The internet has been abuzz with the "Charlie Charlie Challenge," a game that many compare to the classic Ouija board. Both serve as tools for those seeking to contact spirits, but their methods and origins differ significantly. Let's delve into the details of each.
What is the Charlie Charlie Challenge?
The "Charlie Charlie Challenge" is a modern game that aims to contact a supposed Mexican spirit named Charlie. Teens across the country are playing the "Charlie Charlie Challenge" in an effort to contact a supposed Mexican spirit of the same name and get their questions answered. It's often described as a 21st-century Ouija board with the same goal of contacting the spirits.
The game is played by drawing a cross on a piece of paper, writing "yes" and "no" in the corners. Then, two pencils are balanced on top of each other, forming a cross at the center of the paper. Players ask questions to Charlie, who is said to respond by moving the pencils to point at either "yes" or "no."
Many players are taken by surprise when the pencils start moving and run out of the room. Those playing the game have to say goodbye at the end of their session or be plagued by "paranormal situations" such as things moving, sinister laughing and shadows. The session is recorded and posted on social media at #charliecharliechallenge, joining 2 million other people who have played the game in the last 48 hours alone according to the BBC.
The Charlie Charlie Challenge is a spin off of a traditional Mexican game called “Six Pencils” or “The Pencil Game”. The Charlie Charlie Challenge appears to be a mixture between the Ouija Board and Bloody Mary, only with a sinister and dangerous spin.
Read also: Cultural impact of the Ouija board
The Charlie Charlie Challenge is a divination game in which the putative answer to a yes-no question is found by waiting for a balanced pencil to point towards the word "Yes" or "No" written on a sheet of paper. The two pencil game involves crossing two pens or pencils to create a grid (with sectors labelled "yes" and "no") and then asking questions to a "supernatural entity" named "Charlie." The upper pencil is then expected to rotate to indicate the answer to such questions.
GUY PLAYS CHARLIE CHARLIE ON A OUIJA BOARD!
The Ouija Board: A Brief Overview
The Ouija board, also known as a spirit board or talking board, is a flat board marked with letters, numbers, and other symbols. It is used with a planchette (a small, heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic) to supposedly communicate with spirits.
Participants place their fingers lightly on the planchette, and ask questions. The planchette then moves around the board, supposedly guided by spirits, to spell out answers.
Similarities Between the Two
- Goal: Both the Charlie Charlie Challenge and the Ouija board share the primary goal of contacting spirits and receiving answers to questions.
- Divination: Both are considered forms of divination, attempting to unveil information through supernatural means.
- Social Media Trend: The Charlie Charlie Challenge gained immense popularity through social media, with videos of people playing the game going viral.
Key Differences
While both serve a similar purpose, there are notable differences between the two:
- Materials: The Charlie Charlie Challenge requires only paper and two pencils, making it easily accessible. The Ouija board, on the other hand, is a specific manufactured item.
- Complexity: The Charlie Charlie Challenge is incredibly simple, whereas using an Ouija board can be more involved due to the presence of letters, numbers and a planchette.
- Cultural Context: The Charlie Charlie Challenge is often linked to Mexican folklore, though its origins are debated. The Ouija board has a more established history in Western spiritualism.
The Psychological Aspect
Psychological suggestion can lead people to expect a particular response, which can result in thoughts and behaviors that will help bring the anticipated outcome to fruition - for instance by breathing more heavily. Human agent detection leads people to see patterns in random events and perceive an intelligence behind them.
Read also: Enigmatic Ouija Board
Teenagers often go to see paranormal movies in groups, and "There's a real social bonding aspect to this whole phenomenon," and "It's almost a developmental passage for some kids, to deal with things that are scary." Teenagers go through "a period where social influence is very strong" and they are more prone to superstition.
The Dangers and Warnings
Many religious figures and experts warn against participating in such games, citing potential spiritual dangers. Some believe that these games can open doors to demonic activity.
It does not matter to Satan if you are wanting to have some fun or play a game with your friends, #CharlieCharlie is a direct invitation from Satan to whoever will accept it to allow him to take control. It is Satan’s attempt to have you to step into the playground of demons and play. There are no innocent games when you play with demons. You open yourself up to demonic activity when you participate in games such as Charlie Charlie, Ouija or even the Bloody Mary.
Charlie Charlie, Ouija Board, Bloody Mary, they are all divination forms. It is communicating with, playing games with, and giving control of your life and activities to demons. It is witchcraft. Scripture says those spirits that are not the Holy Spirit or angels are evil spirits. Charlie is not an angel.
Even though the priest thinks that players “won't be possessed” necessarily, the spirit that has been invoked “will stay around for a while.” Fr. Fortea also warned that playing the game “will result in other spirits beginning to enter into even more frequent communication.” “And so then the person really can suffer much worse consequences from the demons,” he said.
Read also: Enigmatic Ouija Board
Here’s a comparison table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | Ouija Board | Charlie Charlie Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Board with letters, numbers, planchette | Paper and two pencils |
| Complexity | More complex | Very simple |
| Origins | Western spiritualism | Debated, possibly Mexican folklore |
| Perceived danger | Traditionally viewed as more dangerous | Gaining notoriety due to viral nature |
