A bit of synchronicity. I was thinking about oracles in general as I was waking up, and Ouija boards in particular. Toying with the idea of a folklore presentation on oracles -- how there were talking boards before the Parker Brothers Ouija board most of us are familiar with today, etc. Then I see this vintage ad for the Niravana Swastika Talking Board this morning on Andy Colvin's Facebook page:
Notice the location of the company that made this: Charleston-Kanawha, West Virginia.
The Museum of Talking Boards site is a wonderful place to explore; I find the history of spirit, or talking boards, fascinating. (I also find the changes in attitudes surrounding the use of spirit boards intriguing. From spirit communication of benign intents -- and reactions -- to "don't mess with them you'll invite Satan into your life forever" perspective of today.)
The Swastika as a symbol has become forever twisted by the Nazis, but it wasn't always a symbol of darkness.
The swastika has an extensive history. It was used at least 5,000 years before Adolf Hitler designed the Nazi flag. The word swastikacomes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means “good fortune” or “well-being." The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism. It is a common sight on temples or houses in India or Indonesia. Swastikas also have an ancient history in Europe, appearing on artifacts from pre-Christian European cultures. (History of the Swastika, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
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