For several years I posted articles on the Talking Board Historical Society Facebook page. Viewers suggested that I make a blog with those posts to share with others who might not be on social media for whatever reason. So here they are. Expect to find random bits of fun information plus a few thinly disguised rants. All talking board related, of course. Newest first.

Here are four nice period talking boards for your appreciation. Bottom left is the Rajah Spirit Talking Board-Clinton Art Products (1944) reflecting the 1940s fascination with Middle Eastern magic. Top left is a Swami Tarot Ancient Oracle-Aquarius House (1976) influenced by the 1970s New Age movement. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers want the most appeal for their talking boards and choose themes accordingly. Not so when private citizens express themselves. We're more likely to see designs reflecting personal philosophies as in the examples to the right. Upper right: Pen G by Comeau Karas a believer in pyramid power (1984). Lower right: Angel Board from Angel Alliance Network (1995) founded by Ernest L. Chapman who had an out of the body experience following a brain clot. -March 13 2019

A big shout out to the incredible Nicole Mullen, curator of the SFO Museum! It was she who conceptualized and put together the first large scale exhibition of talking boards on the West Coast. The exhibition, The Mysterious Talking Board: Ouija and Beyond, opened in San Francisco International Airport's Terminal 2 and ran from October 22, 2016 - May 07, 2017. During that period, thousands of arriving and departing passengers had the chance to experience dozens of vintage talking boards, planchettes, and memorabilia from the collections of the Talking Board Historical Society. The show received rave reviews overall and many stopped to be amazed and pleased while a few others quickened their steps with averted gazes. We couldn't be more pleased. More on Nicole at thesixfifty.com. -March 5, 2019

What was William Andrew Fuld's inspiration for the iconic blue ghost pictured on Ouija board boxes for over 30 years? We may never know because he left no record but we do have a couple of prime contenders. Those would be statues by American sculptor, writer and educator, Lorado Zadok Taft. The one on the lower left is Eternal Silence, also known as the Dexter Graves Monument (1909) or the Statue of Death in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery. It's hard to look at this and not see striking similarities to Fuld's image. That is, until you see Taft's Washington Park sculpture, Fountain of Time, (1920) which is nearly identical including the upheld left arm like Fuld's rendering. Either way, it's a wonderful exercise in speculation, which is, another word for "no proof." Which one would you pick? Trivia: The upheld arm on the Time statue originally held a scythe. Think about that the next time you use the Ouija board. -February 13, 2019

Let's revisit this once again, shall we? Does a spirit or entity remain behind after a Ouija board session? Worse yet, can it attach itself to the board or become trapped and thus endanger unsuspecting others? Should a board be "cleansed" or "closed" ritually? We've got the answer. Most experienced talking board users will tell you that when you are done with the séance, you are done with the séance. You don't have to do anything else. Your "entity" or "intity," depending on your perspective, is gone and cannot remain behind anymore than a caller can remain trapped in your cellphone when you hang up. The board is just a tool and has no power to hold anything. Ah, but you say, spirits can haunt the board, just like they do cemeteries! Well, that's for people who spend a lot of time in cemeteries so that's another conversation. What we can say is that most talking board collectors believe that the "trapped spirits" idea is a superstition. That's because they've had dozens of boards over a significant period of time, which puts them in a unique position to be informed on the subject. They even hang them on their walls with impunity, so that should tell you something. Should you cleanse your board or "close" it after a session? Only if you feel so inclined and it puts your mind at ease. There are no rules for, or against it, so you can rest easy. As always, if you or anyone you know is distressed about a talking board, you may contact us and we will find it a good home. We're happy to do that. -February 6, 2019

Note to collectors: sometimes the best time to buy talking boards is just after Halloween. These two nice wall hangers were remaindered for $10 at Jo Ann Stores last November. The board on the left is metal with a magnetic bat-shaped planchette. The wood, skull shaped board has a nice layered look with sunken eyes and can be hung or used in the conventional manner. To you who "only buy old talking boards," these will be old in a few years and selling for big bucks on eBay. Or, worse yet may become extinct altogether. That may be the case already, unfortunately. -January 30, 2019

Hope you enjoyed the "Super Blood Wolf Moon" eclipse on January 20th because that's a perfect chance for us to share a Ouija factoid about moons. We all know the symbols on the Ouija board. The symbol next to the YES is the sun and the symbol next to the NO is a crescent moon with a star, but this wasn't always so. Elijah Bond's original Ouija board patent (No: 446,054, February 10, 1891) states: "In the upper left-hand corner is placed the representation of a full moon and in the right-hand corner a crescent." The full moon became a sun much later in the Ouija's history. So, the next time someone tries to tell you something about the Ouija board, you can raise your hand and say, "Yes, but did you know ..." and sound all informed. What's more fun than that? -January 23 2019

From Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) comes this wonderful prop Ouija board used by actress Elizabeth Reaser. And yes, it functions exactly like you remember if you saw the movie, meaning that there is no CGI involved. Although there were several boards used, this is the one with the most screen time and it's as solid as it appears defying the common conception that screen props are always junk. Even before the film's release, fans were asking Hasbro to make one as a special edition. That hasn't happened nor do we know if it will. Hopefully someday. For those of you who like Easter eggs in your pictures, the devil is in the details. -January 16, 2019

Thanks to the abundance of talking board items available on Etsy and eBay it's possible not only do lunch but also to decorate your entire house with Ouija gear these days. Big box stores have also joined in, especially around Halloween, meaning that great stuff is probably available right in your neighborhood. Unlike other collectibles, talking board sales and accessories have only increased over the past 10 years. The Ouija board, once Parker Brother's dirty secret, is now a major player in the marketplace thanks to exposure on the Internet and the current owner Hasbro, who is making the effort. Where will it go from here? We don't know but we're guessing straight up. Talking board lunch box - StuffoftheDead, etsy.com -January 9, 2019

For your consideration: Jacquellyn Dunwoody Cameron's Mantic Message Mat Universal Mind Mirror (1974). Massive at over two feet in diameter, the board has letters, numbers, the zodiac, plus an assortment of words and days of the week as shortcuts to help in messaging. An accompanying booklet explains the symbols and exactly how to warm up and use the board. The clover (planchette) slides across the board under the control of "Mani," Jacquellyn's horned-star spirit guide. You can see him if you look closely at the planchette. The "Legend of Mani the Mentor" on the inside of the booklet's cover is imaginative but just a bit creepy, too. One wonders about his "probing mind" and the "maybe you'll have a surprise" parts. Probably nothing to worry about. Mani is a spirit guide and not at all dangerous, right?

Mani is an old soul star
Who smiles upon us from afar.
Mani has a heart, big and dear
Call him when you want him near.
Mani the star with his probing mind
Test him for he is a special find.
Mani has traveled the universes beyond
To establish his unbreakable eon bond.
Mani has learned the powers of speed and light
And all there is to know about sounds and flight.
Mani viewed a big red star, we call it our sun,
He follows its blue companion, for him it is fun.
Mani questioned the when, where and whys
Even the birds and clouds in our skies.
Mani the mentor is learned and wise
Ask your questions and maybe you'll have a surprise.
Mani has discovered for you and for me
The MANTIC MESSAGE MAT is a universal key. -January 2, 2019