[cracks knuckles knowing this is going to be long]
first, are Ouija Boards dangerous? no, they are a tool, when used properly you will be fine. however, like with birth control, nothing's 100% and avoiding it is the best way to prevent things from going wrong. Ouija Boards are a spiritual magnet, anything in the area will be drawn to it, good or bad, so be sure to put up barriers, and be specific when speaking with the board.
Can you make one out of paper? yes but it's not recommended. as with Athame's, wands, and other magickal tools, you are charging and enchanting the Ouija Board. if your wand was broken, you need to make a replacement. if your Ouija Board broke, because it is a tool to speak with spirits, demons, and other beings, this is very dangerous as it could release a lot of energy resulting in yourself, or your home, being attacked by this negative energy, spirit, demon, etcetera. wood is common and preferred in the boards constructions as they are harder to break/damage. different woods have different properties, so research the wood before choosing. [go for wood with divination, psychic, or protective qualities] stone can also be used, and i have worked with a stone board, it was made of stone but the surface in which you placed the planchette [heart-shaped pointer thingie] was made of glass. it didn't slide very well, so be sure whatever you choose the planchette can glide on the surface.
how to make a board is simple, take some paper, wood, or other flat surface, and write the letters of the alphabet, 1-9, yes, no, and goodbye. [other words and symbols can be used, but these are the most common and best words to choose] the planchette can be made from wood, plastic, a magnifying glass, a crystal, a drinking glass, even a penny, so long as you can 'hold' it, it slides easily, and you can clearly identify what the item is pointing at. after making the board, the key part is to cleanse, charge, and bless the board. if you buy one from the store for example, it will have the energy of everyone who touched, handled, or walked past it in the store. cleansing it will wipe it's energy, charge it with your energy will get it attuned to your energy patterns, and blessing it will help not only protect it, but give it a magickal property as your other magickal tools. very important point, since you will be using it mostly to speak with spirits, it will pick up energy, cleanse it regularly as well as store it in a safe place so it isn't damaged.
how to use the board? cleanse yourself and the area. for yourself take a cleansing bath, and the area you could either use a bessom to 'sweep' away energy, or some sage smudge to cleanse the area of lingering energy. casting the circle to protect yourself from any negative being that could be attracted to the board. [specifying to speak to a friendly spirit can also help] meditate and clear your mind, once you're in a trance like state place your index and middle finger slightly above the planchette, barely touching it. resting your hand or fingers on the planchette will result in a few outcomes, the planchette not moving, covering the letters/responses with your hand, or moving the planchette too much as a result of your muscles natural movements. [ideomotor effect] a personal preference of mine is to have three people use the board. two with their eyes closed/blindfolded/meditating use the board and the third person asks questions and record the responses. as well, keep in mind who you ask to help you, as many people use the board to scare or prank their friends.
Ouija Boards originate from 1848 in New York State. many throughout history though, have contacted spirits through similar means. [such as Kokkuri san in Japan] i suggest you study a lot more about Ouija Boards, as well as circle casting, protection, cleansing, and many other 'basic information' sources before using a Ouija Board.
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