Automatic writing refers to writing done without conscious thought involved. Writers are either conscious or in a trance when writing but the result is not recognizable as a product of their own mind. Automatic writing has been used therapeutically; however, it is usually considered an occult practice. Regardless of which purpose it is used for, there are some hazards and safety precautions for those considering getting involved in automatic writing.

Automatic Writing in Practice
In occult practices, automatic writing is much akin to the use of a Ouija board. The writer will call upon the spirit of a deceased person to answer one or more specific questions. The summoned spirit enters the body of the writer and uses it to operate the pen to answer questions. In therapeutic use, no outside entities are involved. The writer relaxes and concentrates on something other than writing such as a television show or conversation with someone else. The first word of the text is usually written consciously and the writer continues to write without paying attention to the actual action of writing or to what is being written.

Occult Dangers
Purportedly, the most acute danger of automatic writing in the occult realms is that the spirit allowed to enter the writer's body may not be a helpful spirit and may give false information that will upset the writer. It may take control of the body in ways the writer had not intended, or it may refuse to leave. Even a friendly spirit may not be able to competently answer questions than it was during life and can give wrong information to the writer. Occult automatic writers are prone to the same psychological dangers as therapeutic writers.

Psychological Dangers
Automatic writers are prone to developing schizophrenic behavior in reaction to communicating with their "other" self. Some purportedly withdraw from reality and social interaction; others can experience fear-based reactions to material when they are not able to evaluate it correctly. Some writers become obsessive and neglect routine obligations that do not offer the same interest value.

Safety Precautions
If you want to use automatic writing in an occult manner, always have an experienced medium with you that will know how to put an immediate stop to unwanted activity. Therapeutic writers should avoid writing too often or neglecting social obligations to write. Writers should understand that the writing is of the same subconscious nature as dreaming and not get upset when they can't decipher the meaning or if the material looks alien to them. If writing starts to cause problems in daily life, seek professional guidance immediately.