Always close an Ouija board session properly to end the connection safely.
To close an Ouija board session safely, you should always move the planchette to "goodbye" before ending, thank and clearly dismiss any spirits, and never simply walk away or stop mid-session. Properly closing the board means deliberately ending the connection: say goodbye aloud, guide the planchette to the goodbye marking on the board, firmly and politely tell any spirits that the session is over and they must leave, and then cleanse yourself and the space. Ending a session properly is considered one of the most important parts of using a spirit board, because leaving a session open, stopping abruptly, or failing to say goodbye is believed to risk leaving the connection open. This guide explains, step by step, how to close an Ouija board session safely, why it matters, the mistakes to avoid, and how to protect and cleanse yourself and your space afterward, so that every session you hold is ended responsibly and completely.
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Why closing the board matters
Closing an Ouija board session properly is widely considered the single most important part of using a spirit board, and understanding why helps you take it seriously. When you use a spirit board, you are, in the traditional understanding, opening a line of communication with the spirit world, inviting contact and creating an open channel. Just as it is important to open that channel deliberately and with care, it is equally important to close it deliberately when you are done. The concern, held across the folklore and practice surrounding spirit boards, is that if a session is not properly closed, the channel may be left open. An open connection is believed to risk allowing a spirit to linger, to attach, or to continue to influence the space or the people who used the board, rather than being clearly dismissed and sent on its way. This is why practitioners stress that you should never simply stop mid-session, walk away, or put the board down without saying goodbye. The act of moving the planchette to goodbye and clearly dismissing any spirits is understood as the way to formally end the communication and close the channel, like hanging up a phone or closing and locking a door you had opened. Beyond the spiritual concern, closing properly also brings a sense of psychological completion and safety, marking a clear end to the experience and helping everyone feel that it is truly over. Whether one approaches spirit boards with deep belief or healthy caution, treating the closing of a session as essential is simply good practice. It is the responsible, respectful, and protective way to end any session, ensuring that what was opened is properly closed, that any spirits are clearly dismissed, and that you and your space are left clear and at peace. Taking the closing seriously is the mark of anyone who uses a board wisely, and it is the foundation of every safe and responsible spirit board practice.
How to close a session step by step
Closing an Ouija board session safely is a clear, deliberate process. Follow these steps every time you finish, without skipping any, to properly end the connection.
1. Signal that you are ending the session. When you are ready to finish, clearly state aloud that the session is coming to an end. Speak calmly and respectfully, letting any spirits know that you are about to say goodbye and close the communication. Do not stop abruptly or in fear; end on your own terms, calmly and in control.
2. Thank the spirits and say goodbye aloud. Politely thank any spirits for communicating, if you wish, and then clearly and firmly say goodbye. Speak with calm authority, stating that the session is over and that they are to return to where they came from. Politeness combined with firmness is the traditional approach.
3. Move the planchette to "goodbye." This is the essential step. With your fingers on the planchette, deliberately guide it to the word goodbye printed on the board. Moving the planchette to goodbye is understood as the formal act that closes the connection. Never end a session without doing this. If the planchette seems to resist, calmly and firmly insist, guiding it to goodbye while stating clearly that the session is over.
4. Firmly dismiss any spirits. Clearly and firmly state that all spirits must now leave, that they are not welcome to stay, and that the connection is closed. Speak with calm, steady authority. You are closing the door you opened and making clear that nothing is invited to remain.
5. Remove your hands and put the board away. Once the planchette is at goodbye and you have dismissed any spirits, remove your hands from the planchette. Many practitioners then put the board and planchette away, storing them separately or wrapped, rather than leaving them out. Some prefer never to leave a board out in the open after use.
6. Cleanse yourself and the space. After closing, it is strongly advised to cleanse yourself, the participants, and the room, which is covered in the next section. This final step clears any lingering energy and completes the safe ending of the session. With these steps done, calmly, deliberately, and in order, the session is properly and safely closed.
Always guide the planchette to goodbye to formally close the connection.
Cleansing and protecting afterward
After you have closed the session by moving the planchette to goodbye and dismissing any spirits, the final and important step is to cleanse and protect yourself and your space, clearing any lingering energy and restoring the room to peace. There are several traditional ways to do this. Many practitioners cleanse the space with smoke, burning herbs such as sage, rosemary, or cleansing incense and letting the smoke fill the room, especially the corners and doorways, to clear the energy. Others cleanse with sound, such as a bell, or with salt, sprinkling or placing salt, long regarded as protective and cleansing, around the space or at thresholds. It is also wise to cleanse yourself and the participants, whether by passing through cleansing smoke, washing your hands, or simply visualizing any heaviness washing away and light surrounding you. Many like to open windows to let fresh air and stale energy move out, and to fill the room with light. Some say a protective prayer or affirmation, calling for protection and declaring the space clear and safe. It is also good to ground and reset yourself afterward, doing something ordinary and comforting, having a drink or a snack, spending time in normal activity, to return fully to everyday life. And storing the board properly, put away rather than left out, completes the sense of closure. These cleansing and protective practices serve both a spiritual and a psychological purpose: spiritually, they clear any lingering energy and reinforce that the space is closed and protected; psychologically, they mark a clear, calming end to the experience and restore a sense of normalcy and safety. Taking a few minutes to cleanse and protect after closing a session is a wise and caring final step, ensuring that you, the participants, and the space are left clear, peaceful, and at ease. Never skip this part; it is as important as the goodbye itself.
Mistakes to avoid
When ending an Ouija board session, certain mistakes are important to avoid, as they are believed to risk leaving the connection open or improperly closed. The first and most serious is failing to say goodbye, ending a session without moving the planchette to goodbye and dismissing the spirits; this is considered the cardinal error, as it may leave the channel open. Always say goodbye. The second is stopping abruptly or walking away mid-session, especially out of fear; if something frightening happens, the guidance is not to panic and flee but to calmly and firmly close the session properly, saying goodbye and dismissing the spirits before ending. The third is ending in fear or anger, for a panicked, fearful, or hostile ending is thought to be less effective and more unsettling than a calm, firm, respectful close; maintain calm authority throughout. The fourth is being disrespectful during or at the end, mocking, taunting, or provoking spirits, which is widely advised against; end, as you should conduct the whole session, with respect and politeness combined with firmness. The fifth is leaving the board out or not cleansing, neglecting to put the board away and to cleanse yourself and the space afterward. The sixth is not closing at all because "nothing happened"; even if the session seemed quiet or you doubt anything occurred, it is wise to close properly anyway, as a matter of good practice and completion. Avoiding these mistakes comes down to a few simple principles: always say goodbye and move the planchette to goodbye, stay calm and never flee mid-session, remain respectful and firm, and always cleanse and put the board away afterward. By steering clear of these errors and following the proper closing steps, you ensure that every session is ended safely, respectfully, and completely, leaving nothing open and no loose ends behind.
When something feels like it stayed
Closing a session properly, moving the planchette to goodbye, dismissing any spirits, and cleansing yourself and your space, is the right and responsible way to end, and done properly it clears the connection and restores peace. Sometimes, though, a person finishes a session and still feels that something lingered, an unease that will not lift, a heaviness in the home, a sense of being watched or of a presence that did not leave, no matter how carefully they closed. If you closed the board, cleansed your space, and did everything right, yet something still feels wrong, unsettled, or attached, that lingering heaviness sometimes needs clearing at its root by an experienced hand. A presence or heaviness that has settled in can sit beneath the reach of a basic cleansing and require a deeper clearing to fully remove. When that is the case, clearing it at the root lifts the weight, dismisses what lingered, and restores your home and spirit to true peace, so you can feel safe and clear in your own space once more.
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Clear your space →Signs a session was not closed properly
Sometimes people worry that a session was not closed correctly, and there are signs that some take as indications that a connection may have been left open or that energy lingered, though it is worth keeping a calm and grounded perspective about them. Commonly cited signs include a persistent feeling of a presence, a sense that you are being watched or are not alone even when you are; unexplained unease, heaviness, or dread in yourself or the space that lingers after the session; disturbances in the home, such as things that seem to move, unusual sounds, flickering lights, or electrical oddities; disturbed sleep or unsettling dreams following the session; a change in the atmosphere of the room or house, a coldness or heaviness that was not there before; or simply a strong intuitive sense that something did not leave. It is important to approach these signs with balance. Many can have ordinary explanations, and the mind, especially after an emotionally charged or frightening experience, can readily produce unease, imagined presences, and heightened sensitivity to normal sounds and sensations. It is wise to consider mundane causes and to avoid feeding fear, which can amplify these feelings. That said, if you have genuinely closed the session properly, cleansed your space, given it time, and still feel a persistent, unshakable sense that something lingered or was left open, it is reasonable to take further steps: repeat a thorough cleansing, and, if the feeling persists, seek the help of an experienced practitioner who can assess and clear the space properly. Trust your intuition while keeping a grounded head. In most cases, a properly closed and cleansed session leaves nothing behind, and any lingering unease fades with time and a good cleansing. But if it does not, help is available, and a deeper clearing can restore your peace.
Frequently asked questions
How do you close an Ouija board session?
Signal that you are ending, thank and firmly say goodbye to any spirits, move the planchette to the goodbye marking on the board, clearly dismiss all spirits, remove your hands, put the board away, and then cleanse yourself and the space. Never end without saying goodbye.
What happens if you don't say goodbye on an Ouija board?
Failing to move the planchette to goodbye is believed to risk leaving the connection open, which some say may allow a spirit to linger or attach. Whether or not one believes this, always saying goodbye is considered essential good practice for closing a session safely.
Should you cleanse after using an Ouija board?
Yes. After closing the session, it is strongly advised to cleanse yourself, the participants, and the space, using smoke such as sage or rosemary, salt, sound, open windows, or a protective prayer. Cleansing clears lingering energy and completes the safe ending of the session.
What if the planchette won't move to goodbye?
Stay calm and do not panic. Firmly and repeatedly guide the planchette to goodbye while clearly stating aloud that the session is over and the spirits must leave. Maintain calm authority. Then remove your hands, put the board away, and cleanse the space thoroughly.
Can something attach to you from an Ouija board?
This is a common concern in spirit board folklore, which is exactly why proper closing, saying goodbye, dismissing spirits, and cleansing, is stressed. If you close and cleanse properly, this risk is considered greatly reduced. If you still feel something lingered, a deeper cleansing or an experienced practitioner can help.
Closing properly clears the connection. But if something lingered, it can be removed.
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