Multiplying Cards And A Disappearing Ouija

I suppose the beginning of this particular event was back in 1988, with my son's birthday party. I don't know what the rational was, but someone thought the 'ideal' gift for a 7 year old would be a Ouija board. No card accompanied it, and no one ever stepped up as to being the giver.

I remember at some point, before it could even be taken from it's shrinkwrap, I placed it on an upper shelf in the closet, thinking of disposing of it at a more appropriate time, not wanting to put a damper on the party. Personally, I do not view Ouijas, spirit boards, call them what you will as an appropriate 'toy'. They're a tool, and should only be used by those who understand such things, not innocent children.

As it somehow happens in busy households, the Ouija stayed untouched on that shelf, becoming buried under a pile of things we don't really need but dodge throwing out for one reason or another for years becoming forgotten.

Flash forwards to 1995 or '96, I don't recall the exact date, but my father had come for a visit. I had cleared out a couple of drawers for him to use in my room, as he'd be sleeping there and I would bunk with my daughter. The visit went well as I recall, and after he left is when I discovered a deck of tarot cards in the dresser drawer. I knew they were not mine, so I assumed he had left them behind. I had grown up with my father reading the cards. Although he had always used playing cards, as I did, I figured since my mother's passing he may have purchased a 'real' deck. When he called to say he had arrived safely home, I mentioned having found his cards, his reply confused me a bit. "What cards?"

After explaining, he said that though he had always wanted a deck, he'd never bought one, as he believed they worked better if they came as a gift. Well then, he could have these, and I mailed them off to him. Only to have them reappear within a week - in the drawer. I thought perhaps I had only thought I had sent them, but a phone call verified I had, and they were in his possession. Neither of us could explain it. There had been one deck, now there were two, although in separate locations.

Perhaps a month later, I was talking with my older brother, K, in California and he told me dad had mentioned this bit of weirdness to him. If I wanted I could send them to him. So, I did, and within two weeks they were back in the drawer! Now there were 3 sets in as many locations. My brother sighed and said, "Val? Maybe they're meant to be with you."

Time passed, it's the year 2003. My daughter and I are downsizing from our 10+ room house to a tiny 2 bedroom apartment. Clearing out the closet, we run across the Ouija. At the time we were sorting things into 3 piles: keep, sell, and trash. Anything that didn't sell we'd donate. My only defense for what I did next, is emotionally I was still a trainwreck from my son's death the previous year - I set it in the 'keep' pile. So now it sat on the shelf of a different closet, in our new home, still in its shrinkwrapped box.

From time to time, I would catch myself, standing in that closet gazing up at that box, arguing within myself. The best I can describe this is a part of me (that did not feel as if it was me) wanted to use that board, and there was the me that knew I was too vulnerable, too easy a target in my current emotional state to be anywhere near 'safe' no matter what precautions I used, to use it. Afterwards, I would always feel quite drained, as if I had been in some physical struggle. Logic says I should have just gotten rid of the thing, but you must understand - I was in a very illogical space mentally.

One day I noticed the board was out of its box, in fact the box was no where to be seen. Instead there was the board and planchette just sitting there as if mocking me. If inanimate objects can mock. I backed out of the closet and closed the door. This was so not right. I knew my daughter hadn't used it, as she was staying with her father in another town while she did an internship closer to where he lived than home, and it was still wrapped the day she left. I knew damn well it hadn't been me. I've never been one to scare easily. I was no stranger to the paranormal. But, at that moment I was terrified of a stupid piece of printed cardboard and a bit of plastic. Or perhaps of whatever agent was at play wanting me to use it. That's how it felt to me, as if something was tempting me to do what I knew I shouldn't.

I called an old friend of mine, Father Joe, and asked him if he could come and bless the apartment. I thought once he was here, I could ask him to dispose of the board for me. Besides, even though I'd had the apartment blessed prior to moving in, an extra house blessing never hurt. As I hung up I heard something hit the closet door - hard. Going to investigate, I found that deck of Tarot cards laying on the floor in front of the closet. WTH!?! I don't know how long I was standing there, staring at the cards trying to comprehend by what logical means they could have left the drawer and flown across the room and into the closet door, but a knock at my apartment door jarred me.

For those that don't know, the Catholic faith in general does not condone the use of any divination, or means of speaking with the dead. Ouijas and Tarots rank fairly high on the list. Greeting a priest while clutching a deck is probably not the best idea, so I tossed it into the closet.

Father Joe is nothing if not a thorough blesser. Every room, every corner, every doorway, the cats, and myself all received a blessing. Finally came the time for me to make my request. I kept it simple "unwanted gift blah-blah'. Of course he said yes. I opened the closet door and looked up on the shelf and the bloody thing was GONE! Just gone. No board, no planchette, no cards either. I practically tore the closet apart looking for it. If it wasn't for the fact Father Joe had known me for so long, he might have written me off as being quite daft, instead he said, "Well if it's not here, then I can't take it away, can I?" I had to admit that was true. "So then I'll do the next best thing," and he blessed the inside of the closet.

Perhaps this was just to humor me, I don't know. I do know it's been 12 years now, and the board has never been seen again. But the cards? About a week later they showed back up in my drawer.