Communication with the Dead through a Ouija Board

15min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter delves into the origins and usage of Ouija boards during the spiritualist movement, exploring how they were used for both entertainment and communication with spirits. It recounts a specific instance during World War I where prisoners of war created their own Ouija board. The chapter also touches on the rise of new communication technologies and the use of coded letters during the war.

In 1916, two British soldiers were held captive in a remote prisoner-of-war camp. People said the camp was escape-proof. One day, one of the soldiers received a postcard from his aunt in England, suggesting they try experimenting with a Ouija board. When reports of ghosts started circulating around the camp, the two soldiers had an idea.

Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.

Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, members-only merch, and more. Learn more and sign up here.

Listen back through our archives at youtube.com/criminalpodcast.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices