A Ouija board is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 09, the words “yes” and “no”, and various other symbols. It is used during sances to facilitate communication with spirits. One person places their fingers on a planchette, a small heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic, and the planchette is then moved around the board by the spirits, spelling out messages.
Ouija boards have been around for centuries, and their popularity has waxed and waned over the years. They were particularly popular in the Victorian era, when spiritualism was a widespread belief. Today, Ouija boards are still used by some people to communicate with spirits, but they are also often used as a game or for entertainment.