpleasant episodes, especially in adolescents and vulnerable people.
Are the answers authentic?
They are produced by the ideomotor effect: they come from the unconscious of the participants, not from external entities.
Is it a religious practice?
Mainstream Christian religions discourage or forbid it. Organised spiritism (Kardecism) prefers different methods.