How to Create a Ouija Board

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht

Last Updated: June 25, 2024 Approved

A ouija board is a flat panel with letters, numbers, and other symbols printed on it that you can use to hold a seance. Though you can purchase ouija boards from various Halloween and novelty shops, you can save money by making your own version at home.

Printable Board

Printable Ouija Board

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Using Paper Boards

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Method 1: Written

1
Start by obtaining a large piece of paper. Cover it with letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0-9, and the words "Yes", "No", "Hello" and "Goodbye".
2
Lay the letters in a circle. Put a sun on the top left hand corner, next to the word "yes". On the top right corner, put a moon next to the word "no". Put the numbers outside the circle on a table. Use a tumbler turned upside down on top of the paper as a pointer.

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Each of you place one hand lightly on the up-turned glass. Decide who will ask the questions. Another person could be taking notes.

Method 2: Cut

1
Create letters. Start by writing out all of the letters in one or two rows. Make sure that the characters are large enough to read easily.
In the row below the letters write the numbers 0-9.
These will make communicating with the spirits easier. You can add any other phrases if you wish.
Take scissors to cut out each of the characters, numbers, words, and phrases.
Lay them out according to your desired layout.
You can make it a smooth surface. A glass or sheet protector should work well.
You are now ready to have your first talking board séance!

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Constructing Wooden Boards

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1
Gather your materials. You will need a wood board, sanded and smooth. Also, find some paint or varnish (or another clear coating), and a soldering iron with a calligraphy tip will be required. A pencil and paper will also be useful.
2
Practice using the soldering iron. Soldering irons can be a little tricky. Practice on some scrap wood first, so that you can see how slow you need to go and how hard you need to press. It will also give you the chance to figure how to move the iron, in order to get different shapes.
Make sure the wood is clean and smooth.
4
Draw out your design. You can draw the design free-hand or you can use a "cheat". This means printing the characters onto a transfer paper. You can also purchase ink stamps from a craft store.
- Make sure the designs are not too small or detailed, especially if you do not have a lot of experience with a soldering iron.
5
Go over the designs with the soldering iron. Draw over the design with the iron. Do not rush. Look at it in different lights to be sure that it looks right.
6
Let it cool, then clean the surface. Let the burned areas cool and then brush off any excess material. Erase pencil marks and other marks and gently wipe the whole surface with a lightly damp cloth. Let it dry before continuing.
Varnish the surface. The varnish or other clear coating will create the smooth surface necessary to make the planchette work. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the finish you decide to use. You will likely need to do several coats. Let each coat dry before applying the next. Set aside plenty of time for this project.
8
Add finishing details. You can paint on more details once the varnish has dried completely. Details are best painted on before the second to last layer of varnish. This will keep the color clear.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Designing Your Board

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1
Choose your layout. There are a number of ways that you can lay out your board. The design is not as important as having all of the necessary symbols. You need to include at least the letters of the alphabet, numbers 0-9, and the words "Yes","No", and "Farewell".
- Use the traditional layout if you want to. This is where the letters are written out in two slightly-arced lines at the center, with "Yes" and "No" above and the numbers and "Farewell" below.
- You could also use a diamond layout. In this design, the letters are written in a diamond shape, with each of the four points lining up with the center of that side of the board. The numbers are written inside this diamond and the corners are allocated for the words (allowing for an additional phrase, like "not now").
- You could also try a circular layout. This design is similar to the diamond, but uses an oval shape instead.
2
Choose your font. Choose a font which fits with the design of your ouija board. Gothic fonts are good choices for this use. As well, there are many Western-themed fonts. You can, however, choose whatever you like best. Test out some the the words in a word editor, to get an idea of what you think looks best.
3
Choose your embellishments. Many believe it is a good idea to add certain symbols to the corners or some random location on your board. Beliefs vary, but common symbols include: the moon, sun, and stars; the symbols for the elements; the symbols for the planets; and symbols or images in neurologically significant quantities (For example 12, 13, 7, 3).
- You can also embellish your board with physical objects, such as set spots for candles, attached stones (quartz is good for this purpose), or places to put the elements (a bowl of water, a branch, and other such items).
4
Pick your colors. Choose a color scheme for your board. Darker, earth tones tend to be better at calling forth the spirits. If you are looking to contact particularly cheerful spirits, there is nothing wrong with using colors you think they would prefer. If you are trying to contact someone in particular, try their favorite color.
- Try to use colors that contrast well. You want to be able to read your text easily.
5
Choose your planchette. A planchette is the device where you place your fingers and watch as it moves around the board, with messages from the spirits. You can rescue one from a random set you find at a dollar store, or you can make your own.
- You can stay safe while using an Ouija board by switching off your energy. It means all information comes to your higher self.
- You can make some affirmation or say something, like, only things that are to your highest good come to you.
- If you ask your higher self to be the guide, the spirit you want to talk to or reach does not have to get in your body. It can communicate with you remaining outside your body or energy field.

Community Q&A

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Question

Where should the glass be when we begin?

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The most common starting place is over the letter "G."

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Do you really end the game?

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It's very important to end the session/game. Be polite to any spirit and say something along the lines of "it's been nice talking to you, rest in peace," and move the pointer to goodbye. If you don't end the session, it can be very dangerous and any spirit can escape through the board. Always end the game/session!

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Can I use anything other than the glass?

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You could use a piece of paper cut into a triangle. Be sure to cut a circle in the center that will fit your letters or font.

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Tips

No one can agree on whether Ouija is real or not. Some believe it calls on spirits from beyond to answer questions, while others believe that subconsciously, you move the planchette. Keep an open mind and remember to respect the beliefs of others.

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The quality of the answers you receive while using the Ouija Board will depend on the quality of the questions asked. Ask a serious question and you will get a serious answer. Ask a silly question and you will get a silly answer.

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Some people believe that the spirits are real and that if you are not careful, you can upset the spirits around you and receive an unwelcome visitor in your home. Treat the board with respect if you are concerned about this. Imagine a pure white light surrounding you for protection.

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Warnings

The real danger is when you ask for physical proof of the existence of the spirits you attempt to contact. When you "ask for a sign", you literally open a door between the physical and spiritual world, allowing the spirits to enter. As a result, future problems can and often do arise.

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Just remember that homemade Ouija boards made of wood tend to work better than those of paper. If the paper is bent or folded, the spirits will be appalled and stay away. This is a good thing when you are too afraid to play. All you have to do is bend the paper and not tell them that it would not work then.

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Any attempts to communicate with the dead or other spirits should not be taken lightly. In other words do not attempt to speak with certain spirit in particular. Let the spirit come to you. Attempting to communicate with spirits should not be done by the inexperienced. There are plenty of stories on the net. Take some time and read some of them before considering playing with a Ouija.

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Scientifically, there is, of course, no evidence that the above points apply, since the words are formed in the subconscious of the user rather than 'spiritual intervention'. In some cases, words are deliberately formed by the user as a trick to others. Hence, although the results can be surprising, scientific evidence would suggest they arise in the user through a process similar to dreams or hallucinations.

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