Thank you everyone for your input! There were a lot of things I was not aware of, namely about the Oujia board. I had heard before that it could be dangerous but not to that degree. Thank you all for educating me! Luckily, I have not used one before or since that time so many years ago.

And while I DO appriciate all of the warnings about use of the Oujia board, Could we perhaps get back to the topic of the spirits themselves?

I'll be sure to explore the site more and see if I can find some techniques to help me strengthen my connection to the spirit world- I suppose that would be the most reasonable first step and now I ask this: how will I know them if/when I feel them? What if they've left me? I do so want to know them...

LOL Juniper, sorry sometimes threads do have a tendancy to wandering from the original postings as some get stuck on one wrod or sentence within it.

our bad!!! :roll:

You will kow them. You will most likely have a feeling of understanding and realization that you have actually known they were around, and you will find validation in those feelings.

Yes, they may well have moved on, or at least some of them. You may have even acquired a few new friends over the years.

Don't worry too much about it luv, when the time comes you'll figure it out.

sorry juniper
     as for connecting better with the spirit world there are mant ways to do it one of the easiest ways i have found is to go to a burial ground and just work on feeling the energies around you. you will find after doing this that you will be able to feel them. it helped with a few of people i knew.

A most interesting thread, both in terms of spirit companions and ouija boards.  

Juniper, I believe we all have spirit guides or companions who accompany us through this life.  I have a spirit companion, whom I believe is my true soul-mate.  He has been with me since I was very, very young (like 3 or 4 years old).  For a reason I don't understand, I am to go through this physical life alone, while he waits on the other side.  It's not like on TV where they pop into existence and you have a physical conversation with them.  They communicate subtly, quietly, unobtrusively.  I have also been visited by many relatives who have passed on.  The key to experiencing their presence is to be open to more than the physical realm (the astral plane).  Your mind has to be quiet, not thinking about the grocery list, what the kids are doing, what needs fixing or doing.  Trust your gut, trust your "imagination" which isn't imagining at all, but mundane people will indentify it as that.  Meditation works really well to feel their presence and even communicate with them for me, but the catch is not to try too hard.  Once you are in a truly meditative state and you express your desire to communicate you can get some astounding experiences,  my problem is when I realize they are sending me messages I jump out of the meditative state sometimes.  It is truly frustrating.  As a child, I took it all matter-of-factly and could communicate much more freely.  It's like trying but trying "easily".  Does that make any sense?

Ouija boards scare me.  Novia is absolutely right! I'm not even sure one could cleanse and put protections on one that would be strong enough.  They tend to open portals, or vortexes into the spirit world and I believe astral nasties are attracted to them, even if your intentions are the best.  Try the meditation or your own pendulum, cleansed and in circle.

Good luck, don't be afraid.  Let us know how things are going.
Blessings, Acasia

Sorry guys, I still can't get my mind around this idea.  Somehow I don't understand how it's any different than a seance.  Or even many Samhain rituals concerning the dead.  Even if the manufacturer doesn't create protection for the board, can't you do the usual casting of a circle and whatever else according to your path?  I knew a woman who cast runes, but called upon the dead to guide the runes.  Is that also incredibly dangerous?  I am sorry I'm being so difficult about this, but I'm really very curious to understand the caution factor here.  It also may be important to understand the danger better, because I am generally fairly unconcerned about the dangers of the spirit world. (which may be a huge mistake)

Raith

I think you have your answer there Raith!  

Sure, standing on the edge of an indermined 2000 foot cliff is an awesome view, and as long as you don't consider what lies beneath your feet, it's no problem!    Some people just think about what's beneath their feet more than others.

ANY form of divination has it's dangers. hell medidtating alone can be, because we are shifting our level of consciouness and opening our selves up to connecting the physical with the etherical world, thus we become a conduit for all sorts of energies to wiggle thru to this plane.