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Curated by: Astonishing Legends (223 videos)
Original Airdate 11.11.2020 (On Podcast Audio Platforms) Most of us are familiar with the name and iconic image of the magical Ouija board. Many have dared to test it, either seeking answers from the great beyond or for spooky entertainment, or both. The Ouija board has always been advertised as a family-friendly game. However, for about the last 50 years, Ouija became associated with the forbidden, a taboo tool of the occult. But has it always had this reputation for unleashing evil, and when did this shift in perception occur? Is it a variation of an ancient scrying device or portal for speaking with the dead, or is it a more modern amusement? How could such a pop culture symbol that is so pervasive have such a mysterious background? It seems the board's manufacturers have intentionally kept the details shadowed from the start, adding to the marketing appeal and popularity. Although the practice of attempting communication with the spirit world is as old as philosophy, the board we recognize today had its beginnings with the Spiritualist Movement of the nineteenth century in America. Yet in that era and into the first part of the twentieth century, using the board to contact spirits was seen as wholesome family fun and nothing to fear or shun. Why did the Ouija board take a turn for the dark side, and what is its real story? As we search for clues, tonight's guest will shed more light on its history and cultural relevance. Brandon Hodge is one of the world's foremost researchers and historians of spirit communication devices. His website, mysteriousplanchette.com, is a wealth of information on these instruments, and his Austin-based collection houses an astounding display of planchettes, "talking boards," dial plates, and psychographs, everything an adventurous Victorian soul searcher might use. Please join us to discuss why a simple board with printed letters, numbers, and a pointer managed to inspire such enduring wonder and apprehension with its mystical nature. Visit our webpage at the link below for this episode and access a lot more information about it, including research links, articles, and images. https://www.astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2020/10/11/ep-190-ouija And SUBSCRIBE on your favorite Podcast Platform and FIND US on Social at: https://linktr.ee/astonishinglegends Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Origins of the Ouija Board 00:06:48 - Thank You from Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department 00:13:03 - Buyer Beware: Ouija Boards and Unwanted Consequences 00:19:33 - The Ouija Board: A Brief History 00:25:48 - Introduction of Brandon Hodge and his background 00:32:35 - Exploring the Mysterious Planchette Collection 00:39:51 - The Beginnings of Spiritualism & the Fox Sisters 00:47:01 - The Fox Sisters and the Beginning of Spiritualism 00:53:34 - Spirit Communication in the 19th Century 01:00:18 - The Origins of Mediumship and Spirit Communication 01:07:17 - The Rise and Fall of the Fox Sisters 01:13:37 - A Fork in the Road: Different Approaches to Spirit Communication 01:20:54 - Spiritual Manifestations in Dark Seances 01:28:12 - The Joy of Beating Hard Levels 01:34:50 - Spirit Communication: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly 01:41:15 - Creepy Cool: The Enigma of Spirit Boards 01:48:40 - The Rise of the Planchette 01:55:45 - The Origins of Planchette and Competing Narratives 02:02:56 - The Mystery and Popularity of the Ouija Board 02:09:22 - The Mysterious Origins of the Ouija Board 02:16:12 - The Origins of the Talking Board 02:23:28 - The Founding of the Ouija Company 02:30:41 - The Ouija Trademark Dispute and Selective Enforcement 02:37:38 - The Evolution and Pronunciation of "Ouija" 02:44:31 - The History of Ouija Sales 02:52:11 - The Exorcist and the Ouija Board in Pop Culture 02:59:05 - The Zozo Phenomenon and its Intersection with the Talking Board 03:06:03 - Phenomenal Stories of Spirit Communication 03:12:56 - The Final Word from Beyond 03:19:32 - Memories with the Ouija Board