I was asked whether it was “wise” to use a Ouija board.
My answer was this:

“They are mostly nonsense. Hollywood has told people a bunch of lies. We are all walking, breathing, snack-munching spirit boards. You do not need a Milton Bradley mass-produced made-in-China board to tell you anything.”

Are they harmless? No.
Let me start with the kokkuri. Kokkuri is a Japanese divination game that summons a trickster god to ask your burning questions to. Depending on the nature of your questions, you may or may not get clear answers. Once you have summoned this raccoon-fox-dog spirit/god, it may or may not leave when you are done with it.

Fun times.

Much like the Ouija, you do not need a fancy board to get your long-distance chit-chat on.

When you are done with the kokkuri, you are to destroy it. More about it here.

Take note: create & destroy! Draw out your spirit board and when you are done, destroy it (if you do not feel like drawing one out by hand, here is a printable one).

You can use the same coin concept as with the kokkuri – toss it in a wishing well when you are done.

More to note: most energies that you pick up on any “spirit” board are from the user(s). If you give power to the irrational, unknown and the unconscious, you are putting it in the driver’s seat. If you are depressed, you are likely to manifest the very emotions you have been keeping under wraps.

When using the board with others, be aware of why the placket/coin moves when there are no spirits around. We like science around these parts, kids, even if a lot of them are Capricorns, and they rain on our Sagittarius parties (I am kidding. Astrology is nonsense and so much fun!)