One of the earliest forms of divination, scrying was employed by the ancient Egyptians mainly for dream interpretation and by the ancient Persians mostly to augment their physical discoveries with occult information.
Today, it is used for fortunetelling and meditation.
Scrying relies on the idea of visions. The diviner looks onto a reflective surface, asks a question — to a god, to nature, to oneself — and waits to see the answer unfold right before one’s eyes.
A trance-like state of mind is required for the visions to start manifesting.
What instrument is needed?
The oldest recorded scrying instruments are bowls made of stone and chalices made of silver. Our ancestors would fill them with water, effectively transforming them into mirrors.
Hence mirrors were naturally next in line. Particularly round ones, and later on, black ones made of obsidian.
And then came the crystal ball, which the layman would be most familiar with, due to its popularity in literature.
Which instrument is best?
Scrying, in essence, requires no more than a reflective surface on which the visions will appear. A bowl, a mirror and a crystal ball all effectively provide this. So it all comes down to preference.
Some find using a bowl inconvenient, because it requires looking down for a long period of time, resulting in strain on the neck.
Others prefer a crystal ball for the convenience. It is easy to travel with.
My preferred instrument is a mirror. Mirrors are portals to other worlds. I find it easier to see the future by standing right at its front door.
How is the instrument cared for?
Whatever instrument you pick must not be used for any other purpose.
If you choose a bowl, do not use it to eat with. Keep it covered in silk or velvet and stored in the dark when not in use.
If you choose a mirror, do not use it to look at your reflection. Have it draped with a silk or velvet cloth when you are not using it.
If you choose a crystal ball, do not use it for display. Again, have it covered in silk or velvet when not in use. Not only for respect, but also for practical reasons. A crystal ball is like a magnifying glass. If sunlight goes through it, it will start a fire.
Others ensure that no one else must look upon their instrument. I do not care if a curious family member, friend or querent asks to see mine. I am its owner. Another’s gaze will not change this.
Where do the visions come from?
As a Greco-Roman pagan, I invoke the Fates, Venus and Pluto when I scry. I humbly ask them for a vision that would answer my question.
My grandmother would often request visions from herself. Old age had made her forget many of her memories. Scrying allowed her to remember them.
Take your instrument to a quiet and private place with dim lighting where you can be alone with your higher power or your higher self.
Take deep breaths to calm your body and clear your mind before asking your question.
Look upon your instrument… allowing your eyes to unfocus… and for sleepiness to begin settling in. This is you turning off your active mind and unleashing your unconscious.
Wait for the visions to begin. Take them all in.
The visions will not stop. They will only slow down. Once you have found the answer you are looking for, cover your instrument with a cloth and thank your divinity or your soul.
What kind of visions appear?
Not only sights, but sounds, tastes, smells and feelings could make themselves known to you through scrying.
Sometimes they are symbolic, like dreams.
I once saw a golden rooster and a hen printed on a cashmere towel hung in a white marble bath, with the sun shining through a window. The very next day, my boyfriend surprised me with a trip to a luxury resort. The rooster and the hen symbolized us as a couple. And the environment represented the place we would find ourselves in.
Other times, they are literal.
I remember asking my ancestors on my mother’s side if it is not disrespectful to them for me to also study the grimoires of my father’s family. I saw an old woman who said in my native language, “The urge to know more is never disrespectful.”
In addition to having extremely vivid visions coming to you directly from the source, scrying also strengthens your intuition and overall connection to your subconscious, in turn improving your skills not just for scrying, but for every other method of divination.
