A Timeless Tool in the Search for the Unseen

Long before the rise of mass-produced talking boards, the planchette held a quiet but powerful place in spiritual traditions around the world. Its name, derived from the French word for “little board,” belies the profound role it has played in bridging the conscious and the unseen.

Origins in 19th Century Spiritualism

The modern planchette first emerged in the mid-1800s, during the rise of the Spiritualist movement in Europe and North America. At séances, mediums and seekers used small, wheeled wooden devices equipped with a pencil to allow spirits to “write” messages from the beyond—a practice known as automatic writing.

Unlike the more familiar talking boards, these early planchettes were used without letters or symbols. Instead, the medium allowed their hand to move freely, guided by forces beyond the physical. What emerged on the paper was often chaotic or cryptic, but believed to carry deep meaning from another realm.

Evolution and Adaptation

As Spiritualism gained popularity, planchettes evolved alongside it. By the late 1800s, they began to be used in conjunction with alphabet boards, paving the way for the Ouija board and other spirit communication tools. Yet, even as boards gained prominence, the planchette remained a symbol of raw spiritual channeling—a tactile connection between seeker and spirit.

Throughout the 20th century, while often sensationalized or dismissed, planchettes quietly endured in esoteric circles, especially among practitioners of automatic writing, divination, and intuitive art.

A Resurgence of Intention

Today, the planchette is experiencing a revival—not as a novelty, but as a meaningful object of ritual, artistry, and personal exploration. At a time when many seek to reconnect with the spiritual, the handmade planchette offers something rare: a return to intention, craftsmanship, and reverence.

Whether used in meditative writing, guided communication, or simply as a sacred object, each planchette carries the legacy of those who dared to listen deeply—not with their ears, but with their hearts and hands.