Whichever medium you use for scrying, the method of working will be similar. The first stage of learning is to experiment with different the “tools” to establish which works best for you. Start with the cheapest, the bowl of water, black painted glass or light bulb before committing yourself to expensive crystals. Working at home will provide better opportunities to try different lighting conditions, daylight, subdued electric light, candle light and so on. (Dim light from behind may be found to be best for working; some suggest this should be no more than one candle.) You can then experiment with placement of the light source in relationship to the tool and yourself. Finally, try placing the tool or yourself at different angles to be able to create the best conditions for scrying. At all times you should feel comfortable and take care if working with a naked flame. We will now look using our tool, for simplicity we will now call this the “magic mirror.”
Create the correct conditions to be able to work in. This should be free from disturbance, have the light conditions set up so that you can easily experiment. You should be seated in such a way that you will not be distracted by visual stimulation. People passing the window, the cat etc.
When you are ready for work follow good practice and begin with an opening prayer asking for guidance, protection, that those who draw close are only of good intent. Finally state in which way and for what reason you wish to work with your mirror. Those whose attunement is more established may also ask if it is okay for them to work with the mirror at this time.
Allow yourself to get comfortable and arrange the mirror and light source in the most suitable positions for you at that time. Aim to be working in an undisturbed manner for twenty-minute intervals at first. Remember, as your skill at scrying increases, so will the length of time that you will be able to do it without loosing concentration.
Take some deep breaths and allow your breathing to stabilise. Restate your intent and anything you would like information on during your working. Look intently into, or through, the surface of the mirror. Allow your eyes to relax without the need to constantly blink. (Staring promotes tearing of the eyes causing you to blink.) If you feel the eyelids beginning to close, go with this but, but do not allow them to close fully. Try to develop a conscious link between your third eye (Mirror of the Mind) and the scrying mirror.
After a time you may become aware of clouding or misting up the mirror. This may change to a tiny light source after a while. Eventually this will change, the mist begin to clear and images will form.
This may startle you at first and you could lose the impressions or you could find yourself trying too hard. Endeavour to stay with the images, even if they are jumbled or meaningless. After all the images may only be experimentation to begin with. As always do not try to evaluate or judge the images whilst you are working, they may not have meaning for you personally and therefore your interpretation will most likely be wrong.
Again as part of good practice, note down your findings after you have finished working so that you can evaluate things at a later date. It will also help you to establish which times are most successful for you to work. For example, accurate recording could indicate that your best work is done at a certain point in the lunar cycle. Images may also come to you that are symbolic in nature; therefore notes may lead you to the correct interpretation of them.
)O(
Some Methods of Scrying
Water
As we have said this is probably the root of all scrying, that of looking into pools of water with a dark background and reflective surface, this was the method employed by Nostradamus. Conceivably, one could as easy perceive images from a rain water soaked black plastic bag beside the dustbin as a woodland pool.
Tradition states that the water used should be natural and not drawn from the tap, this comes from the ancient Greek belief that nature spirits dwelled in fresh water. Once again remnants of ancient ritual beliefs survive to this day and are practised by those who use water scrying as a means of divination. Water represents the collective unconscious – the continuum – the flow of all things in the universe back to one source.
Another form of water scrying is using a vessel filled with thinned black ink as the scrying medium. No doubt this would be very effective, but the potential for a household disaster is obvious!
A low cost water scrying vessel could be made by the following method. Select a new or unmarked deep glass bowl that has an even surface i.e. not ribbed, patterned or marked in anyway. Clean the outside with mentholated spirit or good quality glass cleaner and kitchen towel, allow to dry. Turn upside down on old newspaper and spray the outside with black aerosol enamel or car touch up paint in a well ventilated room. Careful spraying will result in an even, consistent finish if the paint manufacturers instructions are followed. Fill with clear water and the requirements of a pool of water with a clear optical depth will have been fulfilled and you can begin scrying at the kitchen table.
Oil
We have looked at the basic methods for doing this when discussing the Babylonians. A black ceramic or polished metal bowl could be coated with sesame seed or similar oil, placed on its side and adjusted to form a concave magic mirror. Ancient practitioners also reflected candlelight off the surface. It could be quite fun to try this but it is expected that a good deal of trial and error would be required to set up perfect conditions.
Clouds and Flames
Smoke and possibly flame could be included under this heading. We have all looked up at the sky on a summers day or thundery evening and imagined seeing all manner of animals and objects created in the cloud formations, a great childhood game that encourages the imagination. With a little more motivation, this can lead to other images being created that are not solely visual and could be used as a divinationtool.
Meditating on a subject whilst staring into a fire or flame or by watching smoke curl can bring psychic visions, and is a very helpful tool when needing insight on a specific subject. When candle scrying I use a yellow candle. I do not try to see shapes as such more allow the semi-hypnotic state to take me where I need to go. Ask yourself the questions you need answers for or allow yourself to daydream the future, it works very well!
Candle Scrying
Here is an example of a candle scrying spell.
You will need:
- God and Goddess candles
- 2 Orange candles
- 1 white candle
- 1 purple candle
- 1 petitioner candle
Arrange altar in the following manner:
Goddess Candle and God candle in usual places. Incense in the Centre, White candle directly south of incense. To the left and south of the white candle place Orange candle. Underneath white candle place petitioner candle. Directly right of petitioner candle place orange candle. Directly south of the Petitioner candle place purple candle.
Light Goddess and God candles. Light PETITIONER candle and say,
Here burns my spirit and power, wise in the Occult and steadfast in purity.
Light the WHITE candle and say,
Here burns Purity, Truth, and Sincerity. They are with me throughout this rite and beyond it.
Light Orange candles and say,
That which I scry is attracted to me as the moth is drawn to the candle flame.
Sit a moment and organize your thoughts. Decide EXACTLY what it is you wish to see and say,
Around me is built a wall of light;
Though it may pass only that which will harm me not.
That I may see all there is no question,
yet aught I see may not reach out to me.
The Gods are my guides as they are to my strength.
All this revealed is brought through Them;
For this do I give thanks.
Turn your back to the altar and perform your act of scrying
When you have finished this, turn back to the altar and say,
That which was desired has been accomplished. May the Gods ever be with me and protect me in aught I do.
Extinguish the candles in reverse order of lighting them.
Some Last Thoughts
- Don’t try too hard: this is detrimental as you are concentrating too much on doing and not on receiving.
- Relax: be comfortable with what you are doing in all ways.
- Be prepared to experiment with the “tools” and conditions.
- Don’t give up: everything worth doing requires time and effort. We should learn from our failures.
- Practice and enjoy what you are doing.
)O(
Water Scrying Technique
This technique is a very ancient one, and common among Shamanistic Traditions. Divination is the ability to see what patterns are forming towards manifestation. What you “see” is actually what is likely to occur if nothing changes the pattern being “woven”. Here is a technique which I teach: Pour some bottled water into a cereal bowl.
Mix either a blue or a green food color into the water, so that the liquid is dark enough to hide the bottom of the bowl. At this point you have a reflective surface. Place two candles as your source of light, so that the light does not reflect upon the liquid (off a foot or two, in front of you should do it.
Next is a series of hand passes over the liquid, slowly and deliberately. Magically speaking, the right hand is of an electrical nature/active charge, and the left hand is of a magnetic/receptive charge. Right handed pass will strengthen the image and left handed passes will attract the image to form.
Begin by making left handed passes over the bowl, in a clockwise circle, just a few inches above the water (palms open and facing down). Stop, and gaze into the dark liquid, not At the liquid, but INTO the liquid. You will need to repeat these passes as you go, from time to time.
Alternate between the left hand and the right hand. This requires patience, and time. Use your intuition as you sit before the bowl. Make sure the area is quiet and there are no distractions.
Drinking some Rosemary or Mugwort tea, prior to Divination, can aid in the work. There are several herbs which aid the Psychic Mind, this is just one of them (careful though, Rosemary can be toxic in large quantities).
