Chapter Two. Part I.

As mentioned in the previous chapter, there seemed to be a process taking place, something was evolving. 

It wasn’t that suddenly I had a list of questions that had never occurred to me before, in fact it was the opposite. Much of what I was beginning to ask about was subject matter I’d been mulling over in some form or another for years. 

Regardless of where this source of energy (and knowledge) was coming from, it was as though we’d stumbled upon some kind of interactive forum, and finally here was an opportunity to enter into serious discussion on these searching topics. 

Although this level and depth of discussion wasn’t at the forefront of my mind when we began doing this, it’s certainly feasible to suggest that the original motivation–that of pure curiosity–was a connective precursor. 

I don’t think I’m alone in that when faced with such a scenario, it’s very easy to think that whoever (or whatever) you’re talking to, knows much more–about absolutely everything–than you do. 

There is a sense that because you can’t see them, yet you imagine they are able to see you, that they are “all seeing” and have boundless knowledge and wisdom. 

This may well be a completely understandable way to think, but as we went on to discover, not necessarily an accurate one. 

Not everyone that came through could, or was best qualified to answer the questions put to them; this is where a “I know someone who can” scenario would  sometimes take place. Often, in response to one of our questions the glass would spell out the word “wait”, and then would slow to a halt. After an indeterminate amount of time - perhaps seconds, sometimes minutes later, we’d be talking to someone new, someone either better qualified to tackle that subject, or who was connected in some way to the issue or person we’d asked about. 

      

The words of Tanina, who would become a regular contact, still ring in my metaphorical ears; she stated, “you are the receiver of as much wisdom as you seek”. 

The characteristics and behaviour of the board seemed to correspond very much with the intentions of how it was being used. This, I believe is an essential point to bear in mind when trying to assess the Ouija’s merits or dangers - or when evaluating anything else, come to that. 

We all know that most of the time, what we put into something relates directly to what we get back - not just as an ethos, but also as a physical reality in life. But for some reason, many of us can tend to feel that the moment we take hold of a planchette(1), or place a finger on an upturned (or actually down-turned) glass, we imagine ourselves rendered powerless to invisible and imagined forces. 

1. A planchette is a small, usually heart-shaped flat piece of wood that one moves around on a board to spell out messages or answer questions. Paranormal advocates believe that the planchette is moved by some extra-normal force.

Of course, one of my considerations was whether those who express warnings or negative views on the ouija actually have a valid point or not. But I’ll revisit this subject later in the book.  

So as the nature of my questions changed, so did those who came through responding to those questions. Some of them became regular visitors with whom we’d enter into long and detailed dialogue over protracted periods of time. 

Before I knew it, it felt as though our sessions had absolutely nothing to do with the occult, and that they’d become more like a get-together - an opportunity to meet with friends.   

In the sessions that follow, Tanina comes through to us for a second time. We’d spoken with Tanina during one of our very early sessions, and though I can’t recall every detail of that first contact (or can locate any written record of it) I do recall being very impressed, not only with the speed of her delivery, but also with her quick and clever wit. With the first encounter being so stimulating and thought-provoking, I expressly asked if she would please come back and visit again, and this she did.

TBC ...