How to Use a Ouija Board Safely: 18 Rules, Dos, and Don’ts

Ouija boards can be a fun and exciting way to connect with spirits. You might be worried about attracting negative spirits, but there’s no reason to fear. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to use your Ouija board safely. You and your friends will be having fun around the spirit board in no time.

Things You Should Know

Pick a quiet place to use your Ouija board, and cleanse it with sage or incense to remove any negativity.
Invite your friends to use the Ouija board with you, and make sure everyone is in a good mood.
Be polite to the spirit and always remember to say “goodbye” to end your session.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Setting up the Ouija Board

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1
Find a quiet place with no distractions. You'll need to focus to connect to the spirit world, so choose a place where you feel peaceful and relaxed.^{[1]XResearch source} Then, silence your phone and any electronic devices so you won’t be interrupted.
- You might have heard that it’s dangerous to use a Ouija board at home. As long as you do it safely, there’s no reason to worry. If you’re afraid, you could always use it outside or at a local park.
- Leave the lights on if it makes you feel more comfortable. Spirits can feed off of energy and sense fear, so being really afraid could make you more of a magnet for negative spirits.
Doing a séance in a graveyard is #spookygoals, but graveyards can have chaotic spiritual energy. While it might make for a great story, you could have trouble connecting with a single spirit in a cemetery, and you may wind up with an unwanted entity.^{[2]XResearch source} To be on the safe side, pick another spot to use your Ouija board.
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3
Cleanse the space of negative energy. A cleansing can help protect you while you talk to the spirits. Try burning sage or lighting incense to purify your space. You might burn myrrh, frankincense, dragon’s blood, copal, or amber.^{[3]XResearch source}
- You could also surround your Ouija board with crystals or a circle of salt. If you have crystals, you could use black tourmaline, clear quartz, or amethyst.^{[4]XResearch source}
4
Cleanse your board. Your board can hang onto energy, so it’s a good idea to cleanse it. If you have sage, light it and waft the smoke over your board and pointer. Alternatively, sprinkle some rosewater over the board, while saying a simple, protective prayer.^{[5]XExpert SourceJennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual DirectorExpert Interview. 21 December 2021.} You can even make up your own.
- Here's an example of a protection prayer: “I clear this space of all negativity. I clear this space of the energy of people or things that have no purpose in this household. I ask that this clearing be gentle, and that all of this energy be returned to its source."
5
Light black candles to protect you from negative spirits. Black candles repel negative energy, so they make it hard for bad spirits to connect with you.^{[6]XResearch source} Plus, burning candles will give the room some ambience while you’re using your Ouija board.
- White candles can also help remove negative energy.
- You might also burn a blue candle to help open the lines of communication between you and the spirit world.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Preparing Your Participants

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Gather at least two people to use the Ouija board with you. You need multiple people to build up energy and channel the spirits.^{[7]XExpert SourceJennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual DirectorExpert Interview. 21 December 2021.} Additionally, it’s helpful to have someone who can take over and close out the session if you can’t continue anymore.
- If you have more than two people, you might have one person write down what the spirit is spelling out so it’s easier to read the messages.
2
Make sure all participants are in a good mood. Spirits can feed off of your energy, so good vibes are essential. If you’re feeling upset, you might accidentally attract a bad spirit. Similarly, you might have a bad experience if you’re feeling afraid or anxious. To attract positive vibes, use your Ouija board when you’re feeling upbeat.
- Stay sober. No one can tell you how to Ouija, but you’ll be more in control if you’re sober. You might hold off on the drinking until later.
3
Ask each participant to do a spiritual cleansing. Doing a cleansing ritual helps dispel any lingering bad vibes. Before you gather around the board, cleanse your spirit with a simple ritual before you talk to the spirits. You could:
- Meditate. Try envisioning yourself surrounded by a bright, cleansing light.^{[8]XExpert SourceJennifer McVey, Cht
  Spiritual DirectorExpert Interview. 21 December 2021.}
- Say a prayer of protection. It can be something as simple as: “Let nothing but good energies surround me. Let nothing but good intentions fill me. Let my mind and body be calm and at peace."
- Take an herbal or salt bath. The best herb to use is lavender, and the best salt to use is sea salt.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Talking to Spirits

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Set a positive intention for your session. As a safeguard, you might state out loud that you’re only interested in talking to friendly spirits. That way, you’re not purposely drawing a negative entity to you.
- “We welcome friendly, positive spirits to talk to us.”
- “This is a pure, positive space.”
- “Are there any good spirits who wish to speak with us?”
2
Ask the spirit to introduce itself. You’ll get an idea of who you’re talking to, and the ghost will feel better about talking to you. You don’t have to talk to a spirit that makes you uncomfortable. You might ask:
- “What’s your name?”
- “How old are you?”
- “Where were you born?”
- “When were you alive?”
3
Be careful what you ask. Stick to positive questions to stay safe. You can technically ask a Ouija board anything, but some questions aren’t a good idea. You could upset the spirit, or you might get a rude answer. Do your best to ask questions that will keep the good vibes going.
- “Where did you live?”
- “What did you do when you were alive?”
- “Are you related to any of us?”
- “What did you like to do for fun?”
4
Don’t ask for a physical sign that the ghost is there. It’s so tempting to ask for proof, but resist the urge. To be on the safe side, don’t give the spirit permission to do anything outside of the Ouija board. Also, keep in mind that some spirits won’t have the ability to interact with the physical world. Stick to communicating with the pointer.
- Instead of saying, “Is someone here? If so, make a noise,” just ask, “Is someone here?” and wait for the pointer to move.
5
Be polite to the spirit. Spirits can get annoyed and upset just like anyone. While you don’t need to worry, it’s nice to treat the spirit with respect. Don’t ask questions that might be offensive, and don’t make jokes at the spirit’s expense. That way, you can avoid any unwanted negativity.
- Don’t ask things like, “How did you die?” or “Why are you a ghost?” because it might upset the spirit.
- Similarly, don’t ask, “Will any of us die soon?” because spirits can’t see the future. They could get annoyed and might decide to prank you by giving you an upsetting answer.
6
Take everything the board tells you with a grain of salt. Just like people, spirits can lie. A playful or mischievous ghost might try to prank you with a mean message. If the spirit says something upsetting, it’s best to just ignore it because the spirit is just messing around.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Spirits aren’t fortune tellers, so they can’t predict your future. You don’t need to worry about scary predictions from a Ouija board.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Ending Your Session

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End the session early if anyone feels uncomfortable. Stop using the Ouija board if you sense any bad vibes. Say “goodbye” right away and move onto another activity if things get too scary—which includes the pointer moving in a weird way. You can always try again when you feel better.
- Using a Ouija board should be fun for all of you. If it’s upsetting people, it’s probably best to do something else.
2
Say “goodbye” to end the session. Some people believe that not saying goodbye could leave a door open to the spirit world. Sometimes, the spirit will end the session first by moving the pointer to “goodbye.” If that doesn’t happen, thank the spirit and push the pointer over to “goodbye” yourself.
- Always say goodbye, even if you don't get any contact, just in case a spirit is hanging around but didn't move the pointer.
- After you say goodbye, flip the pointer over so it won’t start moving around again.
3
Burn sage to cleanse away any lingering energy. You really don’t need to worry, but you might feel more at peace if you burn sage after using your Ouija board. Just make sure you open a window or door first so the energy or spirit has a way to leave. You might also tell any spirits they have to go.^{[10]XResearch source}
- “Any spirits lingering in this home must leave.”
- “All spirits need to leave this home.”
4
Store your board and pointer after you use it. Pack up the board, and place your pointer in a bag. Make sure the pointer isn’t positioned over the letters on the board because some people believe that spirits can use the board without you there.
- If you want to use your board as decor, just make sure the pointer isn’t sitting on the board. Keep it put away until you’re ready to use your board again.

Expert Q&A

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Question
How can I protect myself when using the ouija board?
Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Jennifer McVey is a Spiritualist, Seer, and the Spiritual Director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. With more than 22 years of experience, she specializes in manifesting, ghosts and spirit attachments, hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually based life coaching. Jennifer has also published 13 Affirmation Image and six Word Search Puzzle books in spirituality and self-help and has produced over 600 audio sessions.
Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Expert Answer
If you ask your higher self to be the guide, then the spirit that you want to talk to doesn't actually get in your body. It will stay outside of your body, outside of your energy field, and it will still be able to communicate with you.
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Question
How can I close off my energy before using the ouija board?
Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Jennifer McVey is a Spiritualist, Seer, and the Spiritual Director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. With more than 22 years of experience, she specializes in manifesting, ghosts and spirit attachments, hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually based life coaching. Jennifer has also published 13 Affirmation Image and six Word Search Puzzle books in spirituality and self-help and has produced over 600 audio sessions.
Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Expert Answer
Remember that all information comes to your higher self. To close off your energy, you need to make some type of affirmation saying something like "Make so only my highest good comes to me".
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Question
Are you allowed to pull your fingers away from the pointer after each question? I was watching some videos online (and I know they we're probably fake because of how obvious they were acting), but when you are in an actual conversation with a spirit, can you occasionally raise your hands of the pointer?
Earth_Lover
Community Answer
No! Never raise your hands off of the pointer because this is just like stopping without saying goodbye. This could let the spirit out. Never do this.
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Tips

Don’t play with a Ouija board if you’re really afraid of ghosts.^{[11]XResearch source}
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Have someone write down the answers so it’s easier to keep track of what the board is spelling out.
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You can use a Ouija board anytime, but the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest around Halloween, which is October 31.
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Warnings

Always move the pointer to the word GOODBYE when you are ready to end the session, especially if the spirit doesn’t do it.
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