Learning How to Scry (long)
Methods of Scrying
Mirror Scrying
Scrying Tips
Exercises

Scrying is a type of divination. To scry or descry is to spy out or discover by the eye objects at a distance. In occult literature, the term is used to describe the act of gazing at a shiny stone or mirror or into a crystal ball (anything which reflects will do), to see things past and future. (When a crystal is used, scrying is known as catoptromancy or crystallomancy.)  Occultists claim that if one concentrates hard enough while gazing, one can conjure up the dead. This is possible because, we are told, scrying clears out the consciousness and makes it possible for a direct line to the other world. I am told that if one rubs a crystal ball with mugwort under the light of a full moon, its capacity for igniting psychic powers magnifies.  However, as far as I know, there have been no controlled studies to test this, or any other, hypothesis regarding scrying.

Learning How to Scry

            The first step in learning how to scry is to select your crystal. There are
            no rules for this process. Allow your imagination and feelings to guide you
            to your instrument. Some prefer crystals that are perfectly clear. Others
            enjoy inclusions and look for crystals with "windows" or "doors." Whatever
            you choose, take time to bond with it. Scrying tools become a direct
            extension of the scryer so it is best that you develop an understanding of
            the tool. Taking the time to meditate with
            your crystal is a good way to get to know it. The effort and time taken in
            this initial getting acquainted phase will pay off in the long run.

               You are now ready to begin the actual process of scrying. Choose a place
                where you are not likely to be disturbed. The amount of light in the area
               should be no more than that emitted by a single candle. An ideal source of
                light is a light box, the kind normally used to display crystals. When you
                place your crystal on a light box, no other light is necessary in the room.
                               If you do not use a light box, the light
            Source should be placed low and behind you. This positions your body between
                   the crystal and the source of light, eliminating the chance of direct
                   reflection of the light by the crystal. Dim light is suggested for the
               simple reason it enhances concentration and eliminates distractions. As you
                become more proficient at gazing, you will be able to do so in direct sun
                                         light if you wish.

                 Placement of the crystal in relationship to the scryer is also important.
                  Keep in mind you will be looking intently into the crystal for at least
              twenty minutes at a time. Therefore, you do not want to position the crystal
               in a way that will cause physical discomfort. Remember, as your skill with
                  scrying increases, so will the time you spend in front of the crystal.
                                Physical discomfort will break your
                concentration and turn scrying into a chore. So pick a comfortable chair,
                get relaxed, place your crystal at the proper height and distance for best
                             viewing, sit back and enjoy the experience.

                 Take a few deep breaths. As you do this, look intently into the crystal.
                Staring promotes tearing of the eyes causing you to blink. Instead, try to
               think of unfocusing your eyes. Just rest your gaze on the crystal and allow
                 your eyes to relax. At this stage, you may find your eyelids wanting to
                close about half way. Allow this to happen. During this phase, develop a
                 conscious link between your third eye and the crystal. An easy way of
               accomplishing this is to visualize a ray of light coming out from your third
                  eye and entering the crystal. Some will experience a tightness in the
                           forehead but don't be alarmed if this sensation
                                      doesn't happen to you.

                 The next thing to watch for is the clouding of the crystal. A small light
              will appear and from that light, clouds will form and spread. There may even
                 appear a tiny light show within the clouds. You are well on your way.
                       Eventually the clouds will clear and pictures will emerge.

                In the beginning, try not to judge the pictures or control the flow. Trust
              you will be shown what you need to see in the sequence you need to see it.
                 As time goes on, the ability to ask questions and receive answers will
               develop. You should keep a log to facilitate a better understanding of what
               you are seeing and experiencing. Just as with dreams, there is a symbology
                               with scrying. The most difficult part of
                scrying is figuring out what you are seeing. At times you will see actual
                 events happening now. Other times, you may see events from history.
                 Spiritual teachings may come in the form of symbolic pictures. Future
               happenings can also come through in symbols or actual scenes. It is often
              difficult to distinguish reality from your own symbology. This is where your
               log comes in handy. It is also helpful to record the time of day and phase
                          of moon. This will enable you to know when you
                   are at your best and able to interpret the information being given.

 DEFINITION:
Scrying:  A method of perceiving events and answers by way of the unconscious.

INTRODUCTION:
                 Scrying is often considered the most difficult method of divination for
                 several reasons.  Unlike the Ruins or the Tarot, scrying demands that you
                 have a working knowledge of your subconscious's symbolism and the ability
                 to interpret those symbols reliably.  Though most methods of divination lead
                 you to look outside of yourself, scrying requires that you look within
                 yourself to find the answers you are seeking.

                      There are almost as many methods of scrying as there are scryers.  Some of
                   the most famous scryers throughout history (Nostradomus, Levi) used complex
                       methods to awaken their psychic abilities.  However, the complexities are
                    not required to get reliable results -- the only requirements are
                           dedication, patience, and some psychic ability.

                     If you have not had any indication of psychic abilities, do not despair.
                   You simply might not have discovered them as yet.  Scrying can awaken them
                   if they are present.  However, if you are convinced that you have no
                    psychic abilities whatsoever, scrying is probably not the method you should use for
                    divination.

                    Above all, scrying requires patience.  At the beginning, visions will come
                   sporadically and they will be very vague.  Only practice and time well
                    spent will enhance your abilities and enable you to rely on your talents.

METHODS OF SCRYING:
                  Here is a short summary of some of the most common techniques
                  that can be used for scrying.

Crystal gazing --  This is the method that first come to mind when  the word "scrying" is mentioned.  The crystal does not have to be large.  The only requirement is that the stone that is being used must be very clear and as flawless as possible.  It helps if you use a crystal associated with the Moon.

Water gazing -- This method requires a large black or silver bowl.
                    The bowl is filled with pure water (rain water or water from a natural
                     source if at all possible).  The bowl is then used in the same way as a
                     crystal.  If you are lucky enough to live near a pond, lake or ocean, you
                   can dispense with the bowl and just use the whole body of water as a huge
                   scrying tool.

 Fire gazing -- This method often provides startling results. The
                       energy of the fire really lends something to the visions it produces.
                    Anything from a candle flame to a bonfire can be used.  All the usual
                               precautions should be taken, of course.

Mirror gazing -- A regular hand or wall mirror can be used.  It helps
                     if the mirror is round or oval in keeping with the lunar motif.

BASIC PREPARATION:
                    It is always best to scry at night, because this method of divination is
                   closely related to the Moon and all other Lunar correspondences.  If you
                     are indoors, you should extinguish all of the lights except for one candle.
                     The candle should be out of your line of sight when you are looking at your
                   scrying tool.  Above and behind you is a good placement.  Some people
                     prefer that the candle flame flickers, others like the flame to remain still.

                                 Experiment and see what you like.

                    The room should be as quiet as you can make it.  If you live in an
                  apartment or with someone else, some quiet instrumental music can be used to drown
                  out any unwanted sounds.  Don't use music with lyrics, because at the least,
                    the lyrics might influence your visions.  At the most, they might prevent you
                             from concentrating enough to see anything.

                      Make sure that you will not be disturbed, and figure out a comfortable way
                     to sit either holding your scrying tool or with it resting before you on
                     the floor or a table.

                    If you are scrying on a particular subject, you might get better results if
                    you schedule your scrying time for when the Moon is aspected favorably to
                   the corresponding planet.  Visions are always stronger around the time of
                                          the full Moon.

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES:

a..             A short meditation session before you begin to scry often helps to
                  get you into the mood and release some of your tension.  You must be feeling as
                 relaxed and receptive as possible.  Make sure that you are sitting as
                 comfortably as possible.  It is quite frustrating to be on the verge of
                   perceiving something when a leg or arm falling asleep breaks your concentration.

                     b.. When you look into your scrying tool, try to look past the surface
                      and into the center of it.Try to keep your eyes fixed on one spot, but don't
                    prevent yourself from blinking.  Since you are in a dark room, the need to
                     blink might lessen as your body relaxed, but don't try to force yourself
                       not to.  That will only cause discomfort and distraction.

                       c.. Limit your sessions to a set period of time.  Don't be discouraged if
                    you can not remain focused during the entire session or if you feel the
                    need to stop before the session is over.  If you are not used to meditating, try
                    to start out with a 15 minute session.  You will be surprised to experience
                   how long 15 minutes will see as you try to keep your mind from wandering.
                       Ultimately, scrying sessions should last up to an hour in length.  Don't
                      set a timer or try to keep track of time.  This will create a distraction and
                    you don't want to be in the middle of a particularly vivid image when the timer goes off!

                  d.. Keep in mind that though the words "vision" and "scry" almost always
                     call to mind information that is perceived with the eyes, that this is not
                   necessarily the case.  While scrying, information can come to you via all
                    five of the senses and also as intuitive flashes.  When reviewing the
                     information that you have perceived, take all you senses into account.

                      e.. Start a scrying journal if you intend to scry on a regular basis.
                     Date each entry, and make sure that it is close by during each scrying
                     session.  Note down all your perceptions after your session, sleep on them,
                    and then work on interpreting them the next day.  Though it is true that
                       some visions come through so clearly that they need little interpretation,
                   most of the time you need to meditate on your visions for a while to absorb
                                       their true meanings.

                        f.. If you are familiar with another method of divination (Runes, Tarot,
                      Pendulum, etc.) you can use their help with interpreting the information
                    you get from scrying.  Simple one card/one rune spreads are the best to give
                   you an overview of your vision's meaning.  Or if you are familiar with a dream
                      interpretation spread, you can use that to help you figure it out.

                     g.. Often at the beginning of a scrying session, you will start to see
                     clouds of colors in your scrying tool.  Some scryers never get past this
                      stage.  If you find this to be the case, you can interpret the colors using
                                    traditional color symbolism.

CONCLUSION:
                   There are many, many methods of scrying in addition to the ones that I
                      listed at the start of this page.  Experiment and find the one that is most
                   comfortable for you to use.  Ultimately, you know yourself best and you
                   will know the method that works best for you when you find it.  Have faith in
                                   your abilities and keep trying.

            Scrying can be done with a number of different surfaces, from tea leaves to
                     crystal balls to shag carpets; the basic technique is similar in all cases.
                      Gaze steadily into the scrying surface (feel free to blink or allow your
                        point of focus to wander a bit; this is not a method of self-inflicted
                     torture). Eventually, you should be able to pick out shapes or images in
                      the scrying surface; these may appear as crude sketches, or occasionally with
                    the clarity of a photograph. You will actually see these images with your eyes.

                    Once this happens, images may begin to form in your mind, no longer
                  projected onto the scrying surface. When this happens, allow your attention
                    to focus on these mental images. From this point forward, the scrying
                           surface is irrelevant; do not be distracted by it.

                   As the images become clearer, you will find that you know things about what
                   you are seeing - background information will come to the surface of your
                   mind. Pay attention to what you know about the images you are seeing.

                    Surfaces which provide a random, high contrast visual texture, such as
                      black tea leaves in a white cup or orange sparks in a black ember, are
                      particularly good for the first stage of the scrying process. However, the
                    vividness of the visual images formed in this way may tend to pull your
                   attention back from the purely mental images that should follow, thus
                     disrupting the natural flow of ideas. Smooth, neutral surfaces, like the
                      surface of a dish of water, a crystal ball, or a black mirror, provide
                      relatively few visual cues to get you started, but if you can make the
                      transition to mental imagery quickly, the visual surface will obligingly
                                     fade into the background.

Scrying exercise
                    Cast a circle. Seat yourself comfortably, breathe deeply a few times to
                     relax and center yourself. Gaze into the scrying surface for a while.

Write down:
                                        a.. What you saw
                                  b.. What images came to mind
                           c.. What you found you knew about the images

                                       Ground. Close circle.

Tea leaves: Use black tea leaves (peppermint works reasonably well if you're decaffeinated) in a white tea cup.

Embers: Use embers (a wood fire outdoors or in a fireplace) at night.

Water: Use a dish of water in a darkened room, lit from the sides by two candles. The dish should be a solid, neutral color.

Crystal ball: Use a crystal ball, as above (or a mirror, turned slightly so you are not reflected in it -- try to fill the view with a blank wall)

Here is a simple method for making a black mirror at home.

Buy a picture frame, complete with the glass.
Pick up some black paint at the craft/hardware shop, best use gouache paint, acrylic or oil based. Make sure you have a
paintbrush!

Disassemble the frame and lay the glass on a piece of newspaper.
Paint the backside of the glass with the black paint and let dry.  I recommend 2-3 coats.

After it is all dry, if there is any need clean the outer part of the glass with wingow cleaner to make it Xtra shiny and pretty.
Place the painted glass into the picture frame the unpainted glass side facing outwards.