The girls gathered around a table where a Oiuja Board sat. They all looked at each other with pure excitement in their eyes. "Lower the lights", whispered Karen. As the lights dimmed, Tara finished lighting some candles and then returned to the table where the others waited. "Who should we try contacting first?", asked Kim. Game? Fad? Perhaps an instrument used at parties? A portal to another dimension where something is waiting to speak to us? Correct on all accounts! The Ouija Board, which at the turn of the last century was popular as a parlor game, hit fad sensation between the 60's through the 80's when stores started selling them like hot cakes on the griddle. And, just one of the many controversial tools that some use to communicate with the other side; that realm where spirits walk and dwell.
I am guilty of the scene above as well. As a highschool teen, I attended my share of ghoulish Halloween parties with friends where ghostly games ensued. And, while stores no longer carry brand new boards in a box labeled as Ouija Boards; once in a blue moon, you can stumble across one in a second-hand store or an antique shop. In addition, there are probably many attics or basements with a shelf holding an old box with that name - Ouija Board.
However, I am not a teen anymore, and while I did attend those parties, I was the one who stood back and watched after having a not so pleasant experience with one. Also, having grown up interacting with the spirit world for as long as I can remember back; I learned a hard lesson. As a teen coming into a full understanding of what my abilities were and what the Ouija Board and other tools to communicate with the 
dead could really do and what could in reality come through; I developed a healthy respect for different communication venues with the dead. Furthermore, I learned that more often than not, it wasn't dear old Aunt Molly or good ole' Uncle Lou.
dead could really do and what could in reality come through; I developed a healthy respect for different communication venues with the dead. Furthermore, I learned that more often than not, it wasn't dear old Aunt Molly or good ole' Uncle Lou. While devices such as the Ouija Board ran as a fad and a game for a long time; in reality it is no joke. I suppose a big beef that I have with half of the paranormal reality television shows these days is that for that eager kid or the adult who always "knew" something could come of that old dusty board with numbers and letters; I've really never seen a disclaimer saying, "Playing or experimenting with such devices could be hazardous to your health!" But why would they say that? First, the shows are for "entertainment purposes only, right? Let's use commericals as an example of what I'm saying. Advertising executives gear a common commercial to the average brain of a five year old child. While we might be much older than five, that child mentality causes us to remember that stupid jingle and thus we run out and buy that product. The same goes with an "entertainment" show telling someone to "not do that". Because, in the eyes of the enthusiast, they have to do the opposite of what they're told and try it anyway. Heaven forbid there should be any heed to safety or the concern for others around.
The same can be said for people who decide to go ghost hunting in a cemetery without obtaining permissions from the property owners, etc. first. Because they saw it on television, then they too must be able to do it.
Folks, I guess I could say in a Roy D. Mercer tone is that what we have here is a failure to communicate. Playing with Ouija Boards to "see what happens" or taking it upon oneself to go hit a location for a paranormal investigation makes for a pretty dangerous paranormal enthusiast. In addition, it causes a lot of problems for people who do abide by protocols to do what they are there to do. Anyone can shoot a camera or grab a tape recorder and call themselves a "ghost hunter". I am astonished when I read reports of people going out all by their lonesome for the night and "investigating". It also amazes me when I continuously seem to see an increase of people having issues of the paranormal kind. It causes me to wonder, what were they doing before the "haunting" started. There also seems to be an increase of cuts, abrasions and other "carvings" showing up on people. And I guess we can add the irritation that seems to scald me when I hear the word "demon" being used as Ritalin was overused in the 1990's.
Curiousity can kill the cat! That's one way of putting it I guess. But the emphasis of this whole article is to point out and bring attention to people that paranormal research, investigations and communication with those who are on the next part of their spiritual journey after leaving their bodies behind is not a game or a fad to be toyed with.
Having an interest in the paranormal is just as healthy as someone who is interested in science or anthropology. But I caution strongly to not cross that fine line of being a paranormal fan or enthusiast to acting out dangerous scenarios. That old addage, "it will never happen to me" might literally just come to bite you in the end. It's one of those "gotcha" statements that should not be allowed to be thought by anyone. I also stress that keeping a sense that what you see on television is just that - entertainment. If you have a problem or suspect one of a paranormal nature, contact a local group or through a referral for help. It's no different than calling for help when you have chest pains and can't breath. But instead of trying to handle the situation on your own or downing that fifth bottle of Mylanta for that "chest pain", please call on someone who does not look at the paranormal as a parlor game but who actually is there to help and find answers.