The Art of Scrying – A Common Form of Magical Divination
Would you like to be able to peer into the future? To know what fate has in store for you should you continue down your current path in life? Would you like to be able to help and advise others? You could try scrying, a very effective way of magical divination if you have a little patience and perseverence.
Scrying is the art of fortune telling, or divination using a tool such as a crystal ball, a scrying mirror or the flame of a candle. The stereotypical image of a gypsy fortune teller staring into a crystal ball comes to mind- and although not all are genuine- this is probably the most commonly practised form of divination today appart from tarot cards.
Magical Tools Used To Scry
There are several common tools used by divination students to learn to scry or read the future. These are easily available, and in the case of a scrying mirror, you can make your own at home. You could be successfully scrying yourself within the next hour or two.
Crystal Balls
Crystal balls are a very common scrying tool. They are readily available online and look the part, which helps sometimes. Beautiful clear quartz crystal balls are traditional, but glass spheres are more budget friendly and are commonly used by beginners to great effect. To use a crystal ball, light a candle beside it and stare at the ball. Focus your attention on the ball so that your mind becomes very relaxed, in an almost trance- like meditational state. Give it time. Try to think about nothing but the peace,calmness, and the serene crystal ball in the candlelight. Introduce your question into your mind, and pay attention to any images which may appear to you.
Scrying Mirrors
Scrying Mirrors are traditionally mirrors that are black and concave (curving inwards). You normally rest a scrying mirror flat down face up on a table, with a candle on top of the mirror, and others positioned around the outside of it in a circle,to reflect off each other in the mirrors surface. Follow the same procedure as with the crystal ball,and take note of your ideas and inspirations. Don't overanalyse at this stage- it is important that you are relaxed for successful divination magic.
How To Make Your Own Scrying Mirror
You can of course buy your own beautiful scrying mirror online or in your local pagan store. However it is cheaper,and arguably more effective to make your own. You will certainly have a more personal connection to a scrying mirror made by your own hands!
Here is how to make a scrying mirror:
(You will need: A clear sheet of glass, black acrylic paint, coloured pens, Dried Mugwort, Dried Wormwood)
1. Clean the glass, then use your coloured pens (gold and silver are effective) to draw symbols around the edges on the back of it. It doesn't matter what these symbols are, as long as they have importance to you. It could be celtic symbols, symbols of Greek, Roman or Eygptian Gods or Goddesses, Norse Runes, Numbers, astrological signs...Do your own research and really make your scrying mirror a wonderfully personal accompaniment to your divination magic.It will be far more powerful than anything you could buy in a shop!
2. When your chosen symbols are dry, paint over the whole of the back of your scrying mirror with black paint.
3. Mix your dried herbs together, ground up to a fine powder, with your remaining black paint, and paint the back of your glass again. When this paint is dry, give it one last coat with paint that hasn't got herbs in it. So your scrying mirror has three coats of paint altogether and is very black.
4. To complete your scrying mirror and activate it you may wish to consecrate your mirror and cleanse it by lying it in the light of the full moon overnight. This is not essential but it is a nice touch. You can also say a charm over it to pronounce it ready – your brand new magical divination tool!
5. When you are not using your scrying mirror it is traditional to keep it wrapped in black silk and away from the light. This is a private and personal object,so try not to let others handle it if you can.
Divination With Incense or Smoke
Incense Smoke or simply the flame of a candle are other very accessible tools which you can use for divination magic. Watch the smoke or the flame intently, with your question at the back of your mind – take note of shapes formed by the smoke or flickering flame, and any thoughts which occur to you. Write everything down, even if it seems to not make a lot of sense at the time.Remember your mind can often be cryptic or provide emotional clues which can be interpreted after the fact when you arise from your meditational state.
When is the best time to scry or practise divination magic?
Divination magic such as scrying is most effective performed at night, especially during a full or new moon. Don't be held back by convention however, as it is possible to scry effectively at any time, whenever the need arises. The most important thing is to ask the right question and to allow your mind to really relax. Focus intently on your crystal ball or mirror, and firmly but calmly dismiss any unrelated thoughts as they pop into your head.
What herbs and incense should I burn when I am scrying?
There are particular herbs which are used to stimulate the subconcious mind for divination. Some of them are easier to get hold of than others. Wormwood and Mugwort are very effective but will have to be ordered from a specialist shop online. Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary and Frankincense are more common but just as effective – any of these herbs will really help to prepare your mind for scrying if burnt as an incense.
Failing Mugwort, you can also use Parsley, Sage etc.to create your scrying mirror, although Mugwort and Wormwood are traditional. Modern Witches and Wizards can get creative when they need to, you might even find you have more of an affinity for Rosemary and Frankincense after all,you never know!
Begin any scrying or divination session by casting a circle or sacred magical space. Then recite a short divination charm to begin – I like this one-
“Open my vision,
Clear my sight,
Bring the answer,
Into the light!”
- Selene Silverwind
