An all American Girl game!

Last night we went on a mini-adventure with my father-in-law that included dinner and a trip to Toys R Us.  The kids already have everything that they want/need and the upcoming Christmas has people asking...what should we get the kids for Christmas?  What better way then a trip to the store.

My youngest desperately wants a hula-hoop.  I, myself, attempted the art of hula-hooping but failed drastically.  Izzy, on the other hand, was able to do two at a time for several minutes.  I never thought that my 10 year old (nearly 11) would want a hula-hoop for Christmas.

After spending some time checking out the new DJ Hero...a glance to the right brought me to this...

It was a corner of complete pinkness in an effort to get some games sold.

Tommy and I had a conversation with the kids about Ouija just the other day.  Why?  I was about their age when I was first introduced to the Ouija board.  It was an event that I will never forget nor will the girls that were there as well.

Now, most of you who read this know that I am a Christian.  To me, it has nothing to do with my Christian upbringing.  Regardless of whether or not I choose Christianity...I feel that there is darkness and there is light.  There is good and there is evil.  Just as much as I have seen wonderful miracles happen before my eyes and sensed a presence of something I could not explain...I have also felt the tingles of something quite the opposite.

You cannot argue with your feelings and intuitions.

When you sense something is not right.

When you feel that something is evil...you heed the warnings.

Thus the children were told to not challenge the things that we do not understand.  Why try to speak to the dead about the living?  It seems that I have heard that somewhere...

Any ways, the Ouija board.

Do kids still have parties and pull one out?  What parents would actually buy this game for their kids?  I mean, even if you did not really contact the dead or demons...who would try?  Those were my thoughts just the other day.  The kids had never heard of one...maybe it just does not happen any more.

And then I came across that.

Marketing.

Apparently it gives you lots of questions you can ask the dead.   

"It has always been mysterious. It has always been mystifying. And now the OUIJA Board is just for you, girl. With 72 fun questions included, you'll never run out of things to ask. Who will call/text me next? Will I be a famous actor someday? Who wishes they could trade places with me?"

Not only can you get the girlie version of this game you can also get it in glow in the dark!

I have been reading reviews and such about the "game" and of course there are two sides.  One side says stay away, it's evil...and the other side says don't be a religious fanatic it's just a game.  I ran across these reviews on Amazon and what I realized was there is a middle-of-the road.  There are those that believe that there are spirits and something unexplainable on this Earth.  Some of these people are religious and others just believe that they are here.  Then there are those that believe we are just people and we are going to live and we are going to die and that is that.

This is coming from someone middle of the road:

"I'm surprised that someone didn't think of making a glow-in-the-dark Ouija board long before this one came out. My only complaint is that both the board and the planchette are a bit smaller than standard- if you are comfortable with the standard board then this can definately be a bit distracting. It will hold a "charge" for approximately 30 minutes. Once again, if you are not used to time limits on your sessions, then this can also prove distracting. My advice is to keep the candles handy.

The talking board is only a tool- neither good nor evil. However, it is a tool far different from divination aids such as the tarot, runes, or the various I Ching methods. With all talking boards you are openly inviting the influence of disembodied entities. Be very careful what you are opening the door to. I wouldn't even consider using it without deep and sincere prayers for protection. Low-level spirits can only influence those who are "vibrating" on the same low level. Examine your motives and your maturity before you experiment here.

To some people tarot cards are just paper, to some this will just be plastic and fiberboard. YOU bring the vital component to the table. It all depends on your sensitivity and connection to the other side." 

Apparently the use of a Ouija and those that collect them and use them often....the practice is called Divination.  Divination is derived from latin meaning "to forsee, to be inspired by a god, related to divine" and is a way to gain insight by way of a process or ritual.

I want this to be an open discussion.

So...discuss!  Have you ever used one?  What was your experience?  What do you feel about advertising so that little girls may or may not be able to open up a gateway to the dead?