A Valentine's Day Ouija Board Adventure

It was Valentine's Day. I'm single. There was next to nothing in Barrie I could do that didn't require a Valentine. After searching for something to do, I stumbled upon an Ouija Board workshop on Eventbrite. It was lurking somewhere on Queen's St.

Yeah, sure, why not?

I'm a skeptic, capital-A atheist who doesn't believe in the paranormal. But I love gothic, spooky stuff. Messing with an Ouija board in public? That sounded like a great social experiment.

A Perfect Venue for Gothic Magic

The séance workshop was held at a place called the Catacombs Cabaret. Finding it proved to be an adventure in itself. I found the address, but the entrance looked like some bargain store. I double-checked my ticket and noted that it said "in the rear." So, I walked around the building, discovering a parking lot and backdoors covered in graffiti.

After my third lap around the building, I looked up the venue's website. There, the event I bought my ticket for was listed. Eventually, I spotted a cheap sandwich board pointing to a back door. I opened it and found myself staring down a flight of stairs through concrete walls.

YOLO! I walked down into this dungeon, nodding to a doorman in a very goth, magic-themed place about the size of an apartment. I arrived late, so I had to whisper my way through proving my right to be there while the 'expert' running the session went through her introductory preamble.

Now We Talk to Spirits

Every second person got a Ouija board, and we all tried to contact… something. The expert explained that we might not be making contact with a ghost or a human. We could be talking to angels, gods, or other spirits.

Turns out, all gods in all mythologies are real.

After a quick cleansing circle to ensure there were no evil spirits (awe), we got to it. Hands on the planchette, we tried to get the damn thing to move on its own while calling out, "Anyone there?" At first, nothing happened, though we were assured we just needed time.

You know, I thought about wearing a necklace with a pentagram and upside-down crosses. Perhaps it was for the best that I didn’t.

Some were luckier than others. After a lot of nothing for me, the expert recommended I try a pendulum—a pendant. That moved, but since it was a dangling object, I felt no pull. My partner and I managed to get the planchette to move in circles, focusing on YES/NO since we couldn’t get it to spell words.

At one point, the expert suggested using the planchette upside-down—with the printed bits on the bottom. She argued that some people work in reverse for reasons.

An interaction that stood out was when the expert asked if I was a witch. Did the red, Holy Clothing dress give it away?

I had some laughs with the people there. While it didn’t work, the vibe was present, and I enjoyed some good company. I even had dinner afterward with a few of them.

How Does the Ouija Board Work? The Skeptic’s Perspective

The skeptic's explanation of a Ouija board involves involuntary twitching of the muscles in your hands. When you place your hands on the planchette, even if you hold them still, those muscles make slight movements to stabilize your arm. This means that as you hold the planchette, those twitches can jerk your hand just enough to move it. Combine this with the power of suggestion, and it looks like you’re talking to someone in a very stilted way.

Nerds call this the Ideomotor effect. While it somewhat works with one person manning the planchette, it works better if multiple people are holding it. This makes it less obvious who is moving it. It also works better if everyone knows who or what they are talking to, which can lead participants to unknowingly steer the movements in certain ways.

The Emotional Undertones of the Experience

The night was filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. As I descended into the dimly lit Catacombs Cabaret, I felt a rush of adrenaline. The air was thick with anticipation. Everyone around me shared a sense of curiosity and a hint of fear. It was intoxicating.

The atmosphere was electric. Laughter mingled with whispers of the unknown. Each person brought their own energy to the table, creating a tapestry of emotions. You could feel the collective heartbeat of the group, pulsing with the thrill of the unknown.

Reflections on the Night

I had my fun. Still didn't find my Valentine, but I managed to get some socializing in. I have a soft spot for the spooky aesthetic, and I know it bleeds into my writing. Inspiration, especially for horror, and touching grass, are always good.

In the end, the experience was more than just an attempt to contact spirits. It was about connection—both with the unknown and with others. I left the Catacombs Cabaret feeling invigorated, my mind swirling with ideas and stories waiting to be told.

Now my weekly blog post is done!