SCRYING: Training Your Mind to Receive Instead of Project
You stare into a black mirror, a bowl of water, a candle flame. You're waiting for visions. Images. Messages from beyond.
Instead, you see: Your own reflection. Random light patterns. Maybe a vague shape that could be anything.
You try harder. You focus more. You want to see something.
And that's exactly the problem.
Scrying isn't about making visions appear. It's about getting out of the way so they can.
Today we're diving into one of the most misunderstood divination practices: scrying—gazing into reflective surfaces or natural phenomena to receive visions, symbols, or information.
What scrying actually is (beyond crystal balls and fortune tellers)
The neuroscience of how it works
Why most people fail (they're projecting, not receiving)
How to train your mind to enter receptive state
Different scrying methods and what they're good for
How to distinguish real visions from imagination
This isn't fortune-telling. It's learning to quiet your conscious mind enough that your subconscious (or something beyond it) can speak through images.
Scrying (from "descry" = to make out dimly, to reveal) is the practice of gazing at or into a medium to induce visions, symbols, or intuitive information.
Crystal balls (catoptromancy)
Black mirrors/obsidian (scrying mirrors)
Water in bowls (hydromancy)
Regular mirrors (especially old/tarnished ones)
Ink or oil dropped in water (lecanomancy)
Wax patterns from melted candles (ceromancy)
The principle is the same: Stare at something until your normal perception shifts and images/information arise.
WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING:
Physiologically: Inducing a light trance state through sustained, unfocused gazing.
Psychologically: Bypassing conscious thought to access subconscious imagery.
Energetically (if you believe this): Opening a channel between your awareness and non-ordinary information sources.
The medium itself isn't magical—it's a focal point that helps your brain shift gears.
THE NEUROSCIENCE: HOW SCRYING WORKS
Your brain has different states of consciousness:
Beta (13-30 Hz): Normal waking consciousness. Active thinking, problem-solving, analyzing.
Alpha (8-13 Hz): Relaxed awareness. Daydreaming, light meditation, the state between waking and sleeping.
Theta (4-8 Hz): Deep meditation, light sleep, REM dreaming. Subconscious access. Hypnagogic imagery.
Scrying aims to shift you from beta to alpha/theta—where visions naturally occur.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING SCRYING:
1. SUSTAINED GAZING RELAXES THE VISUAL CORTEX
Staring at one point without shifting focus triggers something called neural adaptation—your visual system stops actively processing because there's no new information.
This is similar to what happens when you stare at a word until it stops looking like a word (semantic satiation).
Your brain essentially gets bored and stops trying so hard.
When your visual field is filled with uniform stimulation (blank surface, flickering flame, still water), your brain starts generating its own imagery to compensate for the lack of input.
It's literally creating something to see because there's "nothing" there.
This is the same mechanism behind hallucinations in sensory deprivation tanks.
Your brain is wired to find patterns—especially faces—in random visual noise.
You see faces in clouds, figures in wood grain, shapes in fire. This isn't a bug; it's a feature.
Scrying leverages this tendency. You're not "making up" the images—your pattern-recognition system is doing what it's designed to do.
4. ACCESS TO SUBCONSCIOUS IMAGERY
In alpha/theta states, the barrier between conscious and subconscious thins.
Images, symbols, memories, and intuitive information that your conscious mind can't access directly start bubbling up—often in visual form.
This is why dreams are so symbolic and surreal. Scrying taps into the same state while you're still partially awake.
THE CORE PROBLEM: PROJECTION VS. RECEPTION
Most beginners fail at scrying because they're trying to make something happen.
PROJECTION (What Most People Do):
You stare into the mirror and think:
"I want to see my spirit guide"
"Show me my future husband"
"I need to see something or this isn't working"
"Maybe if I imagine harder, it will appear"
This is active mental effort. You're pushing images into the medium with your conscious mind.
It feels forced. Exhausting. Nothing feels real.
RECEPTION (What Actually Works):
You stare into the mirror and:
Empty your mind (as much as possible)
Notice what arises without forcing
Allow images to come to you
Stay passive, curious, open
Images appear from the medium, not from your conscious will.
It feels effortless. Surprising. Images show up you didn't expect.
Projection: You're the artist painting on a canvas.
Reception: You're the gallery viewer noticing what's already there.
Most people spend years projecting and call it scrying. Real scrying is receptive, not active.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR MIND TO RECEIVE
Your eyes have two modes:
Focused gaze: Sharp, clear, directed. This is normal vision. This activates your conscious, analytical mind.
Soft/unfocused gaze: Blurry, peripheral-aware, relaxed. This induces trance states.
Hold your hand in front of your face
Focus sharply on your fingertips
Now let your eyes go slightly out of focus—see your hand blurry
Notice the difference in your mental state
In scrying, you maintain soft gaze. You're looking at the surface, not into it sharply.
STEP 2: SURRENDER EXPECTATION
The more you want to see something specific, the harder it is to receive anything real.
Before scrying, say aloud: "I release all expectations. I am open to whatever arises. I trust what I receive."
If you're desperate for visions of your soulmate, you'll project your fantasy. If you're open to "whatever wants to be seen," you might actually receive something.
STEP 3: PRACTICE STILLNESS
Scrying requires mental and physical stillness.
Let thoughts settle like snow in a snow globe
Body relaxed, mind alert but quiet
If you're anxious, angry, or manic, you can't receive. You're too loud internally.
STEP 4: RECOGNIZE THE SHIFT
You'll know you've entered scrying state when:
The surface seems to shimmer, pulse, or become three-dimensional
Your peripheral vision becomes more prominent than central
Time feels distorted (minutes feel like seconds or vice versa)
Your body feels heavy or distant
Thoughts slow down significantly
You're not trying anymore—you're just there
This is alpha/theta. This is where visions happen.
If you haven't felt this shift, you're not in scrying state yet—you're just staring.
STEP 5: NOTICE, DON'T INTERPRET (YET)
When images begin to form:
Don't immediately analyze. Don't jump to "that's my grandmother!" or "this means I'll travel!"
Where in the surface it appears
Record what you see. Interpret later.
Active interpretation pulls you back into analytical mind, which breaks the trance.
STEP 6: DISTINGUISH SIGNAL FROM NOISE
Not every image is meaningful. Some are just visual static.
How to tell the difference:
Feel significant, even if you don't know why yet
Come with emotional weight or bodily sensation
Feel like they "arrived" rather than "appeared"
Often surprising (not what you expected)
Feel like pareidolia (seeing faces in clouds)
Match what you were already thinking about
Not every scrying session produces visions. Sometimes you're just looking at a bowl of water. That's okay.
DIFFERENT SCRYING METHODS & WHAT THEY'RE GOOD FOR
BLACK MIRROR / OBSIDIAN SCRYING
What it is: Gazing into a black, reflective surface (mirror painted black, polished obsidian, bowl of ink).
Shadow work and facing difficult truths
Seeing past lives or ancestral information
Intense, serious divination
Why it works: The darkness eliminates visual distractions. Your brain has almost nothing to process, so it generates imagery more readily.
Difficulty: Advanced. The darkness can be psychologically intense. Not recommended for beginners.
What it is: Gazing into still water in a dark bowl.
Why it works: Water is reflective but softer than mirrors. The slight movement (even still water moves slightly) helps induce trance without being too active.
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly. Less intense than black mirrors.
Tip: Add a drop of oil or ink to the water's surface to create subtle visual interest.
What it is: Gazing into a clear or cloudy crystal sphere.
Traditional fortune-telling aesthetic
Future-oriented questions
Symbolic visions (less literal than other methods)
Why it works: The reflections, refractions, and internal inclusions in the crystal create subtle visual complexity—enough to hold focus without overwhelming.
Difficulty: Medium. Real crystal balls are expensive. Glass works but is less "alive" energetically (if that matters to you).
Tip: Cloudier crystals (like cloudy quartz) work better than perfectly clear ones.
What it is: Gazing into candle flames, bonfires, or hearth fires.
Passion/creativity/action inquiries
Quick, spontaneous divination
Active, energetic visions
Why it works: Fire is constantly moving, which keeps your visual system engaged without letting it settle into boredom. The flicker induces trance quickly.
Difficulty: Beginner to medium. Easier to enter trance, harder to hold it (fire is stimulating).
Danger: Don't stare so long you burn your retinas. Blink. Look away occasionally.
What it is: Watching smoke rise from incense, smudge, or fire.
Air element questions (communication, thought, change)
Watching patterns unfold (how situations will develop)
Short sessions (smoke doesn't last long)
Why it works: Smoke forms ever-changing shapes. Your brain naturally finds patterns (dragons, faces, symbols) in the movement.
Difficulty: Medium. Smoke dissipates quickly, so visions are fleeting. Requires fast recognition and memory.
What it is: Melting a candle and reading the shapes the wax forms (in water or as it hardens).
One-time questions (the wax shape is permanent)
Symbolic interpretation (like reading tea leaves)
Physical record you can return to
Why it works: The randomness of melting wax creates shapes your subconscious can interpret symbolically.
Difficulty: Easy. More like symbol-reading than trance-visions.
Not technically "scrying" in the gazing sense, but related practice.
A BEGINNER'S SCRYING SESSION (STEP-BY-STEP)
A dark bowl filled with water
A candle (optional, for mood/focus)
20-30 minutes of uninterrupted time
Fill bowl with water, place on stable surface at comfortable eye level
Dim lights or wait for dusk/evening
Light a candle nearby (not reflecting directly in water)
Sit comfortably, spine straight but relaxed
2. GROUND & CENTER (5 minutes)
Breathe slowly—4 counts in, 6 counts out
Set intention: "I am open to receive whatever wants to be seen"
3. BEGIN GAZING (10-15 minutes)
Open eyes, soft focus on water's surface
Don't stare hard—let your gaze rest gently
When thoughts arise, notice them and return to gazing
Notice when the shift happens (surface shimmers, time distorts, mind quiets)
4. RECEIVE IMAGES (5-10 minutes)
Notice what appears: colors, shapes, symbols, scenes
If nothing appears, that's okay—stay present
If images arise, observe without analyzing
Blink, shift your gaze away slowly
Write down everything you saw immediately (you'll forget quickly)
Dispose of water (outside, not down the drain—release the energy)
Review your notes after at least an hour (or next day)
What connects to your question?
Don't expect Hollywood-level visions your first time. This is a skill. It builds over weeks/months of practice.
COMMON CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS
CHALLENGE 1: "I see nothing."
You're trying too hard (tension blocks reception)
You haven't entered trance state yet (still in beta/analytical mind)
Your medium isn't working for you (try a different one)
You need more practice (this skill takes time)
Solution: Practice entering trance state without scrying first. Meditate daily. Get familiar with alpha/theta. Then return to scrying.
CHALLENGE 2: "Everything I see is obviously just my imagination."
This is the hardest distinction to make.
Did the image surprise you, or was it what you expected?
Does it have emotional weight, or is it flat/meaningless?
Does it connect to your question in ways you didn't consciously think of?
Remember: Even if it's "just imagination," your subconscious is using imagery to communicate. The source matters less than the information.
CHALLENGE 3: "I see scary/disturbing things."
This happens, especially with black mirror scrying.
Close the session immediately (you're not obligated to continue)
Ground yourself thoroughly (eat, touch earth, physical activity)
Cleanse your space and tools
Consider whether you're ready for this level of shadow work
Work with lighter mediums (water, fire) before returning to mirrors
Not every vision is a message. Some are your fears manifesting. Discernment required.
CHALLENGE 4: "I can't hold focus for more than 2 minutes."
Your attention span is weak. That's fixable.
Start with 3-minute sessions
Gradually increase to 5, then 10, then 15
Meditation builds this muscle
Don't force 30-minute sessions before you're ready
CHALLENGE 5: "My eyes hurt/dry out."
Blink naturally (you don't need to hold eyes open the whole time)
Maintain soft focus, not hard stare
Use dim lighting (bright light strains eyes)
Limit sessions to 15-20 minutes maximum
Scrying produces symbolic, impressionistic imagery—not literal photographs of the future.
SYMBOLIC: You see an owl. This might mean wisdom, death, transition, night, solitude—depending on context.
Not literal: You won't necessarily encounter a physical owl.
EMOTIONAL: You see a color (red) or feeling (heaviness). The vision is conveying mood or energy, not specific events.
LITERAL: Sometimes, rarely, you see actual future events or past scenes. This is less common than movies suggest.
FRAGMENTED: Most visions are brief, partial, unclear. You see a hand, a doorway, a face—not full narratives.
This is normal. Your job is to piece together meaning.
1. Write everything immediately. Visions fade fast.
2. Note emotions and body sensations. Often more informative than the images themselves.
3. Look for patterns over multiple sessions. One vision might be noise. The same symbol appearing three times is signal.
4. Trust your first instinct. If you saw a snake and immediately felt "betrayal," that's probably the message—not a literal snake.
5. Give it time. Some visions only make sense days or weeks later when events unfold.
6. Don't force meaning. Not every session produces profound revelation. Some are just practice.
TECHNIQUE 1: TARGET SCRYING
Choose a specific question before you begin.
Example: "Show me what I need to know about this job opportunity."
Then release the question and enter receptive state. See what arises.
More focused than general scrying, but requires discipline not to project your desired answer.
TECHNIQUE 2: SEQUENTIAL SCRYING
Ask a question. Scry. Note visions.
Ask a follow-up based on what you saw. Scry again.
Build a narrative through multiple sessions.
Example: Session 1: "What's blocking me?" → Vision of closed door Session 2: "What's behind the door?" → Vision of light Session 3: "How do I open the door?" → Vision of key
TECHNIQUE 3: COLLABORATIVE SCRYING
Two people scry the same medium simultaneously.
Compare notes afterward. What did both see? What was unique to each?
Shared visions suggest external/objective information. Unique visions reflect individual subconscious.
TECHNIQUE 4: SCRYING FOR OTHERS
Use their question/energy as focus.
Best if they're present (their energy influences what appears).
Ethics: Get permission. Be honest about accuracy limitations. Don't give medical/legal advice.
Scrying is training your mind to shift from doing to being. From projecting to receiving.
Sustained gazing induces trance states (alpha/theta brainwaves)
Visual monotony triggers the brain to generate its own imagery
Subconscious information surfaces as symbols and visions
Pattern recognition finds meaning in randomness
Or maybe it works because:
You're opening a channel to non-ordinary information
The medium acts as a portal between worlds
Spirits, guides, or universal consciousness communicates through imagery
Choose a medium that resonates
Learn soft, unfocused gaze
Practice entering trance/receptive state
Record what you see, interpret later
Build the skill over weeks/months, not one session
Scrying isn't about trying harder. It's about trying less—and allowing more.
The visions were always there. You just had to get quiet enough to see them.
Do you scry? What medium do you use?
What's the clearest vision you've ever received?
How do you distinguish projection from genuine reception?
Let's talk. Scrying is deeply personal—every practitioner's experience is unique.
The crystal ball doesn't show you the future. It shows you what you already know but couldn't see—until you stopped trying to look.
