Are Ouiji Boards Satanic? A Catholic Explanation

[omgriley]

I heard from Fr. Chad Ripperger that the movie Exorcism of Emily Rose was based on a real story about a saintly girl named Annalise McHale and that the movie did real justice to the actual story.

Well worth looking into and developing a devotion to Annalise.

 

[FrDavid96]

Exorcists are the ones who deal with this topic and they do indeed bring a different and important perspective.

The initial reaction of most people is “so what? it’s just a toy.” And comments like “people don’t take them seriously, so there’s no harm.”

Indeed, the boards themselves have no power. They are not infused with magic. They’re nothing but cardboard and plastic and paint churned-out by automated machinery with no more spiritual power than the checker board that comes out of the next assembly line.

The harm is this (and I have this knowledge FROM exorcists, not just my own non-exorcist observations):

Most of the time, people buy these things (boards, dolls, other similar items) intending “just for fun” or “just for decoration” Their intentions are mostly innocent.

As they begin to use these things, they follow directions, either included with the item, or learned from some other source.

They say words or incantation without meaning those words. Nothing happens. They use them again and again and nothing happens. Nothing happens. Again, nothing happens.

(continued…)

 

[FrDavid96]

HERE IS THE PROBLEM

Part of the problem is actually the fact that nothing happens. Yep. That’s right. Keep reading.

After a while, people become disappointed in the fact that nothing happens. That’s our human nature.

If someone’s car isn’t starting because of a dead battery, what does the person do? Turn the key a few more times.

If a light bulb is burned out, what do we do? Flip the switch a few more times in the hopes it will work again.

If the milk carton is empty? Shake it over the glass a few times, maybe that will fill the glass.

People use these items and when nothing happens (sometimes after a very long time) they get disappointed. We don’t like it when “nothing happens.” We want something, just some little thing, to happen. We get frustrated at the fact that nothing happens. We get mad that nothing happens.

People don’t want to conjure a demon to take-up residence in their home. No, they don’t want that at all. In no way is that their intention.

However, eventually, what they come to want is that some…thing…happens. Maybe just a “little” demon to pop up on the board for just a second; if nothing else, just to justify all the time they’ve spent playing with the silly board. They want just a small, harmless one, the kind painted on the cereal boxes or that can of deviled ham at the deli. Maybe all they want is for the demon to make the lights flash on-and-off a few times. Maybe all they want is for the demon to light that little scented candle placed next to the board.

See, at first, they really don’t want anything to happen. So they say the words, but the words have no effect because they lack sincerity. They mentally preface their words with “I don’t really mean this but I’m saying it just for fun…” But eventually, they sincerely do want something to happen.

After being disappointed time and time again that they say the words and nothing happens, finally, in exasperation, they find themselves saying “this time I really mean it.”

They want that little harmless demon to show himself so they can get just a little peek. Nothing more than that though, just a little glance. They aren’t just saying the words anymore. Now they mean them. Once that happens, it’s all over.

Once they sincerely invoke the demon, they’ve done it. It is there and they have no control over it. The Evil One doesn’t play games. He isn’t going to send a demon to just put on a little show to satisfy their curiosity then return back to whence he came. Oh no. It doesn’t work that way. It’s too bad for you that you had to learn this the hard way. The demon has now been invited. Putting the board back into the closet won’t suffice to un-invite him. Once invited, he’s going to come back again whenever he pleases.

That’s how these boards and dolls and other toys that are harmless in themselves really do become tools of the Evil One.

 

[JamalChristophr]

Yes, I saw the movie. It’s pretty well done, I think. I also saw Requiem, a German film that came out a bit later. It’s a rather grim story. Anneliese was a very pious, kind, and gentle soul. Listening to the recordings of the exorcism is rather disturbing , as it should be.

Annelise Michel had no involvement with the occult in any way is the general consensus. It’s a rather exceptional “case”.

 

[2towers]

I used one in the 80s and it worked. My friend who wasn’t taking it seriously invited anything to come good or evil. The planchette started moving in an elaborate figure 8 / infinity symbol. We both looked at each other with huge eyes, my friend asked if I was pushing it, and I asked him if he thought there was any way one person could move it in such an elaborate way.

He asked what it’s name was, and the board spelled out gibberish. Then he asked if it was evil, it hesitated and moved down to yes. We both pulled back and through the board out the front door and started praying. We both got the feeling that something was very angry.

I was incredibly sorry I had played with that thing. He was a recovering addict and had tried to kill himself two years before that event in that very room, and two years later was successful somewhere else. I pray for his repose often. [his name is Tim and died in 2001 if you would like to pray for him.]

So yes, this stuff is deadly serious.

 

[Isca]

I’m sorry you had that experience, 2towers. We do daft things when we’re young, I wasn’t a Catholic back then and we loved anything a bit off-limits, as many teenagers do.

I’ll pray for Tim, may his soul rest in peace.

 

[njlisa]

When my sister and I were young let’s say between 12 and 9, an older relative
told us that she had psychic powers. They sounded fascinating but scary.
We asked her to show us what she could do. But then, she told us that she
promised the Lord that she would never use the powers again. I was really
fascinated. I think she did us a disservice to two young kids to tell them
such things. I hope she was just trying to get a rise out of us.