Planchettes: Why Using Them Is Dangerous According to the Bible
A planchette is a small, usually triangular board on casters that moves lightly under a user’s fingertips to spell out messages. Often used with Ouija boards, planchettes are believed to communicate with spirits or reveal hidden knowledge. While many see them as harmless entertainment, the Bible clearly condemns such practices as divination, exposing users to spiritual deception and demonic influence (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Cultural Origins and Beliefs
The use of planchettes originated in 19th-century France as a tool for “automatic writing” and spiritual communication. Spiritualist movements in Europe and America popularized them during the mid-1800s, especially in the United States. The underlying belief was that spirits of the dead could communicate with the living, providing guidance, warnings, or knowledge unavailable in the natural world.
These practices often tied into broader pagan or occult beliefs, where multiple spirits or deities influence human events. Unlike Christianity, which emphasizes one sovereign God, spiritualists believed in interacting with spirits to gain insight, predict the future, or influence outcomes.
Who Created It?
The planchette as a device was first designed by Pierre Charles M. Desloges in France around 1853 for automatic writing. It later evolved into the board-and-planchette combination now associated with Ouija boards, patented in the United States in 1891. The spiritualist movement promoted these devices as channels for supernatural communication, giving them credibility in social circles fascinated by the paranormal.
Purpose and Use
The primary purpose of a planchette is divination—attempting to uncover hidden knowledge, predict the future, or contact spirits. People often use it out of curiosity, desire for guidance, or fascination with the supernatural. Popular culture frequently depicts planchettes as harmless fun, but spiritualists and occultists know they are tools to open communication with unseen spiritual realms.
Christians must recognize that the Bible forbids this. Engaging with spirits outside of God’s revelation is dangerous. Isaiah 8:19 and Leviticus 19:31 warn against consulting mediums or seeking supernatural messages from spirits. These are forms of divination, which Scripture explicitly condemns because the power behind them is often demonic.
Why People Get Involved
Many are drawn to planchettes because of curiosity, fear, or a desire for control. Teenagers and adults alike may see Ouija boards or planchettes as harmless games, but these devices create a spiritual opening. Even unconscious movements can allow demonic forces to influence the participants.
Some people rationalize it as entertainment or psychological phenomenon (the ideomotor effect), but the spiritual dimension cannot be ignored. The Bible teaches that interacting with spirits outside God’s authority can lead to deception, oppression, and spiritual bondage (1 Samuel 28:3-19).
Is Using a Planchette Divination?
Yes. A planchette is explicitly a tool of divination. Attempting to receive messages from spirits falls under the category of forbidden divination in Scripture. By seeking knowledge or guidance from supernatural sources outside God, a person risks spiritual deception and demonic influence. Christians are instructed to rely on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit for guidance, rather than occult tools.
Biblical Warning and Spiritual Insight
Planchettes may appear entertaining, but they are spiritual gateways. Engaging with them exposes users to false spirits that are not from God. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs believers to trust in the Lord for guidance, not in the messages of spirits or the movements of a board. Using a planchette violates God’s command and can lead to fear, oppression, and spiritual manipulation.
Conclusion
Planchettes are more than a game—they are tools of divination with roots in pagan spiritualism. Their purpose is to communicate with spirits, predict the future, or reveal hidden knowledge, all of which are forbidden by God. For Christians, engaging with a planchette is spiritually dangerous. God’s Word is the only reliable source of guidance. Avoid planchettes and Ouija boards, and rely on prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit for direction and protection.
Teresa Morin
President of Touch of God Int’l Ministries
🌐 https://www.touchofgod.org
Of Healing and Deliverance, Ordained Minister, Public Speaker
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Thinking of trying a planchette or Ouija board? ⚠️ The Bible calls this divination! Discover why it’s spiritually dangerous & how to protect yourself 👇
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45-Second YouTube Script:
“Have you ever seen a planchette or Ouija board and wondered if it’s just a game? ⚠️ These devices were created in the 19th century for communicating with spirits. But the Bible calls this divination, a forbidden practice that can open doors to spiritual deception and demonic influence. Even light contact with a planchette can allow unseen spirits to influence you. As Christians, our guidance comes from God alone—through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit. Stay safe, reject occult tools, and trust God’s Word!”
