Technology and the Supernatural

Whether it’s catching a glimpse of some unexpected, shadowy figure in the background of a selfie (see Paranormal Activity), or spirits entering your house/communicating with your daughter through your TV (see Poltergeist), technology and the supernatural go together like witches and broomsticks.

But what if the next time you opened a mobile app on your smartphone, you were unwittingly opening a channel for communication with the other side — or even worse, letting something from the other side through.

Ouija Board Apps: Worst Idea Ever?

Enter Patricia Quispe, an 18-year-old girl/woman in Peru, who was reportedly possessed by evil spirits after using a Ouija board mobile phone app. In a shocking video posted by the Daily Telegraph, she can be heard shouting, “666”, followed by “let me go, let me go,” and “Please give me my phone…” Witnesses say that the girl had lost control of her body and spoke in a different voice. And her parents called the ambulance after she began convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

Well, ok — that’s a pretty terrifying story. But in spite of the obvious risks (including getting straight up possessed by Satan), people seem completely undeterred when it comes to combining two of their favorite obsessions: technology and the supernatural.

#CharlieCharlieChallenge

In fact, our love for absurdly terrifying things runs so deep, it’s actually managed to go viral. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, Charlie Charlie, the most “demonic” game we’ve seen in awhile, is currently taking the internet by storm.

Charlie Charlie is essentially a combination of an old (and incredibly creepy) playground tradition in Spanish-speaking countries and the classic Ouija board, which as we all know by now can be used as a channel for communicating with spirits and demons. And while no one really knows who “Charlie” is, what I do know is that I have literally zero interest in meeting him.

But apparently some people are a bit braver than I am — actually, a lot of people. As of this summer, the #CharlieCharlieChallenge had been tweeted about more than 1.6 million times. And there’s even a Charlie Charlie App on the Google Play Store.

The game has gotten so popular, according to the Independent, that even a Priest, Father Stephen McCarthy, wrote a letter on the subject to pupils at the Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia, reminding them that “there is no such thing as innocently playing with demons.”

That said, let’s play with some demons.

How the Game Works

First, you take two pencils and lay one on top of the other to form a cross of sorts. Next, you alternately write “yes” and “no” in the resulting four quadrants. And last, but certainly not least, you call out, “Charlie, Charlie, are you here?” If the top pencil starts to turn and lands on a “yes,” then congratulations! You’ve just summoned a demon into your bedroom.

While no human is directly involved in the movement of these pencils, it’s honestly hard not to wonder whether there isn’t another explanation for this phenomenon. Pencils are pretty lightweight and even the slightest breath could cause them to sway. The Independent doesn’t even hesitate, quickly writing the movement off as a mere byproduct of gravitational force. Whatever helps you sleep at night, guys.

As for me, I’ll stick with my favorite interpretation:

One Still Wonders…

If you’re still a bit skeptical, it’s probably worth mentioning that numerous participants have reported rather sinister results of participating in the #CharlieCharlieChallenge.

Hannah McKinley of Valencia, Spain, reported in The Mirror that after five minutes of trying out the game, she “heard a scream from a distance” before her mirror “slightly cracked.” When she ran into her sister’s room in fright, her bookshelf tumbled over. Another participant says he felt “an uneasy presence and a burning sensation on my hand, back, and lower leg” after summoning Charlie.

Given that paranormal activity hasn’t exactly gone unnoticed in the past (hello, Area 51), it doesn’t seem that ludicrous to suggest that your phone could potentially pick up some waves.

So when it comes to technology and the supernatural, it’s probably wise to proceed with caution. As Father McCarthy kindly reminds us, “The problem with opening yourself up to demonic activity is that it opens a window of possibilities which is not easily closed.” Point being, the next time some crazed, demonic spirit blasts out of your iPad, don’t say I didn’t warn you.