My first Ouija Board - a spiritual awakening?

It is the biggest question that has plagued man for centuries – are we alone and what happens after we die?

Over the weekend I had a chance meeting with someone who said that not only does she know the answers to these questions, but she can prove it.

I'm not a hard-nosed sceptic, but when it comes to the unknown I deal in cold facts – the main one being I've been alive for 22 years and I'm yet to have a paranormal experience.

The girl was described as a 'white witch' and believes that because of her 'psychic abilities' she can contact the dead by communicating with spirits.

Dutifully, I put her claims to the test and after not being convinced by her inebriated attempts to move a flickering candle just by staring at it – we settled on the old classic.

Let's wheel out the Ouija board.

The room was dark, all windows were promptly shut and the alphabet was scrawled on cards around a circle in thick black pen.

Our host proclaimed: 'We only want to make contact with the good spirits'.

I'd say I'm spiritually open minded but my view is that if you put enough conviction behind your beliefs you can convince yourself that they are correct.

This proved true after I stumbled upon a fake Tarot Reading website and ended up conning friends and family they were speaking to a real psychic (try it yourself).

At the same time many are wary about venturing into the unknown and ghost whispering as there are still many sightings and strange reports that are left unanswered.

So with a sprinkle of peer pressure and my finger on the glass I stepped into my slippers for a dance with the devil.

The three of us had our index fingers pressed down on the edge of the tumbler as an uneasy feeling crept over me, what if all this was true? Was my whole view of life about to be smashed to bits?

“What is your name,” she uttered, our eyes met with anticipation, I'm as open minded as the next spiritual explorer but five minutes had passed and the glass still hadn't moved.

10 minutes...

15....

Still nothing.

Being somewhat of a wind-up merchant I could not pass this opportunity to have a little bit of fun, so hiding my childish grin I spelt out the words 'willy' and 'bum'.

Looking like she'd seen a ghost, the witch's response was: “William Bum – please respond, can you hear me - are you there?”