The Ouija Museum
Samhain is coming; the Veil Between the Worlds grows thinner. We welcome our ancestors, and the Good Folk who live beyond the Veil…
Let me say emphatically that I do not mess around with Ouija boards, automatic writing, or any kind of communication that purports to talk with “spirits” or “guides.” I mucked about with those in my youth and tapped only the cess pool of my adolescent angst. I consider myself lucky that i escaped to tell the tale. (I have nothing against tarot cards, the I Ching or other types of divination that draw upon archetypal imagery.) Nevertheless…
I found myself charmed by The Museum of Talking Boards: An Online Museum of Ouija Boards. Talking Boards date back to the 1850’s, and the museum’s History page and FAQ page will give you a glimpse into American Spiritualism. I was taken by the gallerys of antique boards.
From 1890 to 1950 dozens of different manufacturers with names like Kennard, Fuld, Haskelite, and Lee, cranked out their unique versions of the Wonderful Talking Board. Some displayed fanciful images of pyramids, swamis, and strange, mystical places. Others were more akin to Halloween with pictures of black cats, witches, and devils. Some boards, cheaply made, were merely poor imitations of the more successful ones. Despite their popular appeal, most talking boards were used a couple of times, shelved, and eventually thrown away. This resulted in the tragic loss of a fascinating American art form. At the Museum of Talking Boards, we think that it’s time we celebrated this forgotten art. So come along with us as we display the boards, give you a little history, and if we can’t answer all of your questions, feel free to ask the Ouija.
Visit this charming, comprehensive site, and get in the Halloween spirit.
