Personally, I've never had any problems with ouija boards & I've been using them since I was about 13 ~ but I do know people who have reported issues, which is why I stated that it is "controversial"...
<frankly, I think that my friends who reported such problems were being generally disrespectful to the spirits & that's 'why' they encountered problems ~ not 'cuz of the ouija board itself>

Adrienne, with all due respect, I think you are being a bit too fearful here. Of course, caution & respect are advised (as always) ~ but handing over your own power to others who may or may not be "experts" is just as ill-advised IMHO ~ even with the best of intentions.

Sure, attempting to find help is fine ~ but all people are capable of dealing with the "spirit world" & do so everyday ~ although most don't know it (& most could use more practice). From my perspective, more people "go wrong" when they disavow their own role & inherent power in such situations. Everyone's got to start somewhere & this is as good a place as any.

love all-ways,
mem

Sage is a sacred plant used by native peoples. It is NOT a pagan prayer. Like anything sacred it should be used with respect. The energy of the sage is used to remove negative energy. I use it in my home to remove negative residue after unwanted visitors and on my energy after a bad day or before I go into a negative situation. I also use sweet grass to bring in a positive vibration.

All things deserve respect. The reason that ouija boards tend to draw negative energy is because that has been their primary role in the past. Negative energy tends to be drawn to them due to the intent surrounding them. Not all people have this problem. My personal opinion is it is safer to leave them alone. Fear is like a big magnet which these energies are attracted to as well. The key thought here is INTENT. What is your intent in the communication. Do you feel threatened? The intent is to remove the threatening energy. Do you feel they wish to communicate? That is a little more difficult since most people are so full of clutter in their heads that we cannot hear what is being said. Watch for pictures that pop into your mind as you ask questions. They may be just a flash of something but that may be the only way they can communicate.

I have lived my entire life with spirits. Every house I have ever lived in has had its own entities willing to say hello. I know it can be annoying when they start getting physical. The first thing to look at is what has changed in the house or even in the area around the house. Was the action filled with anger or was it an attempt to get someone's attention? Trust me you would know difference. My house is filled with irritated spirits right now as I am preparing to move and have disrupted the energy in their space. They are not throwing bookcases but they are letting me know they are not happy. I honor their concerns and apologize for the disruptions. Hopefully the new owners will find them as pleasant to live with as I have for 17 years.

Aho